Formatting Issues

How to Fix Missing or Incorrect Footnote Numbers in Word

Chanuka Geekiyanage Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing missing or incorrectly sequenced footnote numbers in a document and needs to locate hidden footnotes or repair the damaged numbering sequence.

How to Fix Missing or Incorrect Footnote Numbers in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing or formatting a document with footnotes where the numbering sequence unexpectedly breaks, skips numbers, or hides footnotes.
Observed behavior: Footnote numbers skip or disappear from the sequence, and recreating the footnote does not correct the corrupted numbering order.

Before you start

Turn on 'Show/Hide ¶' (Ctrl+*) to display hidden formatting marks in your document, which makes it much easier to spot misplaced or accidentally hidden footnote references.

Solution 1Recommended

Locate and Fix Hidden Footnotes Using Find and Go To

Use specific search codes and the Go To dialog box to jump directly to the hidden or corrupted footnote reference so you can delete and re-insert it.

When a footnote sequence skips a number (e.g., jumping from 14 to 16), the missing footnote (15) often still exists but has been accidentally formatted as hidden text or misplaced within another element.

Using the built-in Go To navigation allows you to force the cursor to the exact location of the invisible or corrupted footnote mark.

Search for all footnote marks

Press Ctrl+F to open the Find dialog or Navigation pane, and type ^f (the code for a footnote mark) to locate all footnotes in the document.

Navigate to the preceding footnote

Scroll through your document and place your text cursor directly next to the footnote that appears right before the missing number (for example, footnote 14).

Open the Go To dialog

Press Ctrl+G on your keyboard to launch the 'Go To' dialog box.

Jump to the missing footnote

In the 'Go to what' list, select 'Footnote'. In the 'Enter footnote number' box, type +1 and click 'Go To'.

Evaluate and fix the sequence

Observe where the text cursor moves. If it highlights a hidden or blank space, you have found the corrupted footnote. Press Delete to remove it, which will instantly correct the numbering sequence for the rest of the document. You can then re-insert the footnote properly.

Locate and Fix Hidden Footnotes Using Find and Go To

Track Changes Consideration: If you have 'Track Changes' enabled, deleted footnotes will not update the numbering sequence until you accept the deletion. Go to the Review tab and click 'Accept' on the deleted footnote.

Seamless Document Editing

Manage and Fix Footnotes Seamlessly in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for inserting, managing, and formatting footnotes without frustrating numbering sequence errors. It provides flawless compatibility with Microsoft Word documents, ensuring your academic and professional formatting remains intact.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the footnote issues.
2. Access the References tab: Click on the 'References' tab located on the top ribbon menu.
3. Insert a new footnote: Place your cursor where you need the citation and click 'Insert Footnote' to automatically add a sequentially numbered mark.
4. Customize numbering settings: Click the small settings icon in the Footnotes group to open the Footnote/Endnote dialog box, where you can easily set the numbering to 'Continuous'.

Easily insert and manage footnotes directly from the References tab.Highly compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx).Intuitive Footnote/Endnote settings to control numbering sequences (continuous or restart per page).Free, lightweight, and fast word processor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my footnote numbering unexpectedly restart at 1?

Your footnote numbering rules may be set to 'Restart each page' or 'Restart each section'. To fix this, open the Footnote and Endnote dialog box from the References tab, change the numbering setting to 'Continuous', and click Apply to whole document.

Can Track Changes affect my footnote numbering?

Yes. If you delete a footnote while Track Changes is turned on, the footnote number won't be fully removed or updated until you officially accept the deletion. Navigate to the Review tab and accept the change to correct the sequence.

How do I change the footnote number format from numbers to letters or roman numerals?

Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog box from the References tab. Find the 'Number format' dropdown menu, select your desired format (such as a, b, c or i, ii, iii), ensure 'Apply changes to' is set to 'Whole document', and click Apply.

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