How to insert a page break in Google Docs
Insert a page break in Google Docs from the Insert menu so a section starts at the top of a new page, without pressing Enter over and over.
Quick answer
Click at the start of the text you want on a new page, open the Insert menu, point to Break, and choose Page break. Google Docs moves everything after the cursor to the top of the next page. The Insert menu shows ⌘+Enter beside Page break on Mac.
Steps at a glance
- Click at the start of the section you want on a new page.
- Open the Insert menu.
- Point to Break.
- Choose Page break.
- Check that the section now starts on a new page.
Interactive demo
Summary
A page break forces the text after your cursor onto the next page. It keeps a section such as an appendix at the top of its own page, however much text sits above it.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Click at the start of the section you want on a new page
Place the cursor just before the first word of the section that should move, such as the heading Appendix. Everything from the cursor onward will move to the next page.
Step 2
Open the Insert menu
Click Insert in the menu bar above the document. A long list of items opens.
Step 3
Point to Break
Point to Break in the Insert menu. A submenu opens beside it with Page break, Column break, Section break (next page), and Section break (continuous).
Step 4
Choose Page break
Click Page break. The Mac shortcut ⌘+Enter is shown next to it in the menu.
Step 5
Check that the second section starts on a new page
Scroll down to the end of the first page. The Appendix section and the text under it now sit at the top of the next page, with the rest of page one left empty.
Why this matters
You have a report where the appendix trails straight on from the summary. A page break gives the appendix its own page, so it prints cleanly and readers can find it without scrolling through blank lines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the keyboard shortcut for a page break in Google Docs?
On a Mac, the Insert > Break menu shows ⌘+Enter beside Page break. This capture did not check the shortcut on other systems.
Where does the text after the cursor go?
Everything after the cursor moves to the top of the next page. In this example, the Appendix heading and its line moved to page two.
Related guides
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