How to Fix Blank Footnotes Screen in Draft View After Sonoma Update in Word 16.79.1

I am using Word for Mac (Microsoft 365 Subscription) on version 16.85, running on OSX Sonoma 14.4.1, and everything now seems to be working fine for me. Finally.

I just purchased a brand new IMac as my old one, which worked just fine, but had compatibility issues due to updates, so it forced my hand. I am an academic/writer like many on this thread, so a large portion of my work is writing in Word (in draft). I am writing a book, and when I tried to enter or to see existing footnotes/endnotes, they flashed and then a large grey field appeared. I then found this thread. The reinstall did not work for me (I tried 2x). I scheduled a session with Apple was "upgraded" to Tech then to a Tech supervisor, who basically told me "too bad, nothing we can do here, call Microsoft." As others have noted, neither MS nor Apple will do anything. I am beyond infuriated. The callous disregard for a systemic problem, caused my Apple changing their operating system that they in turn, will do NOTHING to help, is infuriating. I am speechless. And stuck.

Exact same issue. I have PhD applications due in 9 days and I cannot remove the endnote continuation separator from my writing sample because of this issue. Does anyone know of a way to remove the separator without using draft view?

Can someone, anyone please help here. I have just posted the same thing on the Microsoft forum after spending about 4 hours trying to sort this - reinstalling Word etc. I have a book due in two days - great use of time. The footnote pane flashes for a second and then returns to that grey nonsense. Show Notes does the same thing. There is a bug somewhere.

Thank you, but this did not work for me.

This is really annoying! I also am an academic and work mainly in draft mode and want/need to access the fnotes.

I do note that my office desktop has not been upgraded to Sonoma..and I have no problem accessing the fonotes there in draft form with 16.80. I am not enough of a techie to say anything further about this, but, here at home, the hassle started with Sonoma.

Brilliant, that works for me too!

I was reluctant to uninstall and then reinstall using that link, but in the end it took just a few minutes, and seems to have completely solved the issue.

Thanks so much for this advice.

Ever since I updated my MacBook to Sonoma I have had this problem. Just DL'd latest update Jan 2024 and still I cannot see footnotes in draft view. Only the grey page. I have submitted to Ms and to Apple so many times. It is a terrible service. There is no work around that works. Tried all the suggestions. I have advised everyone I know not to update to Sonoma. FIX IT PLEASE.

yes! what a relief, no more policing updates and threatening family members borrowing my macbook with serious consequences if they accept updates in a carefree manner!

Joy unbounded!!!

As others have said, thanks to kev.esteves for flagging this again, and Professorwendy for taking one for the team in testing the latest update.

if it worked before then maybe something changed that requires ms to make an update to resolve it

maybe they are working on it

Contact support within Outlook for Mac - Microsoft Support

Me too. I might have written your post myself!

Didn't work for me…

Didn’t work for me

I have the same issue. Working on a peer reviewed journal that's on deadline. Microsoft 'help' was not helpful. Please Apple, please get them to fix this.

Thank you so much! I am an academic editor and this has been a massive problem for the last few weeks. On a tight deadline for a book and this has saved me masses of time. @1Violet1 you are a legend!