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The thread addresses how to remove headers, footers, and page numbers from a book’s front matter while retaining normal titles and numbering from Chapter 1 onward in a Microsoft Word KDP template. The response recommends using a section break before Chapter 1, disabling “Link to Previous” for relevant headers and footers, clearing front-matter fields, and setting Chapter 1 to start at page 1 while later chapters continue numbering; it also notes the “Different First Page” setting as a common issue. Overall, the guidance is practical and neutral, though it assumes desktop Word.
The thread addresses how to remove headers, footers, and page numbers from a book’s front matter while retaining normal titles and numbering from Chapter 1 onward in a Microsoft Word KDP template. The response recommends using a section break before Chapter 1, disabling “Link to Previous” for relevant headers and footers, clearing front-matter fields, and setting Chapter 1 to start at page 1 while later chapters continue numbering; it also notes the “Different First Page” setting as a common issue. Overall, the guidance is practical and neutral, though it assumes desktop Word.
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Stuzapem, if you’re editing the KDP print-book template in desktop Microsoft Word, the key is to separate the front matter from Chapter 1 with a section break, then unlink Chapter 1’s headers and footers before removing anything from the front matter. Amazon recommends this approach for its Word manuscripts.
Are you using Word for Windows, Word for Mac, or another editor? If it’s not desktop Word, the exact steps will differ.
How to set it up
- Save a backup copy of your manuscript first so you can return to the original if necessary.
- Check the break before Chapter 1. Select Home → ¶ (Show/Hide) to display formatting marks. If there is already a Section Break (Next Page) or Section Break (Odd Page) before Chapter 1, keep it—don’t add another. Otherwise, use Layout → Breaks → Next Page under Section Breaks to separate the front matter from Chapter 1. An ordinary page break does not provide separate header/footer settings.
- Unlink Chapter 1 from the front matter. Double-click the header on Chapter 1’s page, then turn Link to Previous off on the Header & Footer tab. Do the same in its footer. Headers and footers are linked separately. If your template uses Different Odd & Even Pages or Different First Page, unlink each applicable header and footer type in Chapter 1’s section as well.
- Clear the front-matter headers and footers. Once those links are off, return to the front matter and select and delete only the unwanted running titles and page-number fields. Check each front-matter section, including its first-page, odd-page and even-page variants where applicable. Chapter 1’s headers and footers should remain intact.
- Start Chapter 1’s numbering at 1. In Chapter 1’s section, choose Page Number → Format Page Numbers, select 1, 2, 3, …, and set Start at: 1. Keep the template’s existing page-number field, or insert one using Insert → Page Number if it is missing. Enter or retain your desired running titles in the header.
- Check subsequent chapters. If later chapters have their own sections, set their page numbering to Continue from previous section so each chapter does not restart at 1. Header/footer linking and numbering continuity are separate settings.
Are you using Word for Windows, Word for Mac, or another editor? If it’s not desktop Word, the exact steps will differ.
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