Title: Footnotes block
Author: Alvaro Gómez
Published: August 8, 2023
Last modified: June 6, 2024

---

# Footnotes block

## In this article

 * [Adding the Footnotes Block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#adding-the-footnotes-block)
 * [Adding individual notes](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#adding-individual-notes)
 * [Customize the Footnotes Block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#customize-the-footnotes-block)
 * [Changelog](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#changelog)

[ Back to top](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

WordPress 6.3 introduces a new feature to insert and display footnotes. This option
can be found on the toolbar of individual blocks under the [Rich Editing](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/more-text-editing-overview/)
option.

![Overview of how to insert Footnotes.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2023/08/footnote-block.png)

## 󠀁[Adding the Footnotes Block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#adding-the-footnotes-block)󠁿

The Footnotes block will be added to your page or post as soon as you insert your
first note using the Rich Text option. This new block works like other blocks and
it can be moved around and removed.

From 6.4, the Footnotes block can be removed, a provision has been made to make 
re-insertion easier. Additionally, the footnotes block is now displayed in the inserter
for improved discoverability. It will show even if anchors are not yet inserted 
into the content. This modification strеamlinеs and improvеs thе discovеrability
of thе Footnotеs block, with thе wider goal of crеating a morе usеr-friеndly еxpеriеncе.

![The footnotes block can be added manually.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2023/08/footnotes-inserter.png)

The text in the placeholder is a starting point, future refinements may include 
instructions on how to insert anchors.

![An empty footnotes block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/08/footnotes-
block-empty-1024x433.png)

The user experience was enhanced in the most recent update by giving placeholder
instructions for scenarios where the Footnotes block is not available for custom
post types. This enhancement seeks to provide users with clearer guidance by providing
instructions when the Footnotes block is missing in specified instances.

![Footnotes block placeholder when it's not available on custom post types](https://
wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/12/image.png)

Adding Footnote blocks to templates is also not possible at the moment but it is
[being explored](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/52554).

Attempting to remove a Footnotes block triggers a warning regarding its removal 
and its impact. It advises that footnote references in the content area will continue
to show if the block is removed. The user is required to confirm the deletion request
before the block is deleted.

![The prompt when attempting to remove a footnotes block](https://wordpress.org/
documentation/files/2023/12/image-3-1024x651.png)

## 󠀁[Adding individual notes](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#adding-individual-notes)󠁿

To add new notes, highlight some text and open the “Rich Text” menu. Then select
the “Footnotes” option.

Notes are automatically linked to the original text and include a “go back” link
for convenience.

If you move your blocks around after having added notes, the numbers and order of
the notes will be automatically updated to match the changes you made.

## 󠀁[Customize the Footnotes Block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#customize-the-footnotes-block)󠁿

The Footnotes block has been improved with more design flexibility in this release.
The block now has settings for [typography](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/typography-settings-overview/),
[dimensions](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/dimension-controls-overview/),
and [border](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/border-settings-overview/)
control. [Color](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/colors-settings-overview/)
support has been adjusted, with link and text now being the default, rather than
background and text. These modifications attempt to give users more flexibility 
when it comes to modifying the Footnotes block.

![Footnote block settings options](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/
12/image-1.png)

![Footnote block text color settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2023/12/image-2-1024x491.png)

## 󠀁[Changelog](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/footnotes-block/?output_format=md#changelog)󠁿

 * Updated 2023-12-12
    - Updating content for WordPress 6.4
 * Created 2023-08-08

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First published

August 8, 2023

Last updated

June 6, 2024