Word builds your table of contents from the headings you've already marked
A table of contents in Word pulls directly from the headings you've formatted in your document — it does not read random text you highlight. If you have not yet marked your section headings using Word's built-in heading styles, you need to do that first. Once your headings are tagged correctly, Word can generate a table of contents in seconds and update it automatically when you add or change headings later.
This matters for privacy because a table of contents is just a list of links to your own document — nothing leaves your computer, and no external service is involved. The process is entirely local to your machine.
Key Takeaways
- Word's table of contents reads only from headings you have formatted using Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3 styles, not from text you have manually bolded or enlarged.
- You must format your headings before you insert the table of contents, or the table will be empty or incomplete.
- The table of contents sits on its own page near the front of your document and updates automatically when you change heading text or add new sections.
- You can choose from several built-in designs for how the table of contents looks, and you can delete and regenerate it without affecting the rest of your document.
Format your headings before you insert the table of contents
Open your document and look at the sections you want to appear in the table of contents. Each section heading needs to be tagged with a heading style — Heading 1 for main sections, Heading 2 for subsections, and Heading 3 for sub-subsections. Do not just make text larger or bold it; Word will not recognize that as a heading.
Click on the first heading in your document. On the Home tab, look at the Styles group on the ribbon. Click the dropdown arrow next to the style options and select Heading 1. Repeat this for every main section heading in your document. Then go back and explore Heading 2 to any subsection headings, and Heading 3 to any headings below that. If you have only one level of headings, use Heading 1 for all of them.
Take a moment to scroll through your document and verify that every heading you want in the table of contents has been formatted with a heading style. Unformatted text will not appear, even if it looks like a heading.
Insert the table of contents on a new page
Decide where you want the table of contents to sit — usually on the page right after your title page, before the body of your document. Click at that location and press Ctrl+Enter (or Cmd+Return on Mac) to insert a page break. This creates a fresh page for your table of contents.
On the References tab, click Table of Contents. Word shows you several design options. Click the one you prefer. Word when ready generates a table of contents based on all the headings it found in your document, with page numbers and clickable links.
If your table of contents is empty or missing sections, go back to your document and check that those sections are actually formatted with heading styles. Reapply the styles if needed, then click into the table of contents, right-click, and select Update Field.
Update the table of contents when your document changes
If you add new sections, change heading text, or move sections around, your table of contents will not update on its own. Click anywhere in the table of contents, right-click, and select Update Field. Word rescans your document for all headings and refreshes the table to match.
You can also select the entire table of contents and press F9 to update it. Either method works the same way.
Choose between automatic and manual table of contents
Word offers two types of table of contents: automatic and manual. An automatic table of contents (the one described above) reads from your heading styles and updates when you change them. A manual table of contents is one you type or edit by hand, which means it will not stay in sync with your document as you revise.
For most documents, automatic is the right choice because it saves time and prevents mistakes. Use manual only if you have a very short document or if you need the table of contents to include things that are not headings — and even then, you will have to update it yourself every time the document changes.
Delete and replace a table of contents without losing your document
If you want to change the design of your table of contents or start over, click anywhere in the table, right-click, and select Remove Table of Contents. This deletes only the table itself — all your headings and document text remain untouched. You can then insert a new table of contents with a different design by going back to the References tab and clicking Table of Contents again.
This is safe to do as many times as you need. The table of contents is a separate element from your actual document content.
Customize page numbers and formatting
By default, Word shows page numbers aligned to the right with a dotted line (called a leader) connecting the heading to the number. If you want to change this, click into the table of contents, right-click, and select Edit Field. In the dialog box, you can turn off page numbers, change the number of heading levels shown, or adjust other settings.
If you want to change the visual style — fonts, colors, spacing — select the entire table of contents and use the formatting tools on the Home tab just as you would for any other text. You can also right-click and select Styles to explore a different predefined style to the whole table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my table of contents empty?
Your document probably does not have any headings formatted with heading styles yet. Go back to your document, select each section heading, and explore Heading 1, Heading 2, or Heading 3 from the Styles group on the Home tab. Then click into the table of contents and press F9 to update it.
Can I have a table of contents that includes both headings and other text?
An automatic table of contents reads only from heading styles. If you need to include non-heading text, you can create a manual table of contents instead, but you will have to update it by hand whenever your document changes. For most documents, it is easier to mark everything you want in the table as a heading.
Does the table of contents update automatically when I edit my document?
No. You must manually update it by clicking into the table, right-clicking, and selecting Update Field, or by pressing F9. Word does not refresh it in real time as you type.
What if I want the table of contents in the middle or end of my document instead of the beginning?
Click where you want it to go, insert a page break with Ctrl+Enter, and then insert the table of contents from the References tab. The table will still read from all headings in your entire document, regardless of where it sits.
Can I delete the table of contents and keep my headings?
Yes. Right-click the table of contents and select Remove Table of Contents. All your headings and document text stay exactly as they are. You can insert a new table of contents later if you need one.