Footnotes in Word: How to Add Them on One Page Only

To add footnotes on just one page in Word, put that page in its own section with section breaks, then insert footnote references in the text on that page. Word places each footnote on the page containing its reference; section settings let you control where those notes sit without changing the rest of the document.

This is useful when a report, handout, or paper needs notes on a single page while other pages remain unchanged. Before starting, save a copy of the document and identify the page’s first and last paragraphs. Section breaks can affect pagination and other page-level settings, so it helps to check the document after adding them.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, or Word for Mac. The labels may vary slightly between versions.
A document with the page you want to annotate, plus the text or sources for the footnotes.
A saved copy of the file, especially if it already has several sections, headers, or unusual page layouts.

Step-by-Step

Find the page and its boundaries. Scroll to the page that should contain the footnotes. Identify the first character of its first paragraph and the end of its last paragraph. If the page is currently full, remember that adding notes may push text onto another page. For greater control, turn on formatting marks from Home > Paragraph > Show/Hide on Windows, or use the Show/Hide button on the Home tab on Mac. The marks make paragraph breaks and existing section breaks easier to see.
Insert a section break before the page. Click immediately before the first character on the target page. Choose Layout > Breaks > Next Page in Word for Windows. This starts a new section on the next page, which should be your target page. In Word for Mac, use Layout > Breaks > Next Page; if your ribbon layout differs, look for Breaks on the Layout tab. Do not use an ordinary page break: a page break moves text but does not create a separate section.
Insert a section break after the page. Click at the end of the page’s last paragraph, after its text but before any text that belongs on the following page. Choose Layout > Breaks > Next Page again. The target page is now separated from the sections before and after it. If the page is the last one in the document, you may not need a closing section break unless more content will be added later. Check that the surrounding text remains in the intended order.
Check that the section contains only the intended page. Section breaks are structural boundaries, not page locks. If the target page has become two pages, adjust the content or layout before proceeding. A section can span multiple pages if text flows onto another page, so the fact that it has its own section does not by itself guarantee that notes stay on only one physical page. Use Print Layout and check the page count around both breaks.
Set the footnote placement for this section. In Windows, click in the target section, open the References tab, and select the small dialog box launcher in the Footnotes group. In the Footnote and Endnote dialog, choose Footnotes, select Bottom of page if you want notes at the bottom margin area, or Below text if you want them directly beneath the text. Set Apply changes to: This section, then choose Apply. This avoids changing footnote placement in the rest of the document. On Mac, use References > Insert Footnote to add a note; footnote layout and numbering controls are available through the footnote dialog or options for the References tab, depending on the Word build. If the dialog offers an Apply changes to setting, select This section.
Place the cursor where the note is needed. Click immediately after the word, phrase, or sentence that needs a citation, while the cursor is still in the target section. Word inserts a superscript reference number at that point and moves the insertion point to the footnote area. The number is a reference marker; it is not ordinary superscript text, so insert it with Word’s footnote command rather than typing a number yourself.
Insert the footnote. On Windows, select References > Insert Footnote. On Mac, select References > Insert Footnote as well. You can also use Ctrl+Alt+F on Windows or Command+Option+F on Mac. Type the citation or explanatory note in the footnote area Word opens, then click back in the document to continue editing. Repeat at each relevant point on the same page. Word numbers the notes automatically.
Review numbering and placement. Look at the reference marker in the main text and the matching note at the bottom of the page. If you want numbering to begin again in the isolated section, open the Footnote and Endnote dialog and choose the restart option for numbering, if available in your Word version. Otherwise, numbering may continue from the preceding section. Restarting numbering changes the sequence, not the page where the note belongs.
Check the result in Print Layout and print preview. Confirm that every reference marker and its footnote are on the target page, and that the following section begins where you expect. Use File > Print to inspect the page preview without printing. If a note or text has flowed onto another page, reduce the note wording, adjust spacing carefully, or revise the page content. Avoid shrinking text excessively just to force the page to fit.

When you later edit the document, Word may repaginate it. A footnote follows its reference, so a marker that moves to another page can take its footnote with it. Recheck the page after substantial edits, font changes, or changes to margins.

Common Mistakes

Using a page break instead of a section break. A page break starts a new page but does not isolate section-level footnote settings. Use Layout > Breaks > Next Page at both boundaries.
Adding only one section break. Without a boundary after the target page, the section may include later pages. Add a second Next Page section break after the page’s final paragraph when there is following content.
Assuming section breaks pin content to one physical page. A section can grow or shrink as text reflows. If the target section spills onto another page, the notes can appear there too.
Typing a raised number instead of inserting a footnote. A manually typed superscript has no linked note, will not update automatically, and can become incorrect if text is moved.
Changing settings for the whole document. In the footnote dialog, check Apply changes to before applying a placement or numbering change. Choose This section when you intend to affect only the isolated section.
Deleting a section break without checking what follows. Removing one can merge sections and alter layout, headers, footnote settings, or page numbering. Turn on formatting marks and confirm which break you are removing.

Tips

Use a copy for complex documents. This is particularly helpful if the file uses different margins, columns, page orientations, or headers and footers. Section breaks can carry or change those settings.
Keep the footnote reference beside the relevant claim. Put the cursor just after the punctuation or text your citation supports, following your style guide. The exact citation style may specify a different position.
Use Word’s automatic numbering. Adding, deleting, or moving a real footnote lets Word update the sequence. Do not manually renumber the markers.
Make room naturally. A long footnote takes space from the page’s text area. Consider shortening the note or moving nonessential wording into the main text rather than forcing the page to fit with tiny type.
Keep the section breaks visible while arranging the page. Show/Hide formatting marks can help you tell whether a break is a page break, a section break, or just a paragraph mark. Turn the marks off when you are done if they make the document harder to read.
Check print output as well as the editing screen. Print Layout and File > Print can reveal a note pushed onto a second page or a section boundary in the wrong place.

Troubleshooting

The footnote appears on a different page than expected. Find its reference marker in the main text. Word puts the note on the page where that marker currently sits. If editing moved the paragraph, move the marker with the text or restore the page layout; do not drag the footnote itself as a separate object.

Footnote settings changed elsewhere in the file. Open the Footnote and Endnote dialog while the cursor is in the target section. Set Apply changes to: This section, then apply the option again. If other sections already changed, revisit them and restore their previous placement or numbering settings.

The section break starts an unwanted blank page. Turn on formatting marks and inspect the paragraphs and breaks around the page boundary. A Next Page section break always starts the next section on a new page, so a nearby manual page break or extra empty paragraph may create an additional blank page. Remove only the redundant break or paragraph, then check the layout again.

The target section unexpectedly includes more than one page. Check for overflow caused by the footnote itself, paragraph spacing, or a large amount of text. Shorten or reorganize content, or adjust spacing modestly. Remember that keeping the notes on one page depends on the reference markers and available page space, not merely on the section settings.

The footnote number does not restart. In the Footnote and Endnote dialog, look for Numbering and choose Restart each section if that numbering pattern is required. If the choice is unavailable or the number still continues, verify that the target page really is a separate section and that the cursor is inside it when changing the setting.

The Mac commands do not match these instructions. Word for Mac updates its ribbon and dialog layout from time to time. Look on the Layout tab for Breaks and on References for Insert Footnote. The core method is the same: create section boundaries around the page, put each reference in the page’s text, and apply any available footnote layout setting to that section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a footnote to one page without section breaks?
Yes. If you only need a footnote whose reference is on one page, insert it in that page’s text. Word places it on the same page as the reference. Section breaks are useful when you also need section-specific footnote settings or want to isolate that page from surrounding sections.

Will this make footnotes impossible on other pages?
No. Word does not switch footnotes off for the rest of the document with this method. It places a footnote wherever you insert a reference. To keep notes only on the chosen page, do not add footnote references elsewhere, and check that later edits have not moved the references.

Can I keep the footnote on a page if the text moves?
Not independently of its reference. Word associates each note with its marker, so when the marker moves to a different page the footnote follows. Keep the reference on the intended page and check pagination after edits.

Do I need two section breaks?
Usually, yes, if there is content both before and after the target page. The first starts a new section before it; the second starts another section after it. If the target page is at the beginning or end of the document, one boundary may be enough.

Can I use endnotes instead?
Endnotes collect notes at the end of a section or document rather than at the bottom of the page. In References > Insert Endnote, Word adds an endnote reference. If your goal is to show a note on the same page as its reference, use a footnote, not an endnote.

Will the footnote number always be 1?
No. Word may continue numbering from the previous section. You can set numbering to restart at each section in the footnote settings if that is appropriate for your document, but numbering rules depend on the style or publication instructions you are following.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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