Document Editing Problems

Fix Word Cursor Jumping to Start When Inserting Comments or Footnotes

Bushra Parveen Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where the text cursor unexpectedly jumps to the beginning of the document when attempting to add a comment or insert a footnote.

Fix Word Cursor Jumping to Start When Inserting Comments or Footnotes

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing a text document and utilizing the review or reference tools to add comments or footnotes.
Observed behavior: Instead of remaining near the selected text, the cursor instantly relocates to the very top of the document page, disrupting the editing workflow.

Before you start

Verify that your Microsoft Office suite is fully updated, and create a backup copy of your current document before running repair commands to prevent data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Switch to Print Layout View

Use this solution to ensure your document view is not causing formatting conflicts. Draft or Web Layout views can sometimes cause erratic cursor behavior when inserting reference elements.

Microsoft Word handles pagination and marginal elements differently depending on the active view. Comments and footnotes require dedicated margin or footer space, which is only rendered properly in Print Layout view. Working in other views can force the cursor to reposition unexpectedly.

Navigate to the View tab

Open your problematic document in Microsoft Word and click on the 'View' tab located in the top ribbon menu.

Select Print Layout

In the 'Views' group on the far left of the ribbon, click on 'Print Layout'. Ensure the document re-renders properly.

Test the feature

Scroll to the desired paragraph and attempt to insert a comment or footnote again to see if the cursor remains in the correct location.

Tip: You can quickly toggle into Print Layout view by clicking the middle icon in the view shortcuts area located at the bottom-right corner of the Word window.

Solution 2

Use the Open and Repair Tool

Use this method if the cursor issue is isolated to a single document, which suggests underlying file corruption or template errors.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Documents Without Glitches in WPS Office

If Microsoft Word continues to experience bugs like the cursor jumping to the top of the page during editing, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a stable, lightweight, and completely free word processing experience with full compatibility for Word documents.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and complete the quick installation.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer, click 'Open', and select your existing .docx file. It will load with exact formatting.
3. Edit Seamlessly: Highlight your text and click 'Insert Comment' or 'Insert Footnote' without losing your place on the page.

Completely free and lightweight word processorFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) formatsStable footnote and commenting features without frustrating cursor glitchesFamiliar ribbon interface requires no learning curve to master

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my cursor randomly jump while typing in Word?

Aside from view setting conflicts with comments and footnotes, random cursor jumping is frequently caused by accidental touchpad touches on laptops while typing, outdated mouse drivers, or conflicting third-party Word add-ins.

How do I correctly insert a footnote without losing my place in the text?

To insert a footnote properly, ensure you are in Print Layout view. Go to the 'References' tab and click 'Insert Footnote'. The view will automatically shift to the bottom of the current page to let you type the note, and you can double-click the footnote number to jump back to your original text.

Can document corruption cause cursor jumping issues?

Yes. Hidden XML corruption or complex formatting inconsistencies within a Word document can cause erratic behavior, such as the cursor jumping to the top of the page when triggering commands like inserting objects, footnotes, or review comments.

Document & File Issues