Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Word for Mac Footnotes Not Renumbering by Section

Chanuka Geekiyanage Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to correctly restart footnote numbering across different sections in Word for Mac and prevent footnotes or endnotes from disappearing during copy-and-paste operations.

How to Fix Word for Mac Footnotes Not Renumbering by Section

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Formatting a document with multiple sections and copying text containing footnotes or endnotes.
Observed behavior: Footnote numbering does not restart at the beginning of a new section, and footnotes unexpectedly disappear when pasted into the document.

Before you start

Before adjusting your footnote settings, ensure you have correctly inserted section breaks (not just page breaks) in your document, as page breaks alone will not allow footnote numbering to restart.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Section Numbering and Adjust Paste Settings

Adjust the footnote numbering settings for each section and ensure the correct paste options are selected to prevent footnotes from being stripped out.

To fix the numbering issue, you must specifically tell Word to restart footnote numbers after every section break. Additionally, footnotes disappear during pasting because Word's default paste format might be stripping the rich formatting.

Restart Footnote Numbering

Navigate to the 'References' tab on the ribbon. Click on the Footnote & Endnote dialog box launcher. In the Format section, change the 'Numbering' dropdown to 'Restart each section', then click 'Apply'.

Use 'Keep Source Formatting' When Pasting

When pasting copied text that contains footnotes, do not use the standard paste shortcut if it strips formatting. Instead, right-click the location where you want to paste the text and select 'Keep Source Formatting'.

Modify Default Paste Preferences

Go to 'Word > Preferences' (or 'File > Options > Advanced' depending on your version). Locate the 'Cut, copy, and paste' section and change the default setting for pasting between documents to 'Keep Source Formatting'.

Configure Section Numbering and Adjust Paste Settings

Check for Recent Updates: If your pasting preferences changed without your input, it may have been caused by a recent Microsoft Office update resetting your advanced settings back to 'Keep Text Only'.

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Try WPS Office for Highly Stable Document Formatting

Tired of unexpected settings changes after Microsoft Office updates? WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that offers reliable document formatting. It provides a familiar user interface and ensures your footnotes, endnotes, and complex layouts remain perfectly intact without unexpected preference resets.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free Mac version of WPS Office and install it on your device.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file. Your current footnotes and section breaks will load perfectly.
3. Manage Footnotes Easily: Navigate to the References tab in WPS Writer to quickly manage your footnotes and endnotes with a highly stable and intuitive menu.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my footnotes disappear when I pasted text into my Mac Word document?

This usually happens if your default paste setting is set to 'Keep Text Only', which strips out rich formatting like footnotes and endnotes. You can prevent this by right-clicking and selecting 'Keep Source Formatting' when pasting.

How do I restart footnote numbers for a new chapter on Mac?

First, ensure you have inserted a 'Section Break' at the end of the previous chapter. Then, open the Footnote & Endnote settings from the References tab and change the numbering option from 'Continuous' to 'Restart each section'.

Can a Microsoft Word update change my pasting preferences?

Yes. Users frequently report that major Microsoft Office updates can sometimes reset advanced options, such as default pasting behavior, back to their factory defaults.

What is the difference between a page break and a section break for footnotes?

A page break simply moves text to the next page but keeps it within the same structural section, meaning footnotes will continue to number sequentially. A section break creates a hard structural division, which is required if you want footnote numbers to reset back to 1.

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