Fix Word List of Figures Adding File Path to Floating Captions
Question details
The user needs to prevent Microsoft Word from inserting the document's local file path into the List of Figures when referencing captions attached to floating or text-wrapped images.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 2019 and Word 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Generating or regenerating a List of Figures in a document containing graphics with 'floating' or 'wrapped' text styles.
- Observed behavior
- The List of Figures includes the local file path in the hyperlinks for the captions. This unwanted path reappears every time the field is updated and carries over to exported PDFs and shared documents.
Enable paragraph marks (Show/Hide ¶) in the Home tab to better visualize how your images and captions are currently anchored to the text.
Use an Invisible Table to Position Graphics and Captions
Replace the floating text wrapping with a borderless table. This keeps the graphic and caption together while avoiding the file path bug in the List of Figures.
This issue is a known bug in newer versions of Word (such as Word 2019 and Office 365) where wrapped graphics confuse the field generator. Placing the image 'In Line with Text' inside a table resolves the reference error.
Select the floating image, click the 'Layout Options' icon next to it (or go to the Picture Format tab), and change the text wrapping to 'In Line with Text'.
Go to the 'Insert' tab, click 'Table', and create a 1x2 table (one column, two rows) in your document.
Cut the image and paste it into the top cell of the table. Cut the corresponding caption and paste it into the bottom cell.
Select the entire table, navigate to the 'Table Design' tab, click the 'Borders' dropdown, and select 'No Border' so the table becomes invisible.
Right-click on your List of Figures, choose 'Update Field', and select 'Update entire table'. The file paths will now disappear.
Create Professional Documents Bug-Free with WPS Office
Tired of dealing with formatting glitches and unwanted file paths in your document references? WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Word that handles graphics, captions, and reference tables seamlessly.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for free from the official website.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document.
- 3. Update References Smoothly: Navigate to the References tab and update your List of Figures without encountering the file path bug.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word add file paths to my List of Figures?
This is a recognized issue in newer versions of Word, including Word 2019 and Office 365. When a caption is attached to a graphic with a 'floating' or 'wrapped' text setting, the reference field incorrectly pulls the local file path into the generated hyperlink.
Can I simply delete the file path from the List of Figures manually?
While you can manually backspace or delete the file path in the List of Figures, the path will reappear the next time you update the fields, refresh the table, or print the document. Using an invisible table for positioning offers a permanent fix.
Will these file paths appear if I save the document as a PDF?
Yes. If the file paths are present in the List of Figures within the Word document, they will be carried over into the final exported PDF. This can look unprofessional and expose your private folder structure to recipients.
How do I make the table holding my image and caption invisible?
Click the crosshair icon at the top-left of the table to select it, go to the 'Home' or 'Table Design' tab, click the arrow next to the 'Borders' button, and choose 'No Border'. The gridlines will disappear from the final print or PDF.
