How to change the footnote numbers in Microsoft Word

Many Zotero users use Zotero to insert footnotes into their documents and then wonder how they can customise the footnote numbering style. It is often assumed that this setting must be made directly in Zotero. However, it is actually a Microsoft Word function that controls the numbering of footnotes. In this article, I will explain how you can customise the footnote numbering in Word according to your wishes, independently of Zotero.

This allows you to change the numbering of your footnotes:

  1. First open the tab ’References‘ in the menu.
  2. Then click on the small arrow in the bottom right-hand corner of the ‘Footnotes’ group. This opens the dialogue box ’Footnote and endnote“.
  3. Make sure that the ‘Footnotes’ option is selected.
  4. In the ‘Number format’ field, you can now select how the footnote numbers should look.

To apply the settings, click on ‘Apply’. If you want to insert the current footnote at the position of your cursor, click on ‘Insert’ instead.

Dialogfeld Fuß- und Endnote in Microsoft Word zur Anpassung der Nummerierung

With these simple steps, you can customise the footnote numbering to suit your needs, whether in a single section or across the entire document, the format of the numbering and more.

Other typical questions about Word and Zotero can be found on my blog.


Further reading

Blog - 9 Tips fuer bessere ARbeiten mit Zotero
9 tips to work faster and cleaner with Zotero
Zotero can save you a tremendous amount of time in your academic work – if you use it correctly. In this article, you will find 9 tried and tested Zotero tips from real-world experience.
Blog - Adding sources to your Zotero bibliography
How do I add extra sources to my bibliography with Zotero?
Sometimes in Zotero, you need to add sources to your bibliography that have not been directly cited, such as the book containing a specific chapter. Here, I will show you how to do this easily.
Zotero is acting up? How to avoid common citation problems
Zotero is acting up? How to avoid common citation problems
Zotero acting up? Learn how to avoid citation errors, choose the right style, and manage your sources optimally – for error-free bibliographies!
Blog - IndigoPhoenix plugin
The future after Juris-M: A plugin brings legal citations back to Zotero
The Zotero fork Juris-M no longer synchronises and is considered abandoned. However, there are new developments: a new plugin is bringing jurisdictions, legal styles and parallel citations back to the current version of Zotero – still in alpha, but at an astonishing pace. What Juris-M users should know and do now.

© Citation Styler. All rights reserved. 2026