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How To Create Table Of Contents In Word

Kevin Pocock
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Reviewed By: Kevin Pocock

How To Create Table Of Contents In Word
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Table of Contents

Having a table of contents can be incredibly useful in any Word document. If you want to learn how to create one and update it, just read this article.

1

How To Create A Table Of Contents In Microsoft Word On Windows

Step

1

Hover Over The Area You Want To Add Table Of Contents

Hover your cursor over the area where you would like to add the table of contents on your document.

Step

2

Find The References Then Go To Table Of Contents

Find the “references” option, then go to “table of contents”. Pick an automatic style of table of contents from the list of options.

Step

3

Update The Table For Any Changes

This will add an automatic table of contents to your document. If you subsequently make any changes to your document that will have an effect on the table of contents, all you need to do is update the table.

Step

4

Select The Update Field To Update The Table

To update your table of content, right-click on the table, and select the “update field” option.

Step

5

Update The Table Of Contents Manually, If You Wish

You may also choose to update the table of contents manually, if you wish to do so.

Step

6

Fix Missing Entries

If you find that you have missing entries in your table of contents, you may want to fix it. This might happen because of headings that are not properly formatted as headings, so they aren't picked up.

Step

7

Fix Each Heading

To fix this issue, go to each heading that you would like in your table of content, highlight them, and select “home”, then “styles”. Selected “heading one”.

Step

8

Update The Table Of Contents

This should update the table of contents and the heading will now appear in the table for you to easily access.

2

How To Create A Table Of Contents In Microsoft Word On MacOs

Step

1

Click Where You’d Like To Put Your Table

Click where you would like to put your table of contents on the document you are working on. This is typically near the beginning of the document.

Step

2

Find References, Then Table Of Contents

Find the “references” option, then go to “table of contents”. Pick an automatic style of table of contents from the list of options. There should be a number to choose from.

Step

3

Update The Table

This will add an automatic table of contents to your document. If you subsequently make any changes to your document that will affect the table of contents, all you need to do is update the table.

Step

4

Right-Click The Table, Then Select Update Field

To update your table of content, right-click on the table, and select the “update field” option.

Step

5

Update The Table Of Contents Manually, If You Wish

You may also choose to update the table of contents manually, if you wish to do so.

Step

6

Fix It Missing Entries

If you find that you have missing entries in your table of contents, you may want to fix it. This might happen because of headings that are not properly formatted as headings, so they aren't picked up.

Step

7

Fix Each Heading

To fix this issue, go to each heading that you would like in your table of content, highlight them, and select “home”, then “styles”. Selected “heading one”.

Step

8

Update Table

This should update the table of contents and the heading will now appear in the table for you to easily access.

3

How To Create A Table Of Contents In Microsoft Word On The Web

Step

1

Click Where You Want The Table To Go

Click wherever you want your table of contents to go

Step

2

Go To Toolbar, Then References

Go to the toolbar ribbon, then select “references”

Step

3

Select Insert Table Of Contents

Towards the end on the left-hand side, there will be an option to select “insert table of contents”. Alternatively, you may need to go to “table of contents” then select “insert table of contents”

Step

4

The Table Is Auto-Generated

After selecting your option, the table will show up with all the headings in your document

Step

5

Select Update Table Of Contents

You can update your table at any point by right-clicking and selecting “update table of contents”.

The End

This is all you need to know about how to insert a table of contents in Word! Good luck using your table, and make the best of it!

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About the Author

Kevin Pocock

Kevin has a broad interest and enthusiasm for consumer electronics, PCs, and all things consumer tech. And more than 17 years experience in tech journalism.