Office for Mac Issues

How to Update Word Cross-References in Footnotes on Mac

Maira Mehtab Oct 23, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs a way to refresh and correct footnote cross-references that display outdated or incorrect page numbers in Word for Mac.

How to Update Word Cross-References in Footnotes on Mac

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Formatting and managing academic or professional documents with extensive cross-referenced footnotes.
Observed behavior: Footnote cross-references display outdated page numbers even though the underlying hyperlinks function correctly.

Before you start

Ensure you have finished adding all new text and page breaks to your document, as pagination shifts will require you to update the fields again.

Solution 1Recommended

Quickly Update Fields Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Use Word's built-in field update shortcut to refresh all footnote cross-references simultaneously.

This is the most efficient method for updating multiple cross-references at once. Keep in mind that depending on your Mac's keyboard settings, you may need to hold the 'Fn' key while pressing F9.

Access the footnote area

Click anywhere inside the footnote section at the bottom of the page to focus your cursor there.

Select all footnote content

Press Command+A (or Ctrl+A if mapped differently) to highlight all the footnotes in the document.

Update the fields

Press F9 (or Fn+F9) to force Word to recalculate and refresh the displayed page numbers for all selected fields.

Quickly Update Fields Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Pro Tip: You can also go to Word > Preferences > Print and check the 'Update fields' option to ensure all fields are refreshed automatically right before you print or export to PDF.

Solution 2

Manually Update Individual Cross-References

Use the context menu to update specific fields if the bulk update fails or you only need to fix a single reference.

Solution 3

Create a Manual Footnote Cross-Reference Using Bookmarks

Manually build a robust cross-reference using field codes and bookmarks if the standard referencing tool malfunctions.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Seamless Document Formatting with WPS Office for Mac

Struggling with field update glitches and cumbersome reference management in Microsoft Word for Mac? Switch to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free, and highly compatible alternative with smooth document formatting and reliable footnote reference handling.

1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office application for Mac directly from the official website or the Mac App Store.
2. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and simply open your existing .docx files without losing any formatting or footnote data.
3. Edit with Ease: Enjoy seamless cross-referencing and document management with WPS Writer's highly optimized tools.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats, retaining all complex field codes and cross-references.Intuitive and glitch-free reference management system for footnotes, endnotes, and citations.Lightweight architecture ensures fast performance on all macOS versions without heavy resource consumption.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate tabbed interface.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Word cross-references show the wrong page numbers when typing?

Microsoft Word does not continuously recalculate field codes in real-time to save system resources. When you add or remove text causing page shifts, the cross-reference fields remain static until you manually update them or trigger an update via print settings.

Is there a way to automatically update all fields in Word for Mac before exporting?

Yes. You can ensure cross-references are accurate before saving as a PDF or printing by opening Word > Preferences, selecting Print, and checking the box for 'Update fields' under the printing options.

What should I do if the F9 shortcut does not work on my Mac?

By default, Apple assigns top-row keys to media or system controls (like volume or screen brightness). To use the standard F9 function in Word, hold down the 'Fn' key on your keyboard while pressing F9. Alternatively, you can change your Mac's keyboard settings in System Preferences to use F1, F2, etc., as standard function keys.

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