I am helping someone with editing. The document contains two chapters. I inserted a page break just before the start of the second chapter. I want to change the footnote numbers to restart at 1. I found instructions on the web to change the numbers. I went to Layout and selected "Next Page." Then, I went to the References tab, opened the footnote dialog. I tried to restart at 1. Instead, since my only choice was insert, I inserted a new note, but it did not start at 1. There was also an "apply" choice, but I could not click that.




How do I get Word to change all the footntotes in the new section by restarting at 1: Thanks.


Ken

The footntoes in the new section start at 54.

On the References tab click the arrow in the corner of the Footnotes group to display the Footnote and Endnote dialog, as shown below. You can then change numbering options as required.
Screenshot 2025-09-22 083159.png

Note that you need a next-page or odd-page Section Break before the new section, not a page break.

• Odd-numbered-page Section Break in Word
• Working with sections by Dave Rado, MVP
• Sections / Headers and Footers in Microsoft Word (Ribbon Versions)
• Quick Reference Card for Headers, Footers and Page Numbers

Thanks. I went to Layout and chose Next page. That added a blank page. When I clicked insert on the footnote dialog, I got a new footnote, but it was not 1. It was 55. That's not what I wanted. i need a wayon the Footnote dialog to "apply" my change, not insert a footnote. How can I make that work? Apply isn't clickable. Thanks.

Go to the dialog box Italophile showed you from the References tab.
Start at 1.
Restart each section.

Thanks. I missed the setting "Restart each section." That worked. Thank you all.