Is there a keyboard shortcut for adding a footnote?

On a Mac, the Insert menu shows ⌘+Option+F next to Footnote. Use it with your cursor placed where the marker should go.

Where does the footnote text appear?

The note appears at the bottom of the page, below a short line, next to a small number.

How to add a footnote in Google Docs

Add a footnote in Google Docs from the Insert menu. Place your cursor, choose Page elements then Footnote, and type the note at the bottom of the page.

Quick answer

To add a footnote in Google Docs, click at the end of the text you want to cite, open the Insert menu, choose Page elements, then pick Footnote. Google Docs places a numbered marker in your text and moves the cursor to the bottom of the page, where you type the note.

Steps at a glance

Click at the end of the sentence to cite
Open the Insert menu
Hover Page elements
Choose Footnote
Type the note next to its number at the page bottom

Interactive demo

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Summary

A footnote adds a source or side comment at the bottom of the page without cluttering the paragraph. Google Docs numbers each footnote automatically, so readers can match the marker in the text to the note below.

Step-by-step guide

Step 1
Place your cursor
Click at the end of the sentence or word you want to reference. The footnote marker is inserted at the cursor position, so place it right after the text the note belongs to.
Step 2
Open the Insert menu
Click **Insert** in the menu bar above the document. A long list of items you can add to the page opens.
Step 3
Open Page elements
Move down the list to **Page elements** and hover over it. A submenu opens to the right.
Step 4
Choose Footnote
Click **Footnote** in the submenu. The menu also shows the Mac shortcut **⌘+Option+F** next to it, which does the same thing without opening the menu.
Step 5
Check the footnote
A small number appears at the bottom of the page above a short line, and your cursor sits next to it. Type the note there, for example a source for your figure. The text stays at the bottom of the page.

Why this matters

You are writing a report and need to cite where a figure came from without breaking the flow of the sentence. A footnote keeps the source on the same page, so readers can check it right away.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a keyboard shortcut for adding a footnote?
On a Mac, the Insert menu shows ⌘+Option+F next to Footnote. Use it with your cursor placed where the marker should go.
Where does the footnote text appear?
The note appears at the bottom of the page, below a short line, next to a small number.

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