Formatting Issues

How to Fix Word Footnote Numbers Restarting on Every Page

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 871 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where footnote numbers fail to remain continuous and unexpectedly reset at the beginning of each page.

Product: Microsoft Word (Office 2024, Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Formatting a large document that requires continuous footnote numbering across multiple pages.
Observed behavior: Footnote numbering resets to 1 on every page regardless of settings, which has been identified as an active software bug in recent Office builds.

Before you start

Verify your current Microsoft Office version by navigating to File > Account, and ensure your document is fully saved before attempting to modify reference settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify and Force Continuous Footnote Settings

Ensure that your document is properly configured for continuous numbering to rule out accidental setting changes before attributing the issue to the software bug.

While this issue is a confirmed bug in certain builds of Office 2024 and Microsoft 365, the first troubleshooting step is always to verify that the document's internal settings haven't been switched to 'Restart each page' by mistake.

Open Footnote Settings

Navigate to the 'References' tab on the Word ribbon and click the small diagonal arrow (Dialog Box Launcher) in the bottom right corner of the Footnotes group.

Change Numbering Format

In the Footnote and Endnote dialog box, locate the 'Numbering' drop-down menu and select 'Continuous'.

Apply to Document

Ensure that 'Apply changes to' is set to 'Whole document', then click the 'Apply' button to save your settings.

Known Bug Disclaimer: If your footnote numbers continue to restart after forcing this setting, you are experiencing the known Microsoft Word bug. Proceed to the next solution to check for patches.

Solution 2

Update Office and Report the Bug

Since this is an active bug tracked by the Microsoft Office team, updating your software or reporting your specific build helps expedite an official patch.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Avoid Document Formatting Bugs with WPS Office

If unresolved Microsoft Word bugs are disrupting your formatting and academic writing, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a stable, highly compatible environment where footnote and endnote continuous numbering works exactly as intended.

1. Open Your Document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .docx file. WPS Writer will read your document exactly as it was formatted.
2. Manage Footnotes Seamlessly: Go to the References tab and click Insert Footnote. Your numbers will remain continuous across all pages automatically.

Flawless footnote and endnote continuous numbering without restart bugsFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and layoutsLightweight application that runs smoothly across all Windows versionsFamiliar user interface ensuring zero learning curve for Office users

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my footnotes restart on every page in Word?

In normal circumstances, this happens because the footnote numbering setting is configured to 'Restart each page'. However, in recent versions of Office Home & Business 2024 and Microsoft 365, a known software bug causes footnotes to restart regardless of your settings.

How do I make footnote numbers continuous in a normal document?

Go to the References tab, click the dialog launcher arrow in the Footnotes group, and change the Numbering dropdown option from 'Restart each page' to 'Continuous'. Finally, click Apply.

Is there a permanent manual fix for the Office 2024 footnote bug?

Currently, there is no manual fix if the continuous setting fails to apply. Users must wait for Microsoft to release a patch via Office Updates. In the meantime, you can use a compatible alternative like WPS Office to finalize and print your document with correct numbering.

Document & File Issues