Use auto text

You can use auto text in your document to add page numbers, section page numbers, bookmark page numbers, or numbered list references. Auto text will automatically insert these numbers for you and update them when changes are made.

Add page numbers

You can only add page numbers in the headers or footers.

To add page numbers:

Click inside a header or footer.
On the Edit toolbar, click More.
Select Auto Text and choose Page Number.

Page numbers are added throughout your document and automatically update when changes are made.

Note: More may be listed under the Insert or Modify dropdown if you are using a smaller screen.

Add section page numbers

You can add section page numbers to text, table cells, and all other areas of your document except footnotes. This creates a hyperlinked page number that updates automatically if the section moves to a different page. This is often used for a table of contents. See more information and a video demonstration in the Create a table of contents article.

Add to text
Add to table cell

To add a section page number to text in your document:

Place the cursor in your text where you'd like to add the section page number.
On the Edit toolbar, click More.
Select Auto Text and choose Section Page Number to search for and select the section you want to link to.

The page number of the section you selected is added to the text as a hyperlink.

To add a section page number to a table cell:

Double-click the cell to edit its content.
On the Edit toolbar, click Insert .
Select Auto Text and choose Section Page Number to search for and select the section you want to link to.

The page number of the section you selected is added to the cell as a hyperlink.

Add bookmark page numbers

Bookmark page numbers allow you to hyperlink the page number of a bookmark within your document. Like section page numbers, you can navigate to the location of the bookmark by clicking on the hyperlink, and the page number will automatically update if the bookmark moves to a different page in the document.

To add a bookmark page number:

Navigate to the More dropdown menu under the Edit tab.
Select Auto Text and choose Bookmark Page Number.
Select a bookmark and click Insert.
The automated page number of that bookmark is added to the document.

Add numbered list references

Numbered list references allow you to point directly to an existing list number in your document. You can navigate to the location of the list number by clicking on the hyperlink, and the number will automatically update if the list number changes.

To insert a numbered list reference:

Place the cursor in your document where you'd like to add the numbered list reference.
On the Edit toolbar, click More.
Select Auto Text and choose Numbered List Reference.
From the dropdown, choose or search for a numbered list item.
Click Insert.
A hyperlink to this list number is added to the document.