How to Insert a Table of Contents in Word

To insert a table of contents in Word, first format your section titles with the Heading 1, Heading 2 and Heading 3 styles. Then click where you want the table, go to References > Table of Contents, and choose an automatic style. Word builds the table from your headings and adds page numbers.

These steps work in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024 and 2021 on Windows and Mac, with a note for Word for the web. Below you’ll also find how to update the table, add entries that aren’t headings, change the look, and fix missing or wrong entries.

Step 1: Format Your Headings

1. Select the title of your first main section.
2. Go to Home > Styles and choose Heading 1. Expected result: the text changes to the Heading 1 look and appears in the Navigation pane.
3. Apply Heading 2 to subsections and Heading 3 to anything below that.
4. Repeat for every title you want in the table.

Making titles bold or bigger by hand doesn’t count; Word only reads heading styles. To keep your own font instead of Word’s default heading look, format one title the way you like, then right-click Heading 1 in the Styles gallery and choose Update Heading 1 to Match Selection. Open View > Navigation Pane to check that all your headings are picked up; see how to open the Navigation pane in Word.

Step 2: Insert the Table of Contents

1. Click where you want the table, usually on a blank page after the title page. Make sure the line is left-aligned, not centered, so page numbers line up.
2. Go to the References tab and select Table of Contents.
3. Choose one of the Automatic styles. Expected result: Word inserts a table listing your headings with page numbers, indented by level.

These steps follow Microsoft’s guide to inserting a table of contents. Microsoft notes that a Manual Table style doesn’t use your headings and can’t update automatically; it just gives you placeholder text to type over.

In Word for the web: go to References > Table of Contents > Insert Table of Contents.

Step 3: Update the Table After Edits

The table doesn’t change on its own when you edit the document.

1. Select References > Update Table, or right-click the table and choose Update Field.
2. Choose Update page numbers only if you only moved text, or Update entire table if you added, removed, or renamed headings.
3. Select OK. Expected result: the table matches your current headings and pages.

Microsoft explains the options in Update a table of contents. Updating the entire table removes any edits you typed directly into it, so make changes in the headings instead.

Step 4: Change How It Looks

1. Go to References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents.
2. Set Show levels to the number of heading levels you want, and choose whether to show and right-align page numbers.
3. Pick a Tab leader, such as dots, dashes, or none.
4. To change fonts or spacing, select Modify, choose a level such as TOC 1, and select Modify again.
5. Select OK and replace the existing table when asked.

See Microsoft’s page on formatting a table of contents. For theses and reports with strict formatting rules, check your style guide before choosing levels and spacing.

Add an Entry That Isn’t a Heading

There is also a way to add text without applying a heading style:

1. Select the text, or click where the section starts.
2. Press Alt + Shift + O to open the Mark Table of Contents Entry box.
3. Type the entry text, choose a level, and select Mark.
4. In Custom Table of Contents > Options, check Table entry fields, then update the table.

Troubleshooting

Headings are missing from the table

Microsoft says missing entries usually mean the text isn’t formatted as a heading. Select the title, apply a heading style, and update the entire table. If you use Heading 4 or lower, raise Show levels in Custom Table of Contents.

Body text shows up in the table

A normal paragraph has a heading style applied. Click it, choose Normal in the Styles gallery, and update the table.

Page numbers are wrong

Select Update Table and choose Update page numbers only. Do this last, after all edits, since new text shifts page numbers.

The page numbers don’t line up

The table was inserted on a centered line. Undo, left-align the line, and insert it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I click the entries to jump to a section?

Yes. In Word, hold Ctrl and click an entry to go to that heading.

How do I remove a table of contents?

Go to References > Table of Contents and select Remove Table of Contents. Your headings stay in the document. If that leaves an empty page behind, see how to delete an empty page in Word.

Can I use my headings to move sections around?

Yes. Once your titles use heading styles, you can drag them in the Navigation pane to reorder sections. See how to change the page order in Word.

How do I add footnotes to the same document?

See how to add a footnote in Word.

To center the table of contents title or a cover page heading, see how to center text in Word.