What bookmarks do in Word

A bookmark in Microsoft Word marks a specific location in your document so you can jump back to it later. Unlike a page number or a heading, a bookmark is invisible to anyone reading the final document — it exists only as a navigation tool for you while you edit.

Bookmarks are useful when you work with long documents. Instead of scrolling through fifty pages to find the section you were editing, you can jump directly there. You can also use bookmarks to create a table of contents that links to specific spots, or to reference text elsewhere in the document.

Word stores bookmarks as hidden markers. They do not print, do not appear in the final PDF, and do not change how your document looks. Only you see them while editing.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text or click the location where you want the bookmark, then use the Insert tab to add it.
  • Bookmark names cannot contain spaces, but you can use underscores or hyphens instead.
  • Once created, you can jump to any bookmark using Ctrl+G (Go To) or the Navigator pane.
  • Bookmarks are invisible in the final document and do not affect printing or sharing.
  • You can delete a bookmark by opening the Bookmark dialog and selecting the name you want to remove.

How to create a bookmark in Word

Start by placing your cursor at the exact spot you want to bookmark, or by selecting the text you want to mark. If you select text, the bookmark will surround that text. If you just click once, the bookmark marks that single location.

Go to the Insert tab at the top of the ribbon. Look for the Bookmark button — it usually sits in the Links group, near buttons for hyperlinks and cross-references. Click it.

A dialog box opens with a field labeled "Bookmark name". Type a name for your bookmark. The name must start with a letter, can include numbers, and can use underscores or hyphens, but cannot contain spaces. For example, use Chapter_3_Intro or Budget-2024 instead of Chapter 3 Intro.

Click the Add button. Word creates the bookmark and closes the dialog. You will not see anything on the page — the bookmark is now stored but invisible.

Jumping to a bookmark you created

Once you have created bookmarks, you can navigate to them quickly. Press Ctrl+G on your keyboard to open the Go To dialog. (On Mac, use Command+G.)

In the dialog, select Bookmark from the list on the left. A list of all your bookmarks appears on the right. Click the bookmark name you want to visit, then click Go To. Word jumps directly to that location and closes the dialog.

Alternatively, you can use the Navigator pane, which shows all bookmarks in a sidebar. Press Ctrl+F5 to open it. The Navigator lists every bookmark in your document. Double-click any bookmark name to jump to it.

Viewing hidden bookmarks on the page

By default, bookmarks are completely invisible. If you want to see where your bookmarks are while you work, you can turn on the display of bookmark markers.

Go to File and then Options. In the left sidebar, click Advanced. Scroll down to the section called "Show document content". Check the box next to Show bookmarks. Click OK.

Now bookmarks appear as gray brackets around the marked text or location. These brackets are still invisible when you print or export to PDF — they only show on your screen while editing. You can turn them off the same way by unchecking the box.

Editing and deleting bookmarks

To change a bookmark's name or location, you must delete it and create a new one. Word does not have an edit function for existing bookmarks.

To delete a bookmark, go to the Insert tab and click Bookmark again. The Bookmark dialog opens and lists all your bookmarks. Select the name of the bookmark you want to remove, then click Delete. The bookmark disappears when ready.

If you want to move a bookmark to a different location, delete the old one and create a new bookmark at the new spot using the same name. This is faster than renaming.

Using bookmarks with cross-references

Bookmarks become more powerful when you use them with cross-references. A cross-reference is text that automatically links to another part of your document — for example, "See the Budget section on page 12".

To create a cross-reference to a bookmark, place your cursor where you want the reference to appear. Go to Insert, then look for Cross-reference (it is usually near the Bookmark button). A dialog opens. In the "Reference type" dropdown, select Bookmark. Choose the bookmark name from the list, select what you want the reference to display (page number, heading text, or bookmark name), and click Insert.

Now when someone reading your document clicks that cross-reference, Word jumps to the bookmarked location. This is especially useful in long documents, instruction manuals, or reports where readers need to navigate between sections.

Bookmarks and document sharing

Bookmarks stay in your document when you save it as a .docx file and share it with others. However, if you convert the document to PDF or another format, the bookmarks may not transfer depending on the export settings.

When you save as PDF from Word, you can choose whether to include bookmarks. A dialog appears asking about document structure — selecting the option to preserve bookmarks will create clickable navigation in the PDF. If you do not select this option, the bookmarks exist in the Word file but not in the PDF version.

If someone else opens your Word document and edits it, they can see and use your bookmarks, but they cannot accidentally delete them unless they specifically open the Bookmark dialog and remove them. Bookmarks are part of the document structure, not content that appears in the text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bookmark a table or image?

Yes. Click once on the table or image to select it, then add a bookmark the same way. The bookmark marks that object's location. When you jump to it, Word selects the table or image and scrolls it into view.

What happens to bookmarks if I delete the text they mark?

If you delete text that a bookmark surrounds, the bookmark collapses to a single point at that location. If you delete text at a bookmarked location (where you only clicked, not selected), the bookmark stays at that spot. The bookmark itself does not disappear.

Can I use bookmarks in headers or footers?

Yes, but jumping to them works differently. You can create a bookmark in a header or footer, but Word may not scroll to show it clearly. It is usually better to bookmark content in the main document body instead.

Do bookmarks work the same way in Word Online?

Word Online has limited bookmark support. You can see bookmarks created in the desktop version, but you cannot create new bookmarks or jump to them in the browser version. Use the desktop app if you need full bookmark functionality.

Can I rename a bookmark without deleting it?

No. Word requires you to delete the old bookmark and create a new one with the new name. This takes only a few seconds, but there is no rename function.