Page breaks in Google Docs indicate where one page ends and another begins. While useful for print layouts, page breaks can disrupt the flow of text. Luckily, Google Docs makes it easy to remove page breaks when needed.
Identifying Page Breaks
Before removing a page break, you first need to identify where page breaks exist in your document.
There are two ways to make page breaks visible:
- Enable Print Layout View – Go to View > Print Layout to toggle page breaks on. You’ll see dotted lines indicating page break locations.
- Show Section Breaks – Go to View > Show Section Breaks. Page breaks will display as section breaks.
Once visible, scroll through your document to find the page break you want to delete.
Deleting a Page Break
To remove an unwanted page break:
- Position your cursor – Click your mouse directly before or after the page break dashed line.
- Press Backspace/Delete – Hit the Backspace key (Windows) or Delete key (Mac) until the page break disappears.
You may need to press Backspace/Delete multiple times to completely eliminate the break.
Troubleshooting Stubborn Page Breaks
Sometimes page breaks refuse to budge. Try these troubleshooting tips:
- Adjust Formatting – Modify margins, fonts, or page size in the document. Changing formatting can resolve page break issues.
- Enable Pageless View – Go to File > Page Setup > Pageless. This shows your doc as one continuous page. Delete visible page breaks.
- Seek Help – Consult Google Docs’ help documentation or community forums if a page break won’t delete.
Removing Page Breaks Permanently
By default, Google Docs reinserts deleted page breaks if you toggle Print Layout off/on.
To permanently delete page breaks:
- Go Pageless – Enable Pageless View under File > Page Setup
- Delete Breaks – Remove page breaks while pageless
- Disable Print Layout – Turn this view off under View menu
Page breaks will stay deleted even if you reenable Print Layout later.
When to Use Page Breaks
Despite drawbacks, page breaks do serve important formatting functions:
- Print Layouts – Page breaks optimize documents for printing
- Lengthy Docs – Breaks make navigating long reports or books easier
- Visual Continuity – Prevent figures, photos, headings splitting across pages
Use page breaks judiciously when these use cases apply to your document.
Conclusion
While sometimes frustrating, it’s simple to remove page breaks in Google Docs. Identify and delete breaks manually or through Pageless View. Adjusting document formatting can also eliminate stubborn breaks.
Use page breaks to enhance printed or lengthy docs, but remove them if they negatively impact reading flow. With practice, you can leverage page breaks to properly format documents of any length or complexity within Google Docs.
