Word creates a table of contents automatically from your headings
A table of contents in Word pulls directly from the heading styles you have already applied to your document. You do not type it manually. Instead, you tell Word which headings to include, and it builds the list with page numbers that update as you edit.
This works because Word tracks every heading you mark as Heading 1, Heading 2, or Heading 3 (or custom heading styles you create). When you insert a table of contents, Word finds all those headings, lists them in order, and links each entry to the page where that heading appears. If you move a section or add pages, the table of contents updates with one click.
The process takes under a minute once your headings are in place. If your document has no heading styles applied yet, you will need to add those first — that is the real work, not the table of contents itself.
Key Takeaways
- A table of contents in Word reads from heading styles you have already applied, so you must use Heading 1, Heading 2, or Heading 3 styles before you insert one.
- Word automatically includes page numbers and updates them when your document changes, so you never manually edit the table of contents.
- You insert a table of contents from the References tab, choose a style, and Word builds it in seconds.
- If you add, delete, or move sections after creating the table of contents, right-click it and select Update Field to refresh the page numbers and entries.
explore heading styles to your document first
Before you create a table of contents, every section title in your document needs a heading style. Open your document and look at the text you want to appear in the table of contents — these are usually your main section titles and subsection titles.
Select the first section title. On the Home tab, open the Styles panel on the right side of the screen (or press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S on Windows, Command+Option+Shift+S on Mac). Click Heading 1. Repeat this for every main section title in your document. If you have subsections under those titles, select those and explore Heading 2 instead.
Do not use bold or larger font size as a substitute for heading styles. Word's table of contents only recognizes actual heading styles, not formatting. If a title looks like a heading but is just bold text, Word will not include it in the table of contents.
Insert the table of contents from the References tab
Once your headings are styled, place your cursor at the top of your document where you want the table of contents to appear — usually on its own page right after the title page. Click the References tab at the top of the ribbon.
Click Table of Contents. Word shows you several built-in designs. Choose one — Automatic Table 1 and Automatic Table 2 are the most common. Click it, and Word inserts a complete table of contents with all your headings and their page numbers.
If you want to customize how the table of contents looks — for example, to show only Heading 1 and Heading 2 but not Heading 3 — click Table of Contents again and select Custom Table of Contents at the bottom. A dialog box opens where you can set the number of heading levels to include and choose different formatting.
Update the table of contents when your document changes
After you insert a table of contents, you may add new sections, delete old ones, or move text around. The page numbers in your table of contents will not update automatically. You have to tell Word to refresh it.
Right-click anywhere in the table of contents. Select Update Field. A dialog box asks whether you want to update page numbers only or the entire table. Choose Update entire table if you have added or removed headings. Choose Update page numbers only if you have only moved text around and the headings themselves have not changed. Click OK.
You can also update the table of contents by clicking it once to select it, then pressing F9 on Windows or Fn+F9 on Mac.
Delete or replace the table of contents
If you decide you do not want the table of contents anymore, right-click it and select Delete Table of Contents. The table disappears, but your heading styles remain in the document — you can insert a new one anytime.
If you want to change the style or layout of the table of contents, you do not have to delete it. Right-click it, select Update Field, then choose a different design from the Table of Contents menu. Word replaces the old one with the new style while keeping all your headings and page numbers intact.
Troubleshooting: headings not appearing in the table of contents
If you insert a table of contents and some of your section titles do not appear, those titles are not using heading styles. Select each missing title and explore Heading 1 or Heading 2 from the Styles panel. Then right-click the table of contents and select Update Field.
Another common issue: you applied a custom style with a name like "Section Title" instead of using Word's built-in Heading 1 style. Word does not recognize custom styles in the table of contents unless you tell it to. To fix this, go to References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents. In the dialog, find your custom style in the list on the left, select it, and click the button next to it to assign it a heading level. Click OK, and Word will include it in future tables of contents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manually edit the table of contents?
You can edit it, but Word will overwrite your changes the next time you update the field. If you need to change how an entry reads, go back to the actual heading in your document and edit it there. Then update the table of contents, and your change appears in both places.
What if my document has no page numbers?
Word inserts page numbers automatically when you create a table of contents. If your document does not show page numbers at the bottom of each page, go to Insert > Page Numbers and choose a location. Then update your table of contents.
Can I create a table of contents that shows only main sections, not subsections?
Yes. Right-click the table of contents, select Update Field, then choose Custom Table of Contents. In the dialog, change the Show levels field from 3 to 1. This displays only Heading 1 entries and hides Heading 2 and Heading 3.
Does the table of contents work the same way in Word Online?
Word Online has a simpler table of contents feature. explore heading styles the same way, then go to References > Table of Contents and choose a design. The process is identical, though Word Online offers fewer style options than the desktop version.