Delete A Footnote, Endnote, Or Separator - Microsoft Support

Skip to main content Sign in with Microsoft Sign in or create an account. Hello, Select a different account. You have multiple accounts Choose the account you want to sign in with. Applies ToWord for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac Word 2024 Word 2024 for Mac Word 2021 Word 2021 for Mac Word 2019 Word 2016

Adding footnotes and endnotes in Word isn't difficult; removing one, some, or even all, is even easier. You can also remove the line that separates footnotes and endnotes from body text.

Important: It's the reference number or mark that you delete (in the body of the text), NOT the footnote or endnote itself. If you delete the footnote or endnote itself, Word renumbers the notes in a new order.

Remove a footnote

Here's an example of a footnote; the footnote is at the bottom of the page:

1. In the document body, find the footnote reference mark (the superscript number or letter).

2. Select that reference mark.

3. Press Delete.

Remove an endnote

Removing an endnote works the same way as removing a footnote:

1. In the document body, find the endnote reference mark (the superscript number or letter).

2. Select that reference mark.

3. Press Delete.

Remove all footnotes or endnotes from a document

To find and remove all footnotes or endnotes, use the Find and Replace tool:

1. Place your cursor at the top of your document, and then open the Advanced Find and Replace dialog box. 

   • In Word for Windows: Press Ctrl + H

   • In Word for Mac: Find > Advanced Find and Replace.

2. Select the Replace tab.

3. In the Find what box, enter either ^f for footnote or ^e for endnote.

4. Make sure the Replace with box is blank, and then select Replace All.

Remove or change a footnote or endnote separator

You can remove or change the line that separates footnotes and endnotes from body text.

1. Click the View tab, and then click Draft in the Views group.

2. Double-click any footnote or endnote in the body of your text.

   The Footnotes pane appears at the bottom of your document.

3. You can edit the color or style of the separator by choosing options on the Home tab, or, to delete the separators, click Footnote Separator in the Footnotes list, and then select and delete the separator line.

   Use the View tab to return to Read Mode, Print Layout view, or Web Layout view.

Related information

Add or change footnotes and endnotes in Word

Add or change footnotes and endnotes in Word for Mac

Need more help?

Want more options?

DiscoverCommunity

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Yes No Thank you! Any more feedback for Microsoft? Can you help us improve? (Send feedback to Microsoft so we can help.) What affected your experience? Resolved my issue Clear instructions Easy to follow No jargon Pictures helped Other Didn't match my screen Incorrect instructions Too technical Not enough information Not enough pictures Other Any additional feedback? (Optional) Submit feedback By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×