To remove all footnotes in Word at once, press Ctrl + H to open Find and Replace, type ^f in Find what, leave Replace with empty, and click Replace All. Word deletes every footnote reference mark and its footnote text. Use ^e instead to remove all endnotes.
Deleting a footnote’s text at the bottom of the page doesn’t remove it; the reference number in the body is what controls it.
Quick Answer
Ctrl + H > Find what: ^f > Replace with: (empty) > Replace All.
Remove Every Footnote
- Save a copy of the document first.
- Press Ctrl + H (Command + Shift + H on a Mac).
- In Find what, type ^f (a caret and a lowercase f).
- Leave Replace with blank.
- Click Replace All. Word reports how many footnotes it removed.
If Replace All says it found nothing, the notes may be endnotes. Try ^e.
Remove One Footnote
Select the small reference number in the body text and press Delete. The footnote and its text disappear, and the remaining footnotes renumber automatically.
Other Footnote Tasks
| Task | How |
|---|---|
| Remove all endnotes | Find ^e, replace with nothing |
| Convert footnotes to endnotes | References > Footnotes dialog launcher > Convert |
| Keep footnotes but hide them | Format the Footnote Text style as hidden |
| Delete the separator line | View > Draft, References > Show Notes, choose Footnote Separator, delete the line |
| Exclude footnotes from the word count | Clear Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes in Word Count |
To keep them in the file but out of sight, see how to hide footnotes in Word. To leave them out of your length total instead, see where to find the word count.
Troubleshooting
- Numbers remain in the text: They were typed as superscript numbers, not real footnotes. Remove them manually or search for superscript formatting.
- The footnote line is still at the bottom: That’s the separator. Remove it as shown in the table, or it disappears once no footnotes remain.
- Replace All is grayed out: The document is protected or you’re in Read Mode.
- You deleted them by mistake: Press Ctrl + Z immediately to undo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove footnotes from only part of the document?
Yes. Select that part first, then use Find and Replace; Word asks whether to continue with the rest, and you can choose No.
Does this remove citations made with Word’s citation tool?
No. Those are fields, not footnotes. Only footnotes you inserted as footnotes are removed.
Is there a button to delete all footnotes?
No. Find and Replace with ^f is the fastest way.
Summary
- Save a copy.
- Press Ctrl + H.
- Find ^f and replace with nothing.
- Click Replace All; use ^e for endnotes.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.