This article explains how to insert a footnote in Microsoft PowerPoint using the Footer function to add a citation or to clarify information. Instructions cover PowerPoint 2019 through 2013, PowerPoint Online, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac.

What to Know

  • Mac and PC: Select the text, type a number, and go to Insert > Header & Footer. Select the Slide tab, then select the Footer check box.In the Footer field, type the number, a space, and then the footnote text. Select Apply to display the footnote. Add the superscript text effect.PowerPoint Online: Go to Insert > Text Box, type a number, highlight the text, click Home, and select Font Size to size the footnote.

How to Insert a Footnote in PowerPoint for Windows

Follow these steps to add footnotes in the desktop version of PowerPoint for Windows:

  • Select the text or image you wish to reference in the footnote and type a number to the right of it (preferably 1 if it’s the first footnote on the slide). You can also use a letter or symbol if you prefer.
  • Go to the Insert tab, then select Header & Footer.
  • In the Header and Footer dialog box, go to the Slide tab (if it isn’t selected), then select the Footer check box.
  • In the Footer field, type the number, letter, or symbol you used in the first step followed by a space and then the text you wish to appear in your footnote. To display the footnote on the current slide, select Apply.
  • To display the footnote on all slides, select Apply to All.
  • To display the footnote indicators in the proper superscript format, select the number, letter, or symbol so that it’s highlighted.
  • Go to the Home tab, and then select the diagonal arrow in the lower-right corner of the Font section.
  • In the Font dialog box, go to the Font tab (if it isn’t selected).
  • Select Superscript in the Effects section to enable it, then select OK.
  • To raise or lower the position of the superscript, adjust the Offset value.
  • The footnote indicator displays in the proper superscript format. Repeat this as many times as necessary to convert all footnote indicators to the correct size.

How to Add a Footnote in PowerPoint for macOS

In the desktop version of PowerPoint for Mac, you can add footnotes as follows:

Select the text or image you wish to reference in the footnote and type a number to the right of it (preferably 1 if it’s the first footnote on the slide). You can also use a letter or symbol if you prefer.

Go to the Insert tab, then select Header & Footer.

In the Header and Footer dialog box, go to the Slide tab (if it isn’t selected), then select the Footer check box.

In the Footer field, type the number, letter, or symbol you used in the first step followed by a space and then the text you wish to appear in your footnote. To display the footnote on the current slide, select Apply.

To display the footnote on all slides, select Apply to All.

To display the footnote indicators in the proper superscript format, select the number, letter, or symbol so that it’s highlighted.

Go to the Home tab, and then select the diagonal arrow in the lower-right corner of the Font section.

In the Font dialog box, go to the Font tab (if it isn’t selected). 

Select Superscript in the Effects section to enable it, then select OK.

To raise or lower the position of the superscript, adjust the Offset value.

The footnote indicator displays in the proper superscript format. Repeat this as many times as necessary to convert all footnote indicators to the correct size.

To remove footnotes, go to Insert > Header & Footer, then clear the Footer check box and choose Apply or Apply to All.

  • Select the text or image you wish to reference in the footnote and type a number to the right of it (preferably 1 if it’s the first footnote on the slide). You can also use a letter or symbol if you prefer.
  • Go to the Insert tab at the top of the PowerPoint interface, then select Header & Footer.
  • In the Header and Footer dialog box, go to the Slide tab (if it isn’t selected), then select the Footer check box.
  • In the Footer field, type the number, letter, or symbol you used in the first step followed by a space and then the text you wish to appear in the footnote.
  • Select Apply to display the footer with the footnote text on the current slide, or select Apply to All to display this footer on all slides.
  • To display the footnote indicators in the proper superscript format, select the number, letter, or symbol so that it’s highlighted.
  • Go to the Home tab in the upper-left corner of PowerPoint, then select the Superscript icon (x2) in the Font section.
  • The footnote indicator displays in the proper superscript format. Repeat this as many times as necessary to convert all footnote indicators to the correct size.

How to Create a Footnote in PowerPoint Online

The process of creating footnotes in PowerPoint Online is significantly different from its Windows and macOS counterparts, partially because the web version doesn’t offer the ability to convert numbers, letters, or symbols to superscript.

Go to the Insert tab at the top of the PowerPoint interface, then select Header & Footer.

In the Footer field, type the number, letter, or symbol you used in the first step followed by a space and then the text you wish to appear in the footnote.

Select Apply to display the footer with the footnote text on the current slide, or select Apply to All to display this footer on all slides.

Go to the Home tab in the upper-left corner of PowerPoint, then select the Superscript icon (x2) in the Font section.

To remove a footnote, go to Insert > Header & Footer, then clear the Footer check box and choose Apply or Apply to All.

To start, navigate to the slide where you wish to add a footnote, then follow these steps:

  • Go to the Insert tab at the top of PowerPoint, then select Text Box.
  • A new text box is added to the slide. Replace the placeholder text with a number, letter, or symbol. Select the text character so that it’s highlighted, then go to the Home tab.
  • Use the Font Size drop-down menu to modify the size of the footnote indicator to a number at least 3 points smaller than its accompanying text. This gives it the appearance of a superscript even though it’s technically a smaller font.
  • Drag the text box to position it to the right of the text or image it references.
  • Repeat step 1 to add another text box to the slide, then substitute the placeholder text with the same number, letter, or symbol used in step 2, followed by a space and the footnote description.
  • Drag the text box to the bottom of the slide.

Go to the Insert tab at the top of PowerPoint, then select Text Box.

A new text box is added to the slide. Replace the placeholder text with a number, letter, or symbol. Select the text character so that it’s highlighted, then go to the Home tab.

Use the Font Size drop-down menu to modify the size of the footnote indicator to a number at least 3 points smaller than its accompanying text. This gives it the appearance of a superscript even though it’s technically a smaller font.

Drag the text box to position it to the right of the text or image it references.

Repeat step 1 to add another text box to the slide, then substitute the placeholder text with the same number, letter, or symbol used in step 2, followed by a space and the footnote description.

Drag the text box to the bottom of the slide.

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