How to Use Section Breaks in a Word Alternative (2026 Guide)

Quick Answer: Section Breaks in WPS Writer

To use section breaks in a Word alternative, open your document in WPS Writer, place the cursor where the new section should begin, and go to Page Layout → Breaks. Choose a section break type—Next Page, Continuous, Even Page, or Odd Page—to divide the document into chapters and apply different layout or formatting per section.

Section breaks differ from page breaks: a Page Break (Page Layout → Breaks → Page Break, or Ctrl+Enter) starts content on a new page without necessarily starting a new formatted section. Use section breaks when you need different columns, headers, footers, or page borders in separate parts of the same file.

An alternate WPS path is Insert → Breaks → Next Page Section Break. WPS Academy documents both menu paths; verify the Breaks menu on your WPS version before sharing instructions with a team.

Key Facts

Section Break vs Page Break: When to Use Which in WPS Writer

WPS Academy documents several break types: page break, column break, text wrapping break (Shift+Enter), and section breaks. Choose based on what must change in the document.

Use a page break when you only need the next paragraph or chapter to start on a fresh page but keep the same section formatting (same header, footer, margins, and column settings). Insert via Page Layout → Breaks → Page Break or press Ctrl+Enter.

Use a section break when layout or format must change by section—for example dividing a report into chapters, applying columns in one part but not another, or setting different headers and footers per chapter. Section breaks are the Word-class tool for multi-section documents, not merely jumping to a new page.

How to Insert a Section Break in WPS Writer (Page Layout → Breaks)

Follow these steps to insert a section break using the primary Page Layout path documented by WPS Academy.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer.

2. Place the cursor where you want the new section to begin.

3. Click the Page Layout tab on the ribbon.

4. Click Breaks to open the drop-down menu.

5. Choose the section break type you need (see the section break types table below for Next Page, Continuous, Even Page, and Odd Page).

6. After insertion, click the Section Navigation Pane button on the Section tab to preview how sections appear in the left pane.

Editorial check: WPS Academy also documents Insert → Breaks → Next Page Section Break. Menu labels may vary by WPS version or platform—verify on your installed WPS Writer before publishing team templates.

Alternate Path: Insert → Breaks → Next Page Section Break

If your ribbon layout differs, WPS Academy documents a second path for a Next Page Section Break:

1. Open the document and place the cursor at the break position.

2. Go to Insert → Breaks → Next Page Section Break.

This path inserts a Next Page section break specifically. For Continuous, Even Page, or Odd Page breaks, use Page Layout → Breaks and pick the matching type from the drop-down menu.

Section Break Types in WPS Writer

After inserting a Next Page Section Break, open the Section Navigation Pane from the Section tab to confirm each section appears in the left navigation list.

Use Section Breaks for Headers and Footers Per Section

Section breaks let you apply different headers and footers to each chapter or part of a document—a common reason authors choose a Word alternative with full Breaks menus.

1. Insert a section break where the new header or footer rules should start—Next Page or Continuous per WPS Academy.

2. Double-click the header or footer area you want to customize.

3. On the Design tab, uncheck Link to Previous so the new section’s header or footer is independent from the prior section.

4. Type or format the header or footer content for that section only.

5. Repeat for additional sections as needed.

When opening an existing Word .docx that already contains section breaks and linked headers, verify formatting against your source file after opening in WPS Writer. WPS states Microsoft Office file format compatibility, but complex section/header setups should be checked before distribution.

View, Navigate, and Remove Section Breaks in WPS Writer

View section breaks: Enable Show/Hide editing marks (paragraph symbol on the Home tab) to see section break markers in the document body.

Navigate sections: Use the Section Navigation Pane on the Section tab to jump between sections after breaks are inserted.

Remove one break: With Show/Hide on, select the section break marker and press Delete or Backspace.

Remove all section breaks: Press Ctrl+H to open Find and Replace. In Find what, enter ^b (section break). Leave Replace with empty. Click Replace All to remove every section break in the file. Review the document afterward—removing breaks merges sections and may shift headers, footers, or column settings.

How to Insert Section Breaks in Microsoft Word Desktop (Brief Alternative)

If your team uses Microsoft Word desktop, Microsoft Support documents a parallel workflow:

1. Click where the new section should begin.

2. Go to Layout → Breaks.

3. Choose Next Page, Continuous, Even Page, or Odd Page section break.

Microsoft Support notes section breaks divide documents into chapters and support per-section columns, headers and footers, and page borders. Continuous breaks suit same-page layout changes such as a different column count; Next Page, Odd Page, or Even Page breaks start the new section on a new page when layout requires it.

Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account and includes 5 GB OneDrive storage. Desktop Layout → Breaks tooling differs from the browser experience—do not assume Word for the web matches desktop section-break menus without checking your account tier.

Section Break Workflows at a Glance

FAQ

What is the difference between a page break and a section break in WPS Writer?

A page break starts content on a new page while keeping the same section formatting. A section break starts a new section so you can change layout or formatting—columns, headers, footers, or page borders—independently in each part of the document.

Why does WPS Writer show two different Breaks menus?

WPS Academy documents both Page Layout → Breaks (all section break types) and Insert → Breaks → Next Page Section Break. UI labels may vary by WPS version or platform—verify the menu on your installed app before sharing step-by-step instructions.

How do I set different headers on each chapter in WPS Writer?

Insert a Next Page or Continuous section break at the chapter boundary, double-click the header, then on the Design tab uncheck Link to Previous before editing the header for that section.

Will section breaks survive when I open a Word .docx in WPS Writer?

WPS states 100% Compatible with Microsoft File Formats for Office Tools. Open your target .docx in WPS Writer and verify section breaks, headers, and footers match expectations before sharing—especially on files originally formatted in Microsoft Word.

Does Word for the web support section breaks like desktop Word?

Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account, but desktop Layout → Breaks is a separate experience from the browser. Confirm section-break availability on your account before relying on Word online for multi-section documents.

How do I remove unwanted blank pages caused by section breaks?

Turn on Show/Hide marks, locate the section break or extra page break, and delete it. For bulk removal, use Ctrl+H, Find ^b, leave Replace empty, and run Replace All—then review headers, footers, and pagination because merging sections can shift layout.

Sources and Last Reviewed

• WPS Academy — How to insert page break in the WPS document

• WPS Academy — Insert Next Page Section Break in WPS Writer

• WPS Academy — Different usages of the Break feature

• WPS Academy — Delete a blank page in WPS Writer

• WPS Academy — Delete a page in WPS (Find/Replace ^b)

• WPS Academy — What is WPS Office

• WPS Office pricing

• Microsoft Support — Insert a section break

• Microsoft Support — Use section breaks to change layout or formatting

• Microsoft — Free Office on the web

Last reviewed: 2026-07-01