How to add and manage footnotes in Microsoft Word on PC and Mac

You can make a footnote in Word to add a citation, explanation, or extra detail without interrupting the main text. Word inserts a numbered reference mark and links it to a note at the bottom of the page. It also handles numbering automatically, so you do not need to type or update the numbers yourself.

Before you start: Open your document in Microsoft Word. These instructions cover Word 2016 for Windows and Mac; menu locations may differ in other versions.

How to add and manage footnotes in Word

Follow the steps for your computer, then adjust or remove notes as needed.

Insert a footnote on Windows

• Place the cursor where you want the footnote reference mark to appear, usually immediately after the relevant…