Footnotes help you add citations, references, and short explanations without interrupting the main text of a document.
Google Docs makes this process easier by inserting numbered reference markers and matching footnote entries automatically.
In this guide, you'll learn how to add footnotes in Google Docs on Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and iPad.
We'll also cover keyboard shortcuts, source citations, Pages vs. Pageless formatting, footnote deletion, and common problems with footnotes.
On a computer, place your cursor after the text that needs a reference. Go to Insert > Page elements > Footnote. Google Docs adds a numbered marker and creates a matching footnote area for your text.
What Is a Footnote in Google Docs?
A footnote is supporting information connected to a specific word, sentence, or passage.
You can use it to explain a term, identify a source, or add a useful detail without making the main paragraph longer.
Google Docs places a superscript reference number in the main text. In Pages format, the matching note normally appears at the bottom of the relevant page.
Illustrative example only, not a real source citation.
How to Add a Footnote on a Computer
The desktop process works similarly in Google Docs on Windows, Mac, and ChromeOS.
Insert a Footnote Step by Step
Open the document where you want to add a footnote.
Click after the word or sentence that needs the reference.
Click Insert in the top menu.
Find the Page elements option in the menu.
Click Footnote. Google Docs inserts a numbered marker.
Enter the citation, explanation, or source information.
Use the built-in Footnote command instead of manually typing a superscript number. This allows Google Docs to manage the note references automatically.
Google Docs Footnote Keyboard Shortcut
If you use footnotes often, a keyboard shortcut can save time.
Ctrl + Alt + F
⌘ + Option + F
Place your cursor where the note belongs, then use the shortcut to insert a footnote.
How Does Automatic Footnote Numbering Work?
When you insert a new footnote using the built-in feature, Google Docs creates a reference marker and a matching footnote entry.
If you insert a new footnote between existing references, Docs updates the numbering. Deleting a footnote marker also updates the remaining references.
You do not have to type or renumber each reference manually.
Footnotes in Pages vs. Pageless
Footnotes appear in different locations depending on the document layout.
| Format | Footnote Location |
|---|---|
| Pages | At the bottom of the relevant page |
| Pageless | Grouped together at the end of the document |
Your document may be using Pageless mode. The footnotes have not disappeared; Google Docs displays them together at the end of the document.
How to Switch Back to Pages Format
Use Google Docs on a computer.
Open the File menu, then select Page setup.
Choose Pages instead of Pageless.
Apply the setting, then review the footnotes in the page layout.
How to Edit or Delete a Footnote
Editing an Existing Footnote
Click the footnote text and change the wording as you would edit other document text.
Deleting a Footnote
Delete the superscript footnote marker in the main document text. Google Docs will remove the associated note and update the numbering.
Deleting only the words inside a footnote is not necessarily the same as deleting the entire note. Remove the reference marker if you want the footnote itself to disappear.
How to Add Footnotes on Android, iPhone, and iPad
Google Docs mobile apps also support footnotes. The menu positions may vary slightly across devices and app versions.
Open the document in the Google Docs app.
Switch the document to editing mode.
Tap the position where you want to add the footnote reference.
Tap the Insert or plus button.
Select Footnote from the available options.
Add your source or explanation.
If you cannot see the footnotes clearly, check the app's Print layout option. A page-style view can make the footnote placement easier to inspect.
Footnotes vs. Citations: What's the Difference?
A footnote and a citation are related, but they describe different things.
A footnote is a note connected to a specific location in the document. It may contain an explanation or a source reference.
A citation identifies a source of information. It may appear inside a footnote, directly in a paragraph, or in another format required by a citation style.
| Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Footnote | Add information at a particular reference point |
| In-text Citation | Identify a source directly in the main text |
| Bibliography | List sources used in the document |
Example: An Explanatory Footnote
Example: A Source Footnote
For a research paper, a footnote may contain the author, publication title, page number, and other details required by the citation style.
Google Docs manages the footnote marker, but it does not automatically ensure that the citation meets Chicago, MLA, APA, or your institution's specific requirements.
Check which citation style your teacher, university, or publisher requires. Not every style uses footnotes for regular source citations.
When Should You Use Footnotes?
How to Export Google Docs Footnotes to PDF
If you need to share a finished report, you can download your Google Doc as a PDF.
Use Pages format if you want footnotes displayed at the bottom of individual pages.
Check the text, reference numbers, and note placement.
On a computer, use File, Download, then PDF Document (.pdf).
Check the result to make sure the notes appear where expected.
Page breaks, margins, and document layout can affect the appearance of the exported PDF.
Why Are Footnotes Not Working in Google Docs?
1. The Footnote Option Is Missing
Check that you have editing permission. On a computer, look under Insert, Page elements, then Footnote.
2. Footnotes Appear at the End
The document may be using Pageless mode. Switch to Pages to display footnotes at the bottom of their pages.
3. The Footnote Number Is Wrong
Check whether numbers were typed manually. Delete manually typed references and use the built-in Footnote tool if appropriate.
4. The Footnote Cannot Be Edited
You may be viewing the document rather than editing it. Check your permissions.
5. Footnotes Are Hard to See on Mobile
Try Print layout and review the document's page format.
6. The Citation Formatting Looks Wrong
Google Docs inserts footnotes, but the citation text still needs to follow your required style.
7. Footnotes Look Different in PDF
Review the original document in Pages format, then export it again. Check page breaks and margins as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
On a computer, go to Insert, Page elements, then Footnote.
Use Ctrl + Alt + F on Windows or ChromeOS, and Command + Option + F on Mac.
Yes. The built-in Footnote feature automatically manages reference numbering.
Your document may be in Pageless mode, which groups footnotes at the end.
Yes. The Google Docs Android and iOS apps support inserting footnotes.
Delete its numbered reference marker from the main document text.
No. A footnote is a note location; a citation identifies a source. A footnote can contain a citation.
Yes, for purposes allowed by the relevant style, but standard source citation methods vary by style. Always check the required guidelines.
Yes. Download your Google Doc as a PDF and review the resulting footnote positions.
Official Google Docs Documentation
For current menu instructions, see the official Google Docs Editors Help documentation:
Google Docs — Footnotes on Computer
Google Docs — Footnotes on Android
More Helpful Guides From Egglover Desk
Place your cursor after the relevant text, then choose Insert, Page elements, and Footnote. Use the keyboard shortcut to work faster, and check Pages versus Pageless if notes don't appear where you expect.
Egglover Desk · Updated October 2026