How to Insert a Footnote in Word (2026)
Footnotes put a numbered reference in your text and the note at the bottom of the page; endnotes collect them at the end of the document. Word numbers and renumbers them automatically. Here’s how to add, format, and manage both.
1. Insert a Footnote (Windows & Mac)
- Click in the text where you want the reference marker.
- Go to the References tab.
- Click Insert Footnote.
- Word adds a superscript number and moves your cursor to the bottom of the page — type your note there.
Shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+F (Windows) or ⌘+Option+F (Mac).
2. Insert an Endnote
Same tab, different button: References > Insert Endnote (shortcut Ctrl+Alt+D). The note lands at the end of the document instead of the page bottom.
3. Insert a Footnote in Word for the Web
- Open the References tab (or Insert in some layouts).
- Click Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote.
- Type your note. Numbering updates automatically.
4. Navigate Between Footnotes
- References > Next Footnote dropdown to jump forward or back.
- Hover over a reference number to preview the note, or double-click it to jump to the note (and vice versa).
5. Change the Number Format or Convert Notes
- Click the small arrow in the corner of the Footnotes group.
- In the dialog, change the Number format (1, 2, 3 / i, ii, iii / a, b, c), the starting number, or Apply changes location.
- Click Convert to switch all footnotes to endnotes or vice versa, then Apply.
6. Troubleshooting
Deleting the note text leaves the number behind
Delete the reference number in the body text, not the note at the bottom — that removes both and renumbers the rest.
My footnotes restart on every page
Open the Footnotes dialog and set Numbering to Continuous instead of “Restart each page.”
The footnote area separator line is in the way
View > Draft, then References > Show Notes to edit the separator; switch back to Print Layout when done.
Numbers are out of order
They renumber automatically when you click away. If not, select all (Ctrl+A) and press F9 to update fields.
Related Word guides: How to add a citation · How to do a hanging indent · How to add a table of contents · How to add page numbers · How to add a superscript
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