Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 29, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365
Neville is trying to print documents and, at times, he'll see the message "Error! Bookmark not defined!" in the printout. This only happens on some documents, but he doesn't understand why it is happening.
Bookmarks can be used for any number of purposes in a document. The first thing you need to do is figure out where the error is occurring. For instance, is it happening in a table of contents, table of authorities, or an index? All of these rely on bookmarks to work properly. If you see this message in one of these special elements, simply update the fields in your document (press Ctrl+A and then press F9) and the message should rectify itself.
You may also see the error if you try to copy a special element (such as a table of contents) to a blank document. Since the element relies on references that are not in that blank document, you'll see the error message.
If a bookmark was used to create a cross-reference in the document and you see the error at the place where the cross-reference should appear, then it means that the bookmark referenced in the cross-reference field is no longer valid. This may occur if the bookmark was deleted or if the bookmark name was mistyped in the cross-reference field. The only way around the problem is to delete the cross-reference field or make sure that the bookmark it references actually exists in the document.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13416) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
Need to know what bookmarks are defined in a document? Here's a macro that creates a list of all your bookmarks so that ...
Discover MoreBookmarks in Word are just like bookmarks used in paper books, any given bookmark may be reused to mark a new location. ...
Discover MoreBookmarks are quite helpful in a document. You may want to transfer the contents of a bookmark into a macro variable in ...
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 © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments