Document Editing Problems

How to Fix Word Footnotes and Endnotes That Do Not Renumber Automatically

John Wilson Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where footnote or endnote numbers do not automatically update or recalculate after a reference is deleted.

How to Fix Word Footnotes and Endnotes That Do Not Renumber Automatically

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows and Mac
Scenario: Editing a document that contains footnotes or endnotes, specifically when deleting existing references or moving text around.
Observed behavior: The numbering sequence breaks, leaving gaps or incorrect numbers instead of automatically adjusting to reflect the deleted notes.

Before you start

Ensure you save a backup copy of your document before forcing field updates or accepting tracked changes, so you do not accidentally lose your footnote content.

Solution 1Recommended

Force a Manual Field Update

Use Word's field update shortcut to force the document to recalculate all footnote and endnote numbers.

Sometimes Word enters a temporary state where automatic background refreshes are paused. Manually triggering a field update usually corrects numbering sequence errors instantly.

Select the entire document

Click anywhere in your document and press Ctrl+A on Windows (or Command+A on Mac) to select all text.

Update fields

Press the F9 key on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can right-click directly on an incorrect note reference number in the text and choose 'Update Field' from the context menu.

Quick Refresh: Closing and reopening the Word document often automatically triggers a field refresh upon loading.

Solution 2

Resolve Tracked Changes

Accept or reject tracked deletions so that Word recognizes the footnote has actually been removed.

Solution 3

Transfer Content to a New File

Copy the text into a fresh document to clear any hidden formatting corruption preventing the numbers from updating.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Enjoy Seamless Document Editing with WPS Office

If you frequently encounter field updating glitches and formatting errors in Word, try WPS Office. It handles complex documents, including footnotes and endnotes, with flawless automatic renumbering and perfect formatting compatibility.

1. Download and install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your PC or Mac.
2. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file. Your layout and footnotes will be preserved perfectly.
3. Edit without hassle: Add, move, or delete footnotes naturally. WPS Writer handles the numbering adjustments automatically in real time.

Perfect compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsAutomatic and bug-free footnote/endnote renumberingLightweight, fast, and completely free to useFamiliar interface with zero learning curve

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my footnote numbers stop updating after I deleted one?

This most commonly occurs if 'Track Changes' is turned on, which keeps the deleted note in memory until accepted. It can also happen if Word's background field updating experiences a temporary glitch.

What is the correct way to delete a footnote?

To properly delete a footnote, you must delete the superscript reference number in the main body of the document, not the text of the footnote at the bottom of the page. Deleting the reference number tells the software to remove the note entirely and renumber the rest.

Will printing the document fix field numbering issues?

Yes, switching to the Print Preview screen or printing the document typically forces the software to refresh and update all document fields, including footnote and endnote numbers.

Document & File Issues