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If you would like to start page numbering on page 3 of a Microsoft Office Word* document, you need to split up your document into sections. The following steps provide you with screenshots to lead you through the process.

Step 1: Separate your MS Word document into sections

In order to insert page numbers from page 3 onwards, you need to split up your document into sections.

Set the cursor to the end of the text on the second page.
Click on the tab named “Layout”. You will find the button “Breaks” and “Section Breaks” in the drop-down list. Chose “Next Page”.

How to start page numbering on page 3_section break — How to insert section breaks. (c) Screenshot

Now go to page 3 and open the footer. The tab “Design” will appear in the menu.
Deactivate the option “Link To Previous”.

How to start page numbering on page 3_link to previous — Turn off the Link to Previous feature. (c) Screenshot

Step 2: Insert page numbers

Time needed: 2 minutes.

After you separated your MS Word document into sections you have to insert the page numbers

Put the cursor in the footer of page 3
Go to the tab “Insert” and click on the button “Page Number”
How to insert a page number (c) Screenshot
Choose your preferred design
By default, MS Word inserts page number 3. If you want to start page numbering with 1, proceed with the following steps.
Click on “Format Page Numbers”
Click on “Format Page Numbers” in the drop-down menu of the button “Page Number”.
Change the “start at” page number to whatever number you like (c) Screenshot
Choose “Start at”
Choose “Start at” and insert the page number you want to start at.