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References tab not working in word 2013

I had made a document with over hundred bibliographical references now suddenly my word references tab is no more accessible I can't click on it... it seems inactive.... Any suggestions. It happens with all documents now
Is the selection in the body of the document and not in the bibliography?
Hope this helps,
Doug Robbins - MVP Office Apps & Services (Word)
dougrobbinsmvp@gmail.com

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I also have this problem.  I was able to click and add the references tab in the quick bar, but it's blank.  and when adding it in, there was no plus sign in front of it with a drop down of all the different things that are on the references tab....blank reference tab.  Shows up but there's nothing inside it.  Help appreciated.  Thanks!

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Which command, specifically, did you add to the Quick Access Toolbar?

Note that the bibliography feature is only partly supported in the older Word 97–2003 file formats, which might explain the problem you are seeing. However, if are sure that you are using the new file format (*.docx), you should repair Office from Control Panel. See http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/repair-or-remove-office-2010-HA010357402.aspx.
Stefan Blom
MS 365 Word MVP since 2005
Volunteer Moderator
MS 365, Win 11 Pro
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I added the "references" to the quick acces toolbar, and now it shows up, but it's blank.  Every other tab, like HOME INSERT DESIGN LAYOUT all have little buttons, but the REFERENCE tab is completely blank.

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I added the "references" to the quick acces toolbar, and now it shows up, but it's blank.  Every other tab, like HOME INSERT DESIGN LAYOUT all have little buttons, but the REFERENCE tab is completely blank.

I know of no way to add a Tab to the QAT, but may be ignorant. I take it that you are saying that when you click on the References Tab, it is blank. Is that the case?

What happens if you start Word in Safe mode?

If you go into the Ribbon Edit dialog, what do you see? Anything like the following?Image

Volunteering to "pay forward" the help I've received in the Microsoft user community.

Charles Kenyon
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
wordfaq[at]addbalance[dot]com

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I think she means she added it to the Ribbon, though it should be displayed by default.
Microsoft MVP (Word) since 1999
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://ssbarnhill.com
http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com
Screen shots captured with TechSmith's Snagit

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I checked off references.  So now it shows up on the quick access toolbar.  But, under references, there's nothing listed. No TOC, Footnotes, Citations...nothing shows under references.  It's blank.

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Again, you can't add a Ribbon tab to the QAT. You can add individual buttons from the References tab. But the tab itself is part of the Ribbon.
Microsoft MVP (Word) since 1999
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://ssbarnhill.com
http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com
Screen shots captured with TechSmith's Snagit

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Could you show us a screen shot of what you see in Word?

Stefan Blom
MS 365 Word MVP since 2005
Volunteer Moderator
MS 365, Win 11 Pro
~~~
Note that I do not work for Microsoft
https://mvp.microsoft.com/
~~~
Please specify Word version & OS in your question

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I checked off references.  So now it shows up on the quick access toolbar.  But, under references, there's nothing listed. No TOC, Footnotes, Citations...nothing shows under references.  It's blank.

The screen shot I showed is for modification of the Ribbon, not the QAT. You are telling me that there is nothing listed on that dialog subsidiary to References?

Like Stefan I would be able to give better advice if I saw what you are seeing.

Again, what happens if you start Word in Safe mode?

Volunteering to "pay forward" the help I've received in the Microsoft user community.

Charles Kenyon
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
wordfaq[at]addbalance[dot]com

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Last updated April 14, 2025 Views 4,971 Applies to: