Microsoft Word troubleshooting and how-to guides
When you build an index in Word, the XE (Index Entry) fields that define a range using a bookmark should generate a page range in the final index, such as “12–14.” Instead, some users see the raw XE field code or the bookmark name displayed as plain text in the index output. This problem occurs … Read more
When you add section breaks to a Word document, you may want footnote numbering to restart at 1 for each new section. By default, Word continues footnote numbering across sections, which can confuse readers in documents with multiple chapters or parts. This article shows you how to restart footnote numbering at section boundaries without resetting … Read more
You create a cross-reference in Word, enable the Insert as Hyperlink option, and then move the referenced heading or bookmark to another page. When you click the cross-reference, Word either jumps to the wrong location or shows an error. This happens because the hyperlink stores an absolute page position instead of a dynamic reference to … Read more
You need a table of contents that uses multi-level numbering — for example, 1, 1.1, 1.1.1 — and each level must have its own custom indent in the TOC. By default, Word applies automatic indents based on heading styles, but these often do not match your document layout or branding. This article explains how to … Read more
When you insert citations into a Word document using the built-in bibliography feature, the citation format can change unexpectedly between insertions. One citation may appear as (Author, Year) while the next shows Author (Year) or a numbered style, even though you selected a single style like APA or MLA. This inconsistency happens because Word applies … Read more
When you add captions to figures, tables, or equations in Word, the numbering often resets at each new section or chapter. This behavior breaks the sequential numbering you need for a professional report, thesis, or manual. The root cause is that Word links caption numbering to heading styles or section breaks by default. This article … Read more
You insert an image in a Word document, update the Table of Figures, and the picture does not appear. No error message or warning explains why the entry is missing. This happens because Word’s Table of Figures relies entirely on captions applied to images, not on the images themselves. This article explains the technical reason … Read more
When you insert an automatic table of contents in Word, the TOC field includes all heading styles by default. If your document uses custom styles or non-heading styles that you want to keep out of the TOC, the default settings will not help. Word TOC field switches let you control exactly which style levels appear … Read more
You created an index in Word, but one subentry appears above its main entry instead of below it. This happens even though you set the sort order correctly. The problem is usually caused by a hidden formatting character, an extra space, or a tab inside the index entry field code. Word uses field codes like … Read more
Managing citations across several Word documents is a common challenge for researchers and students writing a thesis, a book, or a series of reports. When you add sources to each document separately, you end up with duplicate entries and inconsistent formatting. Word provides a built-in feature called a Master List that stores all your sources … Read more