How to Fix “Error! Bookmark Not Defined” in Word

Encountering the “Error! Bookmark not defined.” message in your Word document can be frustrating. This error typically arises when a hyperlink or cross-reference in your document is linked to a bookmark that Word can no longer locate. Don’t worry; this guide will walk you through several methods to identify and resolve this issue.

Understanding the “Error! Bookmark Not Defined” Error

Before diving into the solutions, it’s helpful to understand why this error occurs. Here’s a breakdown:

  • Deleted Bookmark: The most common reason is that the bookmark you’re referencing has been accidentally deleted.
  • Renamed Bookmark: If you’ve renamed a bookmark, the existing links to the old name will break.
  • Corrupted Document: In rare cases, document corruption can lead to bookmark errors.
  • Incorrect Bookmark Name: The hyperlink or cross-reference might be pointing to a bookmark name that doesn’t exist (typo).
  • Bookmark Outside of Scope: If a bookmark is nested within another bookmark and the outer bookmark is moved or deleted, references to the inner bookmark can break.

Methods to Fix the “Error! Bookmark Not Defined” Error

Here are several approaches to resolve the issue:

1. Reveal Field Codes

The first step is to reveal the field codes in your document. This will show you the underlying code that generates the error and potentially reveal the missing bookmark name.

  1. Select All Text: Press Ctrl + A (Windows) or Cmd + A (Mac) to select the entire document.
  2. Display Field Codes: Press Alt + F9 (Windows) or Option + F9 (Mac). This will toggle the display of field codes in place of the actual values.
  3. Examine the Error: Look for the “Error! Bookmark not defined.” message surrounded by field codes (e.g., { HYPERLINK \l "BookmarkName" }). The bookmark name that Word is trying to find will be within the quotes after \l.
  4. Locate and Correct:
    • If you see a typo in the bookmark name, correct it directly within the field code.
    • If the bookmark name is correct, proceed to the next steps to check if the bookmark exists.
  5. Hide Field Codes: Press Alt + F9 or Option + F9 again to hide the field codes and display the results.
  6. Update Fields: Select all text (Ctrl + A or Cmd + A) and press F9 to update all fields in the document. This should refresh the links and potentially resolve the error.

2. Check for Missing or Deleted Bookmarks

Now, let’s verify if the bookmark actually exists in your document.

  1. Go to Insert Tab: In the Word ribbon, click on the “Insert” tab.
  2. Click Bookmark: In the “Links” group, click on the “Bookmark” button.
  3. Bookmark Dialog Box: The Bookmark dialog box will appear, listing all the bookmarks in your document. Make sure the “Hidden bookmarks” checkbox is unchecked if you want to see all bookmarks.
  4. Look for the Missing Bookmark: Search for the bookmark name that was identified in the field code (from Step 1).
  5. If the Bookmark is Missing: This confirms that the bookmark has been deleted or renamed. You will need to recreate the bookmark or update the link to point to a different location.

3. Recreate the Missing Bookmark

If the bookmark is missing, you need to recreate it.

  1. Identify the Target Location: Determine where the bookmark should be placed in your document. This is the section of text or object you want the hyperlink or cross-reference to point to.
  2. Select the Text/Object: Select the text, image, or other object that you want to bookmark.
  3. Go to Insert Tab: Click on the “Insert” tab in the ribbon.
  4. Click Bookmark: In the “Links” group, click on the “Bookmark” button.
  5. Enter Bookmark Name: Type the exact name of the bookmark that was referenced in the error message (as revealed in the field code). Important: Bookmark names must start with a letter, and cannot contain spaces. Use underscores instead of spaces (e.g., Section_1 instead of Section 1).
  6. Click Add: Click the “Add” button to create the bookmark.
  7. Update Fields: Select all text (Ctrl + A or Cmd + A) and press F9 to update all fields in the document. This should resolve the error, as the bookmark now exists.

If the bookmark exists but the link is still broken, you may need to manually update the link.

  1. Locate the Broken Link: Find the hyperlink or cross-reference that displays the error message.
  2. Right-Click the Link: Right-click on the broken link.
  3. Select “Edit Hyperlink” or “Edit Cross-reference”: The option will vary depending on whether it’s a hyperlink or a cross-reference. If it’s a regular hyperlink, choose “Edit Hyperlink”. If it’s a cross-reference, you may need to remove and re-insert it.
  4. Hyperlink Dialog Box: If you selected “Edit Hyperlink”, the “Edit Hyperlink” dialog box will appear.
  5. Select “Place in This Document”: In the left pane, click on “Place in This Document”.
  6. Choose the Correct Bookmark: In the list of bookmarks, select the bookmark you want the hyperlink to point to.
  7. Click OK: Click “OK” to update the hyperlink.
  8. Update Fields: Select all text (Ctrl + A or Cmd + A) and press F9 to update all fields in the document.

5. Using Find and Replace (Advanced)

For documents with numerous broken links, using Find and Replace with wildcards can be efficient.

  1. Reveal Field Codes: Press Alt + F9 or Option + F9 to show field codes.
  2. Open Find and Replace: Press Ctrl + H (Windows) or Cmd + H (Mac) to open the Find and Replace dialog box.
  3. Find What: In the “Find what” field, enter { HYPERLINK \\l "*" } (or the appropriate field code for cross-references). This will search for all hyperlinks pointing to any bookmark.
  4. Replace With: Leave the “Replace with” field blank.
  5. More Options: Click the “More »” button.
  6. Use Wildcards: Check the “Use wildcards” checkbox.
  7. Find All: Click “Find All”. This will select all instances of the field codes.
  8. Manually Update: Carefully review each selected field code and update the bookmark name within the field code to the correct name or recreate the bookmark as needed.
  9. Hide Field Codes: Press Alt + F9 or Option + F9 to hide field codes.
  10. Update Fields: Select all text (Ctrl + A or Cmd + A) and press F9 to update all fields.

6. Document Corruption

If none of the above steps work, document corruption may be the culprit.

  • Save as a Different Format: Try saving the document in a different format (e.g., .rtf, .txt) and then back to .docx. This can sometimes strip away corrupted elements.
  • Copy and Paste: Copy the content of the document (excluding the final paragraph mark) into a new, blank Word document.

Preventing Future Bookmark Errors

Here are some tips to avoid “Error! Bookmark not defined.” errors in the future:

  • Plan your Bookmarks: Carefully plan and name your bookmarks before creating hyperlinks or cross-references.
  • Avoid Renaming Bookmarks: If possible, avoid renaming bookmarks after they’ve been linked. If you must rename, update all associated links immediately.
  • Be Careful When Deleting: Be cautious when deleting text that might contain bookmarks. Double-check to ensure you’re not accidentally removing a bookmark.
  • Use Descriptive Names: Choose descriptive bookmark names that are easy to remember and identify.
  • Regular Backups: Create regular backups of your important documents to prevent data loss due to corruption.

By following these steps, you should be able to effectively fix the “Error! Bookmark not defined.” error in your Word document and prevent it from recurring in the future.