Exceeded maximum number of pages on Word

Anonymous

Just today I began receiving an error message that states "You have exceeded the maximum number of pages supported by Word or this document may be damaged..."

Opening up a tried and true file that's been in use for the last 3 months...including just fine not 3 days ago (no updates to the file, nor a related template version from which the new file was constructed) Latest version of Office 365.

Symptoms beyond the error is that the file will not display in print view. File will not save. Will not print. Will not export.

Verified on multiple Win10 machines with latest updates and patches (as of this post). Tried it on an older computer that hasn't been used or updated since September. File works fine.

Saw older posts reference this issue, but nothing since 2014. Tried all those troubleshooting steps, so please don't reply with a link to a clearly outdated KB article.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

Hi All,

Thanks for all your effort in this thread.

As this thread has multiple replies, to help the user who having the same issue, I would like to make a quick summary on this issue:

Issue symptom:

After updating your Office to the version 1911, when using Word to work on the document with multiple pages, you might receive the error: "You have exceeded the maximum number of pages supported by MS Word."

Issue environment:

Office 365 Business Version 1911 (Build 12228.20364 Click to Run) Monthly Channel

Office 2016 Professional Plus 1911 (Build 1228.20364 Click to Run) Monthly Channel

Solution:

Thanks for Matt's confirmation, this issue seems to be resolved after he updating his Office application to the Monthly Targeted Channel version 1912 Build 12325.20172. As this is an insider update channel, we do not suggest updating into this channel as it has certain risks.

However, since the fix has been deployed in the insider channel, this means it will be roll out to the Monthly users in the future updates, please wait patiently. Thanks for your understanding.

Note: Join the insider channel require you to be an Office 365 subscriber, so if you are using Office 2016 Professional Plus(which is an One-Time purchase product), you won't be able to join the insider channel at this time.

Workaround:

As Renato mentioned, he was benefit from the this thread. Although this is a Mac thread, but the method could be also applied to the Windows side. Here is the workaround:

1.Open the issued document, wait until the error prompt "You have exceeded the maximum number of pages.. " prompt out.

2.Leave the error prompt alone, create a new blank document.

3.Copy the content in the issued document and paste it to the blank document we just created.

4.Save&Close the new document. And open it again, check if the issue still persist.

Again, we greatly appreciate for all your effort in this thread.

Regards,

Alex Chen

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75 additional answers

Anonymous

2020-04-04T14:06:37+00:00

I'm having the same issue. All the technical jargon is over my head. I need a simpler solution. Attempts to copy/paste have not "fixed" the issue. Other suggestions simply make no sense to me. Frustrated. Dissatisfied.

I see from previous messages that this issues is widespread and has to do with an update in December, 2019. Why is this still an issue. I'm working on my laptop, periodically backing up my work to my computer. Now, I'm concerned that the problem, bug, or whatever will get into my computer as well.

I'm an author and can not afford to loose what I have done.
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Anonymous

2020-03-04T22:58:37+00:00

I fixed my problem and here is what worked for me. Previously, I had combinations of "Section Breaks (Continuous)" with "Page Breaks". This is something that Word doesn't like apparently. I replaced ALL of these pairs with "Section Break (Next Page)". I also replaced all of my carriage returns (new paragraph) for my title headings with a Title style that included the carriage returns. Once I did both of these things, the problem went away.
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Anonymous

2020-03-04T22:44:30+00:00

I am experiencing exactly the same problem. Microsoft MUST find a solution. It means affected Word files can no longer be used, ie it is a catastrophic error. If often causes Word to freeze and then crash, meaning ALL Word files currently open crash as well.

I use Word files to prepare book manuscripts. I can no longer use the affected files as I cannot view them in Print Layout and, therefore, cannot do type-setting to layout pages correctly.

I have found the problem is "solved" if I remove all section breaks and page breaks. Therefore, the problem appears to be related to these. However, this is not a "solution" as the ability to use section breaks and page breaks is essential.

Come on Microsoft, you have to solve this problem! Affected Word files are unusable.
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Anonymous

2020-02-16T21:54:29+00:00
I found another possible solution...

Assuming you can open the file without it crashing:

Click on View from the ribbon

Under the Views section, select Draft

Click on File>Options

Click on the Advanced menu

Scroll down to General section

Uncheck Enable Background Pagination

That should keep Word from losing its mind and re-paginating tens of thousands of pages and triggering the error message.
Thanks, Matt!

I've opened the original broken file.

It paginates up to 32742 before I can get to the File > Options > Advanced menu.

The document does seem more manageable in draft mode after unchecking "Enable Background Pagination."

Draft mode definitely calms things down. If I find another file that needs fixing, I will definitely take this approach.
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