To enter a footnote in Word, place the cursor where the note reference should appear, then select References > Insert Footnote. Word places a numbered reference mark in the text and opens the matching note at the bottom of the current page, ready for you to type.
Insert a footnote step by step
- Click in the document body exactly where the reference number should appear, such as after a sentence or a quoted phrase.
- Select References > Insert Footnote. In Word for the web, if the document opens in Viewing mode, select Editing first, because footnotes cannot be added in view-only mode.
- Word inserts a superscript reference mark in the body and creates the matching note area at the bottom of the page.
- Type the footnote text in the note area.
- To return to the body, double-click the reference mark in desktop Word. The insertion point goes back to the text where the note is anchored.
Word numbers footnotes automatically. If you add or remove a note earlier in the document, the later numbers update without manual editing.
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Keyboard shortcuts by platform
Microsoft lists keyboard shortcuts for inserting a footnote, but they depend on your operating system and on whether you use desktop Word or Word for the web. Microsoft notes that its listed shortcuts assume a US keyboard layout. If your layout differs, the shortcut may produce a different character or not work at all, so the References menu path is the safest method across versions.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall| Environment | Insert a footnote | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Word for Windows (desktop) | Ctrl+Alt+F | Listed by Microsoft; assumes a US keyboard layout. |
| Word for Mac (desktop) | Command+Option+F | Listed by Microsoft; assumes a US keyboard layout. |
| Word for the web | Not stated for footnotes | Web shortcuts differ from desktop Word; use References > Insert Footnote in Editing mode. |
Footnotes versus endnotes
Word offers two note types with the same reference mechanism. The only practical difference is where the note text is displayed.
#1 Best Overall
| Feature | Footnote | Endnote |
|---|---|---|
| Where the note appears | Bottom of the page where the reference sits | End of the document or section |
| Insertion method | References > Insert Footnote | References > Insert Endnote |
| Available in Word for the web | Yes, per Microsoft’s feature comparison | Per Microsoft’s feature comparison, listed alongside footnotes |
Choose footnotes when readers should see the note on the same page, and endnotes when a longer list of notes would crowd individual pages.
Format, convert, and delete notes
Format footnotes in Word for the web
In Word for the web, open the footnote view and choose Format Footnotes. You can change the size, font, and indentation for one or more notes at once.
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Convert footnotes to endnotes or the reverse
Microsoft directs you to open the document in desktop Word to convert footnotes to endnotes or vice versa. The conversion is not offered in the web app.
Delete a footnote correctly
Delete the reference number in the body text, not the note text at the bottom of the page. Deleting only the note text leaves an orphaned reference mark with no note content. In Word for the web, removing the body mark removes the associated note, and the remaining notes renumber automatically.
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Troubleshooting
- The References tab is missing or greyed out. The document may be open in Viewing mode in Word for the web. Select Editing, then try again.
- The shortcut types the wrong character. Your keyboard layout likely differs from the US layout Microsoft assumes. Use the References menu instead.
- A note number is out of sequence after editing. Word renumbers automatically when you delete a body reference. Check that you deleted the mark in the body, not the note text.
Source and scope
These steps follow Microsoft Support documentation for Word. Menu labels and shortcut lists can change between releases, so if your ribbon looks different, compare it against the current Microsoft Support article on footnotes and endnotes for your edition.
Quick Recap
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