Document Editing Problems

How to Restart Word Footnote Numbering at a Custom Number

Partner Editor Oct 8, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to restart footnote numbering at a specific number other than one for an individual section in a Word document.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting academic or professional documents that require section-specific footnote numbering to begin at a custom value.
Observed behavior: Word applies custom starting footnote numbers globally, but when footnotes are set to restart by section, it does not reliably support assigning a different starting number (other than 1) to only one specific section.

Before you start

Ensure your document is properly divided into sections using Section Breaks before modifying footnote settings, as footnote numbering logic depends heavily on document structure.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify the Global Footnote Starting Number

Change the starting number for footnotes across the entire document or for the first section, keeping in mind the software's native limitations for subsequent sections.

Word allows you to change the starting footnote number, but this setting is designed to apply globally. When you choose to restart footnotes per section, the software automatically defaults the starting number of subsequent sections to '1'. There is currently no reliable built-in feature to restart a specific middle section at an arbitrary number.

Open Footnote Settings

Navigate to the 'References' tab on the top ribbon and click the small dialog box launcher (arrow icon) in the bottom right corner of the Footnotes group.

Set the Start Number

In the Footnote and Endnote dialog box, locate the 'Start at' field and enter your desired custom starting number.

Apply Numbering Logic

Under the 'Numbering' dropdown, choose either 'Continuous' or 'Restart each section'. Note that choosing to restart will revert subsequent sections to 1.

Apply Changes

Click 'Apply' to save the settings to your document.

Modify the Global Footnote Starting Number

System Limitation: Because restarting a section at a custom number like '5' is not reliably supported, you may need to use continuous numbering and manually manage your footnotes if strict formatting is required.

Solution 2

Split the Document to Force Custom Numbering

Divide your document into separate files to independently control the starting footnote number for specific chapters or sections.

Manage Footnotes in WPS Writer

How to Set Footnote Numbering in WPS Office

WPS Writer offers a highly intuitive References tool to help you insert, modify, and manage footnote numbering for your academic or professional documents effortlessly.

1. Open Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to format.
2. Navigate to References: Click on the 'References' tab located on the top menu ribbon.
3. Open Settings: Click the 'Settings' icon in the lower right corner of the Footnotes section to open the configuration dialog.
4. Adjust Start Number: In the Footnote and Endnote dialog, change the 'Start at' value to your preferred number.
5. Apply Configuration: Click 'Apply' to update the footnote numbering throughout your selected scope.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) footnote formats and document structures.Easily adjust footnote starting numbers and numbering formats through an intuitive interface.Lightweight, fast, and free alternative with a familiar user layout.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my footnote restart at 1 in every section?

When the footnote numbering setting is configured to 'Restart each section', the word processor automatically defaults the starting number of each newly created section to 1, regardless of the global 'Start at' setting.

Can I use letters or Roman numerals for footnotes instead of numbers?

Yes. In the Footnote and Endnote dialog box, you can change the 'Number format' dropdown to use letters (a, b, c) or Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) instead of standard Arabic numerals.

How do I quickly convert all footnotes to endnotes?

Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog box from the References tab, click on the 'Convert...' button, select 'Convert all footnotes to endnotes', and click OK.

Document & File Issues