A report with an introduction and a numbered main body needs two numbering regions. Typing a number into each footer creates a maintenance problem as soon as a paragraph moves onto another page. Use Word sections and page-number fields instead.

This workflow applies to desktop Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024 and Word 2021. Save a working copy before altering a report that already has several sections. Write down the intended result: for example, introduction i–iii, then main body 1 onward.

Create the boundary before changing numbers

Place the cursor between the introduction and main body. Choose Layout, Breaks, Next Page to insert a section break. Turn on the paragraph-mark display if you need to confirm that the boundary is a section break rather than an ordinary page break.

Open the main-body header or footer containing the number and turn off Link to Previous. Headers and footers have separate links, so change the one you are actually using. A disabled linking control is a reason to check the section boundary first.

Insert page numbers in the required position. In the introduction, use Format Page Numbers to choose Roman numerals. In the main-body section, choose the ordinary numeric format and set Start at to 1.

Check both sides, then check the final file

Inspect the last introduction page, the first main-body page and the following page. Confirm that the sequence changes exactly once and that the header wording still belongs to the correct section.

If only a section’s first page behaves differently, inspect its Different First Page setting before deleting anything. Make one adjustment at a time.

After the final text edits, review the print preview or exported file page by page around the boundary. Keep the editable report with its sections intact so future revisions do not require rebuilding the numbering.

References: Microsoft: section page numbering.