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Fix Word Footnotes Not Showing at Bottom of Page
Question details
The user needs to make footnotes visible at the bottom of the document page, as they currently only appear when clicking the footnote numbers in Word Online or Microsoft Teams.
- Product
- Microsoft Word (Online, Teams, and Desktop)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing a document that contains footnotes using the web or Teams version of Microsoft Word.
- Observed behavior
- Footnotes are hidden at the bottom of the page during editing mode and only display in a separate side pane when their reference numbers are selected.
Verify whether you are currently editing the document in the web version (Word Online), Microsoft Teams, or the installed desktop application, as the view settings for footnotes differ across these platforms.
Switch to Viewing Mode in Word for the Web
Word Online and Teams do not display page layout elements like footnotes at the bottom of the page while in Editing mode. Switching to Viewing mode resolves this.
To optimize performance and simplify the interface, the web and Teams versions of Word hide page layout formatting during active editing. Footnotes are instead moved to a separate pane. You must change your view mode to see the final layout.
Click on the 'View' tab in the ribbon at the top of the Word Online or Teams interface.
Select 'Viewing' (or 'Reading View') from the ribbon options. The document will refresh, and footnotes will now appear correctly at the bottom of each page.
Change to Print Layout View in Word Desktop
If you are using the desktop application, footnotes will only appear at the bottom of the page if you are in Print Layout view.
Verify You Are Using Footnotes Instead of Endnotes
Sometimes footnotes are confused with endnotes, which are designed to appear at the very end of the document rather than at the bottom of each page.
Manage Footnotes Easily with WPS Office
Avoid the viewing limitations of web-based document editors. WPS Office provides a robust desktop editing experience where footnotes and page layouts remain visible exactly as they will print, even while you are actively editing.
- 1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word document. WPS Writer defaults to Print Layout view.
- 2. Insert or Edit Footnotes: Navigate to the References tab and click 'Insert Footnote' to add new references directly.
- 3. View Footnotes seamlessly: Scroll to the bottom of the page. Your footnotes will remain instantly visible and editable at the bottom margin without needing to switch viewing modes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my footnotes appear in a side pane instead of the bottom?
In Word Online or Teams, the active editing mode simplifies the page layout to improve web performance. Footnotes are temporarily moved to a side pane so they don't disrupt the web editing experience.
Can I force Word Online to show footnotes at the bottom while editing?
No, Word Online currently does not support displaying complex page layout elements like footnotes at the bottom of the page while in Editing mode. You must switch to Viewing or Reading mode to see the final layout.
Will my footnotes print correctly if I can't see them in editing mode?
Yes. Even if footnotes are hidden or displayed in a side pane during web editing, they are still formatted correctly and will print at the bottom of the page. You can confirm this by checking the Print Preview.
How do I convert endnotes to footnotes in Word?
In the desktop version of Word, right-click the endnote text at the end of your document and select 'Convert to Footnote'. This will immediately move the reference to the bottom of the corresponding page.
