Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Removing All Bookmarks.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 25, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Some people absolutely love bookmarks. They do come in handy, but if someone else set bookmarks in a document, you may not need them once you get the document from them. If there are many, many bookmarks set (remember, we are talking about people who really love bookmarks), removing them all one at a time can be rather tedious.
If you find yourself in this situation, you will want to keep the following macro handy. It examines the active document (the one you are looking at) and removes all the bookmarks within it.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here:
Sub RemoveAllBookmarks()
Dim b As Bookmark
For Each b In ActiveDocument.Bookmarks
b.Delete
Next b
End Sub
You should note that this simply deletes the bookmark, not any text referenced by the bookmark. Also note that it deletes all bookmarks in the document, including any that may have been created by Word itself. (Word creates its own hidden bookmarks for various purposes, such as links in a Table of Contents.) If you want to skip the deletion of any bookmarks that Word may have created, then you can modify the macro just a bit:
Sub RemoveUserBookmarks()
Dim b As Bookmark
For Each b In ActiveDocument.Bookmarks
If Left(b.Name,1) <> "_" Then b.Delete
Next b
End Sub
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9004) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Removing All Bookmarks.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
Need to know the line number on which a bookmark is located? A field to return the information would be helpful, but such ...
Discover MoreIf you develop a macro that needs to work with bookmarks defined in a document, it is inevitable that you will need a way ...
Discover MoreBookmarks are a great boon in developing and working with documents--"until someone deletes them. When it comes to ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments