How to Add Footnotes With Custom Numbering in Word

Adding footnotes in Word is a standard way to cite sources or provide additional commentary. However, the default numbering starts at 1 and increments by one throughout the document. You may need a different starting number, a different numeral style, or a custom symbol instead of a number. This article explains how to change footnote numbering from the default to a custom format.

Word stores footnote settings in the Footnote and Endnote dialog box. You can access this dialog from the References tab. Once open, you can set the number format, starting number, and whether numbering restarts on each page or section. You can also use a custom mark, such as an asterisk or a dagger symbol.

This guide covers the steps to apply custom numbering to footnotes in Word for Windows and Word for Mac. It also explains how to restart numbering per section and how to remove or change custom settings later. By the end, you will be able to control footnote numbering precisely for academic papers, legal documents, or any professional report.

Understanding Footnote Numbering Options in Word

Word provides several ways to control footnote numbering. The default numbering is 1, 2, 3 and runs continuously from the first footnote to the last. You can change this to lowercase Roman numerals, uppercase Roman numerals, lowercase letters, uppercase letters, or a custom symbol.

The starting number can be any integer, not just 1. This is useful when your document has multiple sections or when footnotes continue from a previous file. You can also set numbering to restart on each page or each section instead of running continuously.

The custom mark feature lets you bypass numbering entirely. You can insert a single character, such as an asterisk () or a dagger (†), as the footnote marker. This is common in tables or when you want a non-numeric reference.

Steps to Add Footnotes With Custom Numbering in Word

Follow these steps to change footnote numbering in Word. The steps apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word for Mac 2021.

Changing the Number Format and Starting Number

1. Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog
   Click the References tab on the ribbon. In the Footnotes group, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner. This opens the Footnote and Endnote dialog box.
2. Select the numbering format
   In the dialog, find the Number format dropdown list. Click it and choose the format you want: 1, 2, 3; i, ii, iii; I, II, III; a, b, c; or A, B, C.
3. Set the starting number
   In the Start at box, type the number you want the first footnote to use. For example, type 5 to start numbering at 5. If you selected a letter format, the starting value corresponds to the letter position (1 = a, 2 = b, etc).
4. Choose numbering continuity
   In the Numbering section, select one of three options: Continuous, Restart each section, or Restart each page. Continuous numbers footnotes in sequence throughout the document. Restart each section begins numbering at 1 for each new section. Restart each page begins numbering at 1 on each new page.
5. Apply the changes
   Click Apply to change the numbering for existing footnotes and any new footnotes you insert. Click Insert to add a new footnote with the new settings immediately.

Using a Custom Mark Instead of a Number

1. Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog
   Click the References tab and then click the dialog launcher arrow in the Footnotes group.
2. Select the Custom mark option
   In the dialog, click the radio button next to Custom mark. Then click the Symbol button next to it.
3. Choose a symbol
   The Symbol dialog opens. Select a font from the Font dropdown, such as Symbol or Wingdings. Click a symbol, such as an asterisk, dagger, or bullet. Click OK.
4. Insert the footnote
   Back in the Footnote and Endnote dialog, click Insert. Word adds a footnote with your custom symbol as the marker. Repeat these steps for each custom footnote you want to add; each will use the same symbol.

Restarting Footnote Numbering in Each Section

1. Insert section breaks
   Place your cursor where you want the new section to start. Go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page under Section Breaks. Repeat for each section that needs its own numbering.
2. Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog
   Click References > dialog launcher in the Footnotes group.
3. Set numbering to restart per section
   In the Numbering section, select Restart each section. Click Apply. Word now restarts footnote numbering at 1 at the beginning of each new section.

Common Mistakes and Limitations When Customizing Footnote Numbering

Custom marks do not auto-increment

When you use a custom mark, Word inserts the same symbol for every footnote you add using that method. If you need different symbols for different footnotes, you must manually change each one. To do this, select the footnote reference in the text, press Ctrl+Shift+= to open the Font dialog, and change the character. Or delete the footnote and reinsert it with a different custom mark.

Numbering restarts unexpectedly after a section break

If your document contains section breaks and you set numbering to Continuous, footnotes may still restart in some sections. This happens if the section break is linked to a different header or footer. To fix this, open the Footnote and Endnote dialog, ensure Numbering is set to Continuous, and click Apply. If the problem persists, check that each section’s footnote settings match by opening the dialog while your cursor is in each section.

Changing the number format does not affect existing footnotes

If you change the number format after footnotes already exist, the existing footnotes update to the new format automatically. If they do not update, close and reopen the dialog, then click Apply. If that fails, select all text in the document (Ctrl+A), then press F9 to update fields. This forces Word to refresh all footnote references.

Custom marks do not appear in cross-references

When you use a custom mark, Word does not include it in cross-references created via References > Cross-reference. The cross-reference will show the footnote number even if you use a custom mark. To work around this, type the custom symbol manually in the cross-reference text.

Default vs Custom Footnote Numbering: Key Differences

Item	Default Numbering	Custom Numbering
Number format	1, 2, 3	Any format from the list or a custom symbol
Starting number	Always 1	Any integer you specify
Auto-increment	Yes, sequential	Yes for number formats; no for custom marks
Cross-reference support	Full support	Only for number formats; custom marks not supported
Restart options	Continuous only	Continuous, per section, or per page

You can now control footnote numbering in Word to match your document’s requirements. Start by opening the Footnote and Endnote dialog from the References tab. Experiment with different number formats and the custom mark feature to see which works best for your project. For advanced control, use section breaks to restart numbering in different parts of your document. If you need to reuse the same custom settings, save the document as a template to avoid reconfiguring each time.