How to Split Long WordPress Posts into Multiple Pages (2026)

Need to split a long WordPress post into multiple pages? Very long articles, photo galleries and multi-part tutorials can be easier to read, and lighter to load, when broken into pages. WordPress has a built-in way to do this with no plugin. Here is how to split a long WordPress post into multiple pages in 2026, how to style the page links, and when you should not do it.

Quick answer: In the block editor, add a Page Break block wherever you want a new page to start. In the Classic Editor, place the cursor and press Alt + Shift + P or type <!--nextpage--> in the Text tab. WordPress then shows “Pages: 1 2 3” links at the end of each part, as long as your theme supports it.

How to split a long WordPress post (block editor)

1. Open the post in the editor.
2. Click where you want page 2 to begin, then press / and type Page Break (or add it from the block inserter).
3. Repeat for each new page.
4. Update the post and view it. Page links appear below the content.

How to split a post in the Classic Editor

• In the Visual tab, click where the new page should start and press Alt + Shift + P (or use the “Insert Page Break” button if your toolbar shows it).
• In the Text tab, type <!--nextpage--> on its own line.

Show and style the page links

Most themes call wp_link_pages() automatically. If page links do not appear in a classic theme, add this after the_content() in single.php:

<?php wp_link_pages( array(
  'before'         => '<nav class="page-links">Pages: ',
  'after'          => '</nav>',
  'next_or_number' => 'number',
) ); ?>

Then style .page-links with CSS, for example larger, button-like links that are easy to tap on phones.

When to split posts

• Multi-part tutorials where each step is substantial.
• Large photo galleries, to keep each page fast. See our site speed tips.
• Long reference guides where readers jump between sections.

When not to split posts

• Do not split articles just to increase page views or ad impressions. Readers hate clicking “next” repeatedly, and it can look manipulative.
• Most readers prefer one long page with a table of contents and clear headings. Many SEO plugins and themes can add one automatically.
• Each page should have meaningful content. Very thin pages are poor for readers and search engines.

SEO notes

Google indexes paginated posts and understands the parts belong together. Keep page links crawlable (normal links, not JavaScript-only), and let each page keep its own URL, such as /post-name/2/. Your SEO plugin sets canonical tags for each page.

Writing long posts? Try distraction free writing in WordPress, and keep archive summaries tidy by setting the excerpt length.

FAQ

Does splitting posts hurt SEO?

Not if each page has real content and links are crawlable. A single page with a table of contents is often better for readers.

Why are my page links not showing?

Your theme may not call wp_link_pages(). Add it to the template or use a different theme.

Can I split a page as well as a post?

Yes. Page Break works in pages and most custom post types too.

Do you prefer long single pages or split articles? Tell us in the comments.