Word Hide Bookmarks? Find & Show Them

Microsoft Word does not have a feature called “bookmarks” in the way a web browser does, but it does have a Bookmark tool that lets you mark a spot in a document to jump back to. If you have added bookmarks and they are not visible, it is because Word hides them by default; you can turn them on in the options menu. This article explains how to show, use, and manage bookmarks in Word for Windows and Mac.

What Are Bookmarks in Word?

Word’s Bookmark feature is a hidden marker that you can place at a specific location or on a selected piece of text. Unlike a table of contents or hyperlinks, bookmarks are not visible in the normal document view. They are used for navigation, cross-referencing, and automating fields. For example, you might bookmark a section heading so you can insert a cross-reference that says “see page 12” and have the page number update automatically.

Bookmarks are stored with the document and can be listed, renamed, or deleted through the Bookmark dialog box. They do not appear in the printed document or in the PDF export unless you explicitly choose to show them.

How to Show Bookmarks in Word

To make bookmarks visible in your document, you need to change a setting in Word’s Options. The steps are slightly different for Windows and Mac.

On Windows (Word 2010 and later)

1. Click the File tab, then click Options.
2. In the Word Options dialog, click Advanced.
3. Scroll down to the Show document content section.
4. Check the box next to Show bookmarks.
5. Click OK.

After enabling this, bookmarks appear as gray square brackets around the bookmarked text or as a gray I-beam cursor if the bookmark is at a single point. These brackets are on-screen only and do not print.

On Mac (Word 2016 and later)

1. Click the Word menu and select Preferences.
2. Click View (under Authoring and Proofing Tools).
3. Check the box next to Show bookmarks.
4. Close the preferences window.

How to Add and Use Bookmarks

Adding a bookmark is straightforward, but the steps differ slightly depending on whether you want to bookmark a single point or a block of text.

• Bookmark a single point: Place your cursor where you want the bookmark, then go to Insert > Bookmark (Windows) or Insert > Bookmark (Mac). Type a name (no spaces, must start with a letter) and click Add.
• Bookmark a block of text: Select the text first, then insert the bookmark. When shown, the brackets will surround the entire selection.
• Jump to a bookmark: Press Ctrl+G (Windows) or Cmd+Option+G (Mac) to open the Go To tab, select Bookmark in the “Go to what” list, choose the bookmark name, and click Go To.
• Delete a bookmark: Go to Insert > Bookmark, select the name, and click Delete.

Bookmark names cannot contain spaces and must begin with a letter. They can include numbers and underscores, but not hyphens or periods.

Common Problems with Bookmarks

Several issues can arise when working with bookmarks, especially if you are not seeing them or they disappear.

• Bookmarks not visible: The most common cause is the “Show bookmarks” option being turned off. Follow the steps above to enable it.
• Bookmark disappears after editing: If you delete the text that contains a bookmark, the bookmark is also deleted. If you cut and paste bookmarked text, the bookmark moves with the text, but if you copy and paste, the bookmark stays in the original location.
• Bookmark names not accepted: Word rejects names with spaces or special characters. Use underscores instead of spaces.
• Bookmarks not showing in the list: If you have a bookmark inside a table or a text box, it still appears in the Bookmark dialog. If you cannot find it, make sure you are looking at the correct document section.

Bookmarks vs. Hyperlinks vs. Cross-References

Bookmarks are often confused with hyperlinks and cross-references, but they serve different purposes.

• Bookmarks: Hidden markers for navigation and automation. They are not clickable by themselves.
• Hyperlinks: Clickable text or images that jump to a web page, a file, or a location within the same document. A hyperlink can point to a bookmark.
• Cross-references: Fields that refer to another part of the document, such as “see Figure 3” or “page 7.” They often rely on bookmarks to identify the target.

For example, you can insert a hyperlink to a bookmark by right-clicking, selecting Hyperlink, choosing Place in This Document, and selecting the bookmark name. This is useful for creating a clickable table of contents or a “back to top” link.

Why Are Bookmarks Hidden by Default?

Word hides bookmarks by default to keep the document view clean. If all bookmarks were displayed, the gray brackets would clutter the text, especially in long documents with many bookmarks. The setting is per-document and per-user, meaning that if you enable it on your computer, it only affects your view—not the view of others who open the same file. This is important for collaborative work because you can see the bookmarks without changing the document for your colleagues.

Another reason is that bookmarks are often used for behind-the-scenes automation, such as in mail merge or custom fields. Most readers do not need to see them, so they are hidden by default.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I see all bookmarks in a Word document?

Go to File > Options > Advanced (Windows) or Word > Preferences > View (Mac) and check Show bookmarks. Then open the Bookmark dialog (Insert > Bookmark) to see a list of all bookmark names. The dialog also lets you sort by name or location.

Why can’t I see bookmarks even after enabling the option?

If you have enabled the setting and still see no brackets, it is likely that there are no bookmarks in the document. To verify, open the Bookmark dialog and see if the list is empty. Also, check that you are looking at the correct document—sometimes bookmarks are in a section that is collapsed or hidden.

Can bookmarks be printed?

No, bookmarks are not printed. The gray brackets are screen-only indicators. The content itself prints normally, but the bookmark markers do not appear on paper or in a PDF export.

How do I remove all bookmarks from a Word document?

There is no one-click “remove all” button. You must delete them one by one through the Bookmark dialog. Select each name and click Delete. If you have many bookmarks, you can use a macro, but that requires VBA knowledge. For most users, deleting individually is sufficient.

Do bookmarks work in Google Docs?

Google Docs has a similar feature called “bookmarks” that are visible as blue ribbon icons in the margin. They work differently from Word’s bookmarks and are not compatible. If you open a Word document with bookmarks in Google Docs, the bookmarks are not imported.

Alternatives to Bookmarks in Word

If bookmarks are not meeting your needs, consider these alternatives:

• Headings and Navigation Pane: Use built-in heading styles, then open the Navigation Pane (View > Navigation Pane) to jump between sections. This is more visible and works for most navigation needs.
• Hyperlinks: Create clickable links to headings or bookmarks. Right-click text and choose Hyperlink > Place in This Document.
• Comments: If you want to mark a spot for review, use a comment instead. Comments are visible in the margin and can be resolved.
• Footnotes: For reference notes, use footnotes rather than bookmarks.

Bookmarks remain the best choice when you need automated cross-references or fields, but for simple navigation, headings and hyperlinks are often easier.

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