Formatting Issues

How to Fix Table of Figures Hyperlinks and Restarted Numbering in Word

Nimra Malik Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where the Table of Figures becomes entirely hyperlinked upon reopening, and new figure captions incorrectly restart at Figure 1.

How to Fix Table of Figures Hyperlinks and Restarted Numbering in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Working on a large, structured document such as a dissertation where captions and the Table of Figures are frequently updated.
Observed behavior: The Table of Figures entries or the captions themselves unexpectedly convert into hyperlinks after reopening the file, and newly added figure captions restart their sequence at 1 instead of continuing from previous figures.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure your document is in Print Layout view and click the Show/Hide ¶ button on the Home tab to display hidden paragraph marks and section breaks.

Solution 1Recommended

Fix Restarted Caption Numbering

Use this solution when newly inserted figures restart at Figure 1 instead of following the existing numbering sequence.

Caption numbering sequence issues are usually caused by a mismatch in caption labels, hidden section breaks that are set to restart numbering, or outdated field codes.

Verify Caption Labels

Right-click the restarted figure number and select 'Edit Field', or simply insert a new caption. Ensure the Label drop-down specifically matches your previous figures (e.g., choosing 'Figure' instead of a custom or slightly misspelled label).

Check for Section Breaks

With hidden characters visible, look for a 'Section Break' just before the restarted figure. If chapter-based numbering is turned on, a new section will restart the sequence. Adjust the numbering settings by selecting the caption, clicking 'Numbering' in the Caption dialog, and ensuring 'Include chapter number' is configured correctly.

Force Field Updates

Word may simply be displaying cached numbers. Press Ctrl+A to select your entire document, then press F9 to update all field codes and force a recalculation of the figure sequence.

Pro Tip: Always use Word's built-in 'References' > 'Insert Caption' tool rather than typing 'Figure 1' manually to ensure the automated sequence works.

Solution 2

Resolve Unexpected Hyperlinks in the Table of Figures

Use this method if your Table of Figures entries or captions are turning blue and underlined like standard web hyperlinks.

Manage Documents with Ease

Create and Manage Table of Figures Seamlessly in WPS Writer

Avoid frustrating formatting errors and broken numbering by using WPS Writer to manage your dissertation or reports. It offers intuitive reference tools that ensure your captions and Table of Figures stay perfectly synchronized.

1. Insert a Figure Caption: Select your image, navigate to the References tab, and click Caption. Choose the 'Figure' label and click OK to insert it.
2. Generate the Table of Figures: Place your cursor where the table should appear, click 'Insert Table of Figures' under the References tab, and select your preferred layout.
3. Update Easily: Whenever you add new figures, simply right-click the Table of Figures and select 'Update Field' to refresh page numbers and linked captions instantly.

Automated and continuous figure numbering without glitchesSeamless compatibility with Microsoft Word documents (.docx)Easy insertion and updating of Tables of FiguresClean, distraction-free interface for complex formatting

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word figure numbering keep restarting at 1?

This typically happens if a section break was inserted and chapter-based numbering is enabled, or if you accidentally selected a different caption label (like 'Equation' or a custom label) instead of the standard 'Figure' label used previously.

How do I remove the blue hyperlink format from my Table of Figures?

Select the Table of Figures, open the Styles pane, and reapply the default 'Table of Figures' style. If the Hyperlink character style was accidentally applied to the base style, modifying the style to remove underline and blue color will also fix it.

Can I have clickable links in the Table of Figures without them looking like hyperlinks?

Yes. The Table of Figures creates clickable links by default using the \h switch in its field code without changing the text color. If the text turned blue, it means the 'Hyperlink' style was manually applied to the text and simply needs to be cleared.

How can I include chapter numbers in my figure captions?

Go to References > Insert Caption, click 'Numbering', and check the 'Include chapter number' box. Ensure your chapter headings are formatted using Word's built-in Heading styles (e.g., Heading 1) for this feature to work correctly.

Document & File Issues