Formatting Issues

How to Remove an Uneditable Page Number Above a Footnote in Word

Emma Brown Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to delete an extra, uneditable page number that appears directly above footnotes.

How to Remove an Uneditable Page Number Above a Footnote in Word

Product: Microsoft Word 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing a document that contains footnotes and header page numbers, where a redundant page number has appeared above the footnotes.
Observed behavior: An extra page number appears directly above the footnotes on some pages and cannot be selected or deleted in the normal document view.

Before you start

Before attempting to delete the page number, enable formatting marks by clicking the 'Show/Hide ¶' button on the Home tab to better visualize section breaks and hidden footnote layout elements.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove the Page Number via Header and Footer View

Since uneditable page numbers are typically embedded in the footer layout, activating the Header and Footer view allows you to select and delete the field.

By default, any text or page number field placed in the header or footer cannot be edited while working in the main document body. Unlocking this layer will grant you access to delete the stubborn page number.

Open Header and Footer View

Double-click the empty area at the very bottom or top of your page to activate the Header and Footer editing mode.

Select the page number

Locate the unwanted extra page number appearing above your footnotes and click on the number to highlight its field.

Delete the field

Press the Delete or Backspace key on your keyboard to remove the highlighted page number.

Close Header and Footer

Click the 'Close Header and Footer' button in the ribbon toolbar, or double-click anywhere in the main document body to return to normal editing.

Remove the Page Number via Header and Footer View

Check all sections: If your document contains multiple section breaks, you may need to repeat these steps for each section if 'Link to Previous' is disabled.

Solution 2

Inspect and Edit Footnote Separators

If the extra page number only appears on pages with footnotes, it may have been accidentally inserted into the footnote separator line.

Simplify Document Formatting

Easily Manage Headers, Footers, and Footnotes in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface to manage complex document layouts, including headers, footers, and footnote formatting. If you find adjusting document elements difficult, try handling your formatting tasks in WPS Office.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx document containing the footnotes.
2. Access Header and Footer: Go to the Insert tab and click Header and Footer, or simply double-click the footer area of the page.
3. Delete unwanted elements: Select the extra page number floating above your footnotes and press Delete on your keyboard.
4. Manage footnote separators: Go to the References tab and use the Footnote/Endnote settings dialog box to customize or easily reset footnote separators.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatting and layouts.Intuitive Header and Footer tabs for effortless layout adjustments.Advanced footnote and endnote management with visual dialog boxes.Free and lightweight word processor for daily professional use.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I select a page number in my Word document?

If you cannot select or click a page number while editing the main text, it means the number is located within the Header or Footer layer. You must double-click the very top or bottom margin of the page to unlock these elements and make them editable.

What is a Footnote Separator in Word?

A footnote separator is the horizontal line that divides the main document text from the footnotes at the bottom of the page. In Draft view, users can customize this separator or accidentally paste text and page numbers into it.

How do I safely remove all page numbers from my document?

To remove all standard page numbers at once, navigate to the Insert tab, click on Page Number in the Header & Footer group, and select 'Remove Page Numbers' from the drop-down menu.

Will deleting a page number in the footer delete it on every page?

Usually, yes. By default, headers and footers are linked across the entire document. Deleting a page number field on one page will remove it from all pages, unless you have section breaks with the 'Link to Previous' setting disabled.

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