Quick Answer
Footnotes add citation or explanatory text at the bottom of a page; endnotes collect the same notes at the end of a document or section. In WPS Writer, place the cursor where the reference mark should appear, open the References tab, click Settings, choose Footnote/Endnote, set Location and numbering options, then click Insert — a mark appears in the text and a content area opens at the page bottom. In Microsoft Word desktop, use References → Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote after placing the cursor. This guide covers WPS Writer as a Word alternative for inserting, converting, navigating, and editing footnotes — not a full bibliography or citation-style manual.
Key Facts
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| What footnotes do | Add numbered reference marks in the body with matching note text at the page bottom |
| What endnotes do | Place the same reference marks in the body but collect note text at the end of the document or section |
| WPS primary path | References tab → Settings → Footnote/Endnote — set Location, Number Format, Start at, Numbering method, then Insert |
| WPS footnote placement | Bottom of the current page or below text per WPS Help |
| WPS endnote placement | End of the file or end of section — select in the References Set dialog |
| Convert notes in WPS | References → Setting → Convert — convert all footnotes to endnotes, all endnotes to footnotes, or swap |
| Navigate notes in WPS | Previous Footnote / Next Footnote and Previous Endnotes / Next Endnotes on the References tab |
| Move or edit notes in WPS | Select the note, drag to a new location, or use Cut and Paste |
| Word desktop alternative | References → Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote; customize via the Footnotes group dialog launcher |
| .docx compatibility | WPS states 100% compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats — verify footnote numbering in target .docx files before sharing |
| Platforms | WPS is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android; steps here focus on desktop Writer References tab |
| Watch out | Mobile References behavior may differ from desktop; free Word for the web may require Open in Word for some footnote/endnote convert actions |
Footnotes vs Endnotes in WPS Writer (What to Choose)
WPS Help distinguishes two placement models:
Footnotes appear at the bottom of the current page or below text on that page. Readers see the note without leaving the page — common in academic papers, legal briefs, and reports where immediate context matters.
Endnotes (references) appear at the end of a file or at the end of a section. The body still shows a reference mark, but all note text is grouped at the back — useful when you want a cleaner page layout or section-level bibliography-style notes.
Select the placement in the References Set dialog when you open Footnote/Endnote from the References tab. You can change your mind later using the Convert options documented below.
WPS Office is described as a free all-in-one suite to edit Word, Excel, and PPT per WPS Academy — Writer handles footnote and endnote workflows on desktop without requiring a separate word-processor install.
How to Insert Footnotes in WPS Writer
WPS Academy documents this step-by-step workflow on the desktop References tab:
Place the cursor where you want the footnote or endnote reference mark to appear.
Open the References tab on the ribbon.
Click Settings, then Footnote/Endnote to open the Footnote and Endnote dialog.
Set Location — for a footnote, choose an option such as Bottom of the Page.
Configure Number Format, Start at, and Numbering method as needed for your document.
Click Insert.
After you click Insert, a footnote mark appears in the text and a content comment area opens at the page bottom where you type the note text. Repeat the process for each additional footnote — WPS assigns numbering based on your dialog settings.
Editorial check: These steps are sourced for the desktop WPS Writer References tab. Mobile References behavior may differ — test on your device before academic or professional submission.
How to Insert and Customize Endnotes in WPS Writer
Endnotes use the same References → Settings → Footnote/Endnote dialog as footnotes. The difference is the Location setting:
Place the cursor at the insertion point.
Open References → Settings → Footnote/Endnote.
Set Location to place notes at the end of the document or end of section per WPS Help.
Adjust Number Format, Start at, and Numbering method.
Click Insert and type the endnote text in the content area that opens at the document or section end.
If you open an existing .docx that already contains endnotes, WPS pricing page states 100% Compatible with Microsoft File Formats for Office Tools — still verify footnote and endnote numbering and placement in your target file before sharing with colleagues who use Microsoft Word.
Convert and Navigate Footnotes and Endnotes in WPS Writer
Convert between footnotes and endnotes
WPS Help documents conversion under References → Setting → Convert:
Convert all footnotes to endnotes
Convert all endnotes to footnotes
Swap footnotes and endnotes
Use these options when a journal, publisher, or instructor requires a different note placement than your original draft.
Navigate between notes
On the References tab, WPS Help documents these controls:
Previous Footnote and Next Footnote — move between footnote marks and their content areas
Previous Endnotes and Next Endnotes — move between endnote marks and grouped endnote text
Navigation controls help when you are proofreading a long document with many citations and need to jump between in-text marks and note text quickly.
Edit or Move a Footnote in WPS Writer
To reposition or revise note content after insertion, WPS Help documents two methods:
Select the footnote or endnote, then drag it to a new location in the document.
Alternatively, use Cut and Paste to move the note text to a different position.
Edit the note text directly in the footnote or endnote content area — changes appear alongside the corresponding reference mark in the body. After moving notes in a .docx shared with Word users, reopen the file in both editors and confirm numbering still displays correctly.
How to Insert Footnotes in Microsoft Word (Desktop Alternative)
If you work in Microsoft Word desktop, Microsoft Support documents a direct ribbon path:
Place the cursor where the reference mark should appear.
Open the References tab.
Select Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote.
Microsoft Support states footnotes appear at the bottom of the page and endnotes at the end of the document. Double-click the reference mark in the document to return to editing the main text after working in a note.
To customize placement and number format, use the Footnotes group dialog launcher on the References tab — Microsoft Support documents this pattern in the Footnote and Endnote box where you can change Numbering and related settings.
Word for the web is a separate tier: Microsoft offers Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for the web free with a Microsoft account and 5 GB OneDrive storage. Editorial check: Word for the web may require the Open in Word command to convert footnotes to endnotes — do not assume the browser editor matches full desktop footnote customization without checking your account.
FAQ
Can WPS Writer open Word .docx files with footnotes?
WPS pricing page states 100% Compatible with Microsoft File Formats for Office Tools. Open your .docx in WPS Writer and verify that footnote marks, numbering, and page-bottom placement display correctly before sharing — formatting can vary by document complexity.
What is the difference between a footnote and an endnote in WPS Writer?
WPS Help documents footnotes at the bottom of the current page or below text, and endnotes at the end of the file or end of section. Choose the placement in the Footnote/Endnote dialog under References → Settings.
How do I change footnotes to endnotes in WPS Writer?
Open References → Setting → Convert and choose Convert all footnotes to endnotes, Convert all endnotes to footnotes, or Swap footnotes and endnotes per WPS Help.
Does WPS Writer work on mobile for footnotes?
WPS is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android per WPS Academy. Footnote and endnote steps in this guide are sourced for the desktop Writer References tab — mobile References behavior may differ. Test on your device before submitting academic work.
How do footnotes work in Microsoft Word compared to WPS Writer?
Word desktop uses References → Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote with one-click insertion, while WPS Writer opens a Footnote/Endnote dialog via References → Settings where you set Location and numbering before Insert. Both place footnotes at the page bottom and endnotes at the document end per official documentation.
Can I use Word for the web instead of a desktop Word alternative?
Microsoft offers free Word for the web with a Microsoft account and 5 GB OneDrive storage. Some footnote and endnote convert actions may require Open in Word on the desktop — verify against your workflow before relying on the browser editor alone.
Does LibreOffice Writer support footnotes in .docx files?
LibreOffice Writer is compatible with Microsoft Word .doc and .docx per the official Getting Started guide and is free and open source. This guide focuses on WPS Writer and Word desktop step paths — confirm LibreOffice footnote behavior separately if you use that suite.
Is this guide about automatic bibliographies or APA/MLA citation styles?
No. This guide covers inserting and managing footnotes and endnotes in WPS Writer as a Word alternative. Automatic bibliography generation, Mendeley plugins, and full APA/MLA/Chicago style rulebooks are out of scope.
Sources and Last Reviewed
Last reviewed: 2026-07-01
