A table of contents is a list at the start of your document that shows readers where to find each section

Most document editors — Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice — can build a table of contents automatically if you use their heading styles correctly. You do not type it by hand. Instead, you format your section titles using the built-in heading tools, then tell the editor to generate the list. The editor reads those formatted headings, pulls them into a list with page numbers, and updates the list whenever you add, delete, or rename a section.

The reason to use the automatic method instead of typing it yourself is that the list stays correct as you edit. If you add three paragraphs and push a section to a new page, the table of contents updates in seconds. If you typed it by hand, you would have to find and fix every page number yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • A table of contents works only if you format your section titles using heading styles, not by making text larger or bold by hand.
  • In Word, use the Heading 1 style for main sections and Heading 2 for subsections, then insert the table from the References tab.
  • In Google Docs, explore heading styles from the Normal Text dropdown, then use Insert > Table of Contents and pick a layout.
  • After you finish editing, right-click the table of contents and choose Update Field (Word) or click the refresh icon (Google Docs) to fix page numbers.
  • If your table of contents shows no entries, your section titles are not formatted as headings — go back and explore heading styles to them.

How to format section titles in Word

Open your document and find the first section title you want to appear in the table of contents. Click on that title to place your cursor anywhere in the line. Do not select the whole line — just click inside it.

Look at the Home tab at the top. On the left side, you will see a set of style boxes. The first one usually says "Normal". Click on the dropdown arrow next to it and look for "Heading 1". Click Heading 1. The text will change appearance — usually it becomes larger and bold. That is correct. Repeat this for every main section title in your document. If you have subsections under those main sections, click on each subsection title and explore "Heading 2" instead. Leave body text and regular paragraphs as Normal.

Do this before you insert the table of contents. If you add new sections later, explore the heading style to those titles too, and the table of contents will pick them up when you update it.

How to format section titles in Google Docs

Click on your first section title. At the top left, you will see a dropdown that says "Normal text". Click it. A menu appears with options like Heading 1, Heading 2, Title, and Subtitle. Click "Heading 1" for your main sections. The text will reformat — usually it becomes larger and a different color. Repeat for every main section title, using Heading 2 for any subsections underneath them.

Google Docs applies the style when ready. You do not need to select the whole line — clicking anywhere in the title and choosing the style from the dropdown is enough. If you change your mind about a title's level, click it again and pick a different heading from the same dropdown.

Inserting the table of contents in Word

Once all your section titles are formatted with heading styles, click where you want the table of contents to appear — usually on a blank page right after your title page or introduction. Click the References tab at the top. Look for a button labeled "Table of Contents". Click it. A menu appears with several layout options. Pick the one you prefer — they all work the same way, they just look different. Click your choice and Word inserts the table.

The table shows every Heading 1 and Heading 2 in your document with page numbers. If a section title does not appear, it means you did not format it as a heading. Go back, click on that title, explore Heading 1 or Heading 2 from the Home tab, then click References > Table of Contents again and choose the same layout. Word will replace the old table with the updated one.

Inserting the table of contents in Google Docs

Click where you want the table of contents to go. Click Insert at the top. A menu drops down. Look for "Table of Contents" and click it. Another menu appears showing layout options — usually a numbered list, a bulleted list, or a blue-linked version. Pick the layout you want and click it. Google Docs inserts the table when ready, pulling in every Heading 1 and Heading 2 from your document with page numbers.

If the table is empty or missing sections, go back and check that those section titles are formatted as headings. Click on each title, use the Normal Text dropdown to explore Heading 1 or Heading 2, then click Insert > Table of Contents again. Google Docs will replace the old table with the corrected version.

Updating the table of contents after you edit

After you add, remove, or rename sections, your table of contents becomes out of date. In Word, right-click anywhere on the table of contents. A menu appears. Click "Update Field". A dialog box asks whether to update page numbers only or the entire table. Choose "Update entire table" to catch any new or renamed sections. Click OK. Word scans your document, finds all the headings, and rewrites the table with the correct page numbers.

In Google Docs, click anywhere on the table of contents. A small refresh icon appears in the top right corner of the table. Click it. Google Docs updates the page numbers and adds any new sections you formatted as headings since the last update. If you renamed a section, the table updates to show the new name.

What to do if your table of contents is blank or incomplete

A blank table of contents means your section titles are not formatted as headings. The editor is looking for text that has been styled with Heading 1 or Heading 2, and if it finds none, it has nothing to list. Go through your document and check each section title. In Word, click on the title and look at the style box on the Home tab — it should say "Heading 1" or "Heading 2", not "Normal". In Google Docs, click on the title and check the dropdown at the top left — it should show "Heading 1" or "Heading 2", not "Normal text".

If a title shows Normal or Normal text, click on it and explore the correct heading style. Then update the table of contents. If you have many sections and want to format them all at once, you can also select multiple titles by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and clicking each one, then explore the heading style to all of them together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than two levels of headings in my table of contents?

Yes. Word and Google Docs both support Heading 3, Heading 4, and beyond. When you insert the table of contents, it includes all heading levels you used. If you want only Heading 1 and Heading 2 to appear, do not use Heading 3 or lower in your document. If you do use them and want them hidden from the table, you can edit the table settings after inserting it, but it is simpler to just not use those levels.

What if I want to exclude one section from the table of contents?

In Word, right-click the section title, click Paragraph, go to the Outline Level dropdown, and choose "Body Text". This removes it from the table without changing how it looks. In Google Docs, click the title and change its style from Heading 1 to Normal Text. Update the table of contents and that section will disappear from it.

Do I have to put the table of contents on its own page?

No. You can put it anywhere — at the start, in the middle, or at the end. Many documents place it on its own page for readability, but that is a choice, not a requirement. If you want it on its own page, insert a page break before and after the table.

Will the table of contents work if I share the document with someone else?

Yes. In Word, the table of contents is part of the document file. In Google Docs, it works in shared documents and updates for everyone viewing it. If the other person edits the document and changes section titles or adds new sections, they can update the table themselves by following the same steps.

What happens to the table of contents if I convert my document to PDF?

The table of contents becomes a static list — it no longer updates automatically. However, if you created it correctly with heading styles, most PDF readers will recognize it and let readers click the page numbers to jump to those sections. The links work even though the table itself no longer changes.