How to Fix Broken Word Citations After Uninstalling EndNote
Question details
The user needs to restore the normal display of in-text citations and bibliographies in a Word document after uninstalling EndNote.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening or editing a document with existing references after the EndNote citation manager has been removed from the system.
- Observed behavior
- Citations and bibliographies display as raw field codes instead of properly formatted text results.
Ensure your document is saved before modifying field code settings, and verify that you do not need to reinstall EndNote to manage the remaining references.
Use Keyboard Shortcut to Toggle Field Codes
This is the fastest method to switch Word from displaying raw field codes back to normal formatted text.
Microsoft Word uses field codes to generate dynamic content like citations and bibliographies. Sometimes, removing an add-in like EndNote leaves Word stuck in the mode that reveals these underlying codes. A simple keyboard shortcut can instantly revert this.
Launch Microsoft Word and open the document containing the broken citations.
Press the 'Alt + F9' keys on your keyboard simultaneously. This toggles the view between field codes and their actual formatted results.
Scroll through your document to check that the in-text citations and bibliography now display correctly.
Disable Field Codes in Word Options
Modify Word's advanced settings to permanently prevent field codes from displaying instead of their values.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did uninstalling EndNote break my citations?
Uninstalling EndNote removes the add-in that actively manages and formats the citations. During this process, Word may default to showing the underlying field codes (the raw data EndNote left behind) rather than the formatted text you usually see.
Will Alt+F9 fix citations if I converted them to plain text?
No. If you used EndNote's 'Convert to Plain Text' feature before uninstalling the software, the citations are no longer field codes. Alt+F9 only works to toggle the display of active or orphaned field codes.
How do I remove the EndNote field codes completely without the software?
To permanently convert all field codes into regular text, press Ctrl+A to select the entire document, then press Ctrl+Shift+F9. This unlinks all fields, turning your dynamic citations and bibliographies into static, plain text.
