I go to a footnote, press control A. All footnotes are highlighted. When I press F9, nothing happens.

As long as the actual footnote is displayed correctly, you should be able to update the cross-reference that points to the footnote. Select the cross-reference and use F9 or Fn+F9 depending on your keyboard. If this fails to work, ensure that the reference is still an "active" cross-reference field. Press Alt+F9 (or Alt+Fn+F9) to reveal field codes and report back what you see in place of the cross-reference.

Updating Footnote cross-references in word is not working

Accepted answer

Stefan Blom 2,271 Reputation points MVP

2023-07-14T00:34:13.8666667+00:00

As long as the actual footnote is displayed correctly, you should be able to update the cross-reference that points to the footnote. Select the cross-reference and use F9 or Fn+F9 depending on your keyboard.

If this fails to work, ensure that the reference is still an "active" cross-reference field. Press Alt+F9 (or Alt+Fn+F9) to reveal field codes and report back what you see in place of the cross-reference.
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2 people found this answer helpful.
Dan Clary 0 Reputation points

2024-07-10T11:25:50.9233333+00:00

I have the same problem as the original poster. I tried the suggestion about field codes, but nothing happens when I press Alt+F9.

Stefan Blom 2,271 Reputation points MVP

2024-07-10T18:28:46.0733333+00:00

I have the same problem as the original poster. I tried the suggestion about field codes, but nothing happens when I press Alt+F9.

Dan,

To show/hide field codes, you may have to press Alt+Fn+F9 (and not just Alt+F9) depending on your keyboard. This shortcut applies to Word for Windows. On a Mac, use Option+F9.

Jakob Griller 0 Reputation points

2024-09-09T13:32:28.8533333+00:00

Good day to you all,

I also have the same Problem as OP, described as follows:

Cross-references located within footnotes which target objects in the main body of the text never properly update, even using F9. Cross-references located in footnotes which target other footnotes also never properly update, even using F9.

Field-code for a cross-reference located in a footnote giving me the described problem targeting another footnote (no quotes): "{ NOTEREF _Ref176782775 \h }"

Field-code for a cross-reference located in a footnote giving me the described problem targeting a ListNum-Field in the main body of the text (no quotes): "{ REF _176782820 \r \h }"

The problem persists if I

highlight the fields in question and press F9

highlight the fields in question, display the field code first using Shift+F9, re-highlight the field-code and press F9

If I copy and paste either of the same exact cross-references into the main text body, highlight them and press F9, the cross-references suddenly update, no problem.

ListNum-fields located within footnotes apparently cannot even be cross-referenced, as they do not show up in the list of numbered elements.

When copying members of the ListNum-Field-Family into the main text, they update automatically and immediately. When doing the same only within footnotes, the fields also update readily. However, members of the same ListNum-Field-Family in the main text do not update when another member is added in a footnote and vice versa.

It appears Word has decided that footnotes and the main text body are largely "separate vessels", although not fully, as it is possible to cross-reference elements from the main text body in footnotes, just not to update said cross-references.

What I want is for Word to simply number and update ListNum-Fields and cross-references the same no matter if they are in the main text body or a footnote.

Is my Word behaving strange or is this normal?

Stefan Blom 2,271 Reputation points MVP

2024-09-09T13:36:41.9+00:00

Jakob, to force an update of all cross-references, try switching to print preview (Ctrl+P) and then exit the preview with ESC (applies to Word for Windows, at least).

Jakob Griller 0 Reputation points

2024-09-09T13:44:31.05+00:00

Stefan, this has worked beautifully. Thank you ever so much!!!

Edit: this of course only solves the cross-reference-issues, unfortunately not the ListNum related issues (no cross-referencing ListNum-fields that are contained in footnotes, ListNum-fields within footnotes are treated are counted independently from the main text body), but this is still a huge improvement.

Stefan Blom 2,271 Reputation points MVP

2024-09-09T13:57:11.65+00:00

Jakob, I'm glad you noticed partial progress. :-) The numbering "rules" for LISTNUM fields cannot be changed, of course. With regards to cross-referencing these fields, maybe you can add a manual bookmark and then cross-reference the bookmark text.

Stefan Blom 2,271 Reputation points MVP

2024-09-09T13:57:27.1666667+00:00

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