What bookmarks do and why you'd use them
A bookmark in Word is a named location inside your document that you can jump to when ready. Think of it like a sticky note that marks a spot, except you can reference it from elsewhere in the same document or even from other documents. When you create a bookmark, Word remembers exactly where it is — a specific paragraph, a table, a heading — and you can return to that spot by clicking a link or using the Go To command.
Bookmarks are useful when your document is long and you want readers to navigate quickly. You might bookmark a table of contents entry so clicking it jumps to that section, or bookmark a definition so you can reference it from multiple places. They're also the foundation for creating a working table of contents in Word, since Word uses bookmarks behind the scenes to make those links function.
Unlike a straightforward page number, a bookmark stays attached to its content even if you add or delete text above it. If you bookmark a heading and then insert three paragraphs before it, the bookmark moves with the heading.
Key Takeaways
- Bookmarks mark a specific location in your document so you can jump to it later using a link or the Go To command.
- You create a bookmark by selecting the text or placing your cursor where you want it, then using the Bookmark dialog under the Insert tab.
- Bookmark names must start with a letter, contain no spaces, and can use underscores or numbers after the first character.
- Once you create a bookmark, you can link to it from anywhere in the document using the Hyperlink dialog, or jump to it using Ctrl+G (Windows) or Cmd+G (Mac).
How to select the location and create the bookmark
Start by deciding what you want to bookmark. You can bookmark a single word, a paragraph, a heading, a table, or even just a cursor position with no text selected. If you want to bookmark a specific piece of content, select it first by clicking and dragging. If you just want to mark a spot (like the beginning of a section), click once to place your cursor there without selecting anything.
Once your text is selected or your cursor is positioned, go to the Insert tab at the top of the ribbon. Look for the Bookmark button — it's usually in the Links group on the right side of the ribbon. Click it to open the Bookmark dialog box.
In the dialog, you'll see a text field labeled "Bookmark name". Type a name for your bookmark. The name must start with a letter, can include numbers and underscores after the first letter, but cannot contain spaces or special characters. Good bookmark names are short and descriptive: Chapter_2, Table_of_Contents, or Definitions. Click the Add button, and Word creates the bookmark.
Naming rules and what to avoid
Word is strict about bookmark names because they're used internally by the program. A name like "Chapter 2" will be rejected because of the space. A name like "2Chapter" will be rejected because it starts with a number. Stick to letters at the start, then add numbers or underscores as needed.
If you try to create a bookmark with a name that already exists, Word will ask if you want to replace the old one. Usually you don't — instead, give it a slightly different name like Chapter_2_v2 or Chapter_2_revised. This keeps your old bookmark intact in case something else is linked to it.
Keep names reasonably short. A name like Introduction_to_the_methodology_section_of_the_report works, but Intro_Methodology is easier to find later when you're looking through your bookmark list.
Creating a link that jumps to your bookmark
Once you've created a bookmark, you can create a clickable link that takes readers to it. Select the text you want to turn into a link — this is usually a phrase like "See the table below" or a table of contents entry. Go to the Insert tab and click Hyperlink, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac).
The Hyperlink dialog opens. On the left side, click Place in This Document. You'll see a list of all the bookmarks you've created in your document. Click the bookmark you want to link to, then click OK. Word turns your selected text into a blue, underlined link. When someone clicks it, Word jumps to that bookmark.
If you want the link to open in a new window or have other options, you can right-click the link after creating it and choose Edit Hyperlink to adjust the settings.
Jumping to a bookmark without a link
You don't always need a clickable link to navigate to a bookmark. You can jump to any bookmark using the Go To command. On Windows, press Ctrl+G or Ctrl+Home and then Ctrl+G. On Mac, press Cmd+G. The Navigator pane or Go To dialog opens.
In the Go To dialog, look for a dropdown or list showing your bookmarks. Click the bookmark you want to visit, then click Go To or press Enter. Word when ready moves your cursor to that location and selects the bookmarked content if text was bookmarked.
This method is faster than scrolling through a long document, and it's especially useful when you're editing and need to jump between sections repeatedly.
Viewing and managing your bookmarks
To see all the bookmarks in your document, go to the Insert tab and click Bookmark again. The Bookmark dialog shows a list of every bookmark you've created. From here you can select a bookmark and click Go To to jump to it, or click Delete to remove it.
If you want to see bookmark locations highlighted in your document as you work, you can turn on bookmark visibility. Go to File > Options (Windows) or Word > Preferences (Mac), then find Display Options or View. Look for a checkbox labeled "Show bookmarks" and turn it on. Bookmarks will appear as gray brackets around the bookmarked content, making them straightforward to spot.
Deleting a bookmark does not delete the content it marks — it only removes the bookmark itself. Any links pointing to that bookmark will break, so be careful when removing bookmarks that other links depend on.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
The most common mistake is forgetting that bookmark names cannot have spaces. If you type "Chapter 2" and Word rejects it, remove the space and try "Chapter_2" instead. Word will tell you when ready if the name is invalid, so you'll know right away if something is wrong.
Another frequent issue is creating a bookmark but forgetting to create a link to it. The bookmark exists, but readers have no way to find it unless they use Go To themselves. If you want people to navigate to a bookmark, always create a hyperlink pointing to it.
If a link to a bookmark breaks (usually because the bookmark was deleted), the link will show an error or won't work. To fix it, edit the hyperlink and point it to a different bookmark, or recreate the bookmark with the same name it had before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bookmark a bookmark?
No. A bookmark marks a location or a piece of content, not another bookmark. However, you can create multiple bookmarks at the same location or overlapping bookmarks that cover different ranges of text. This is useful when you want different links to point to slightly different parts of the same section.
What happens to bookmarks when I share my document?
Bookmarks stay in the document when you save and share it. If you send a Word file to someone else, all your bookmarks come with it. They can see the bookmarks in the Bookmark dialog and use links you created, but they won't see the bookmark brackets unless they turn on bookmark visibility in their own copy.
Can I create a bookmark across multiple pages?
Yes. A bookmark can span any amount of content — a single word, a paragraph, multiple pages, or even an entire section. Select all the content you want to include, then create the bookmark. The bookmark will remember the entire selection.
Do bookmarks work the same way in Word online?
Word online supports bookmarks, but the interface is slightly different. You'll find the Bookmark button in the Insert tab, and the process is the same. However, some advanced bookmark features may not be available in the web version, so if you need full control, use the desktop version of Word.
Can I rename a bookmark after I create it?
Not directly. You have to delete the old bookmark and create a new one with the new name. If other links point to the old bookmark, they will break, so you'll need to update those links to point to the new bookmark name instead.