An automatic table of contents in Word is built from your headings. Apply Heading 1, Heading 2 and Heading 3 styles, insert the table once, and Word keeps the titles and page numbers up to date.
Step 1: Apply heading styles
Click each chapter title and choose Home › Styles › Heading 1, or press Ctrl + Alt + 1. Use Heading 2 (Ctrl + Alt + 2) for sections and Heading 3 for sub-sections.
Tip: Don’t just make titles big and bold. Word only lists text that has a heading style.
Step 2: Insert the table of contents
- Click where the table should go, usually on a page after the cover. Press Ctrl + Enter first to give it its own page.
- Go to References › Table of Contents and choose Automatic Table 1.
Each entry is a link: hold Ctrl and click to jump to that heading.
Step 3: Update it
After you add headings or pages, click inside the table and choose References › Update Table (or press F9). Select Update entire table to include new headings, or Update page numbers only.
Customise it
Go to References › Table of Contents › Custom Table of Contents to:
- Change Show levels to 2 to hide Heading 3 entries.
- Change the dotted tab leader to dashes or none.
- Pick a different look under Formats.
Common problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| A heading is missing | Apply a Heading style to it, then update the entire table |
| Page numbers are wrong | Update the table before printing or saving as PDF |
| Body text appears in the table | That paragraph has a heading style. Change it to Normal (Ctrl + Shift + N) |
| “Error! Bookmark not defined” | Update the entire table, and undo any heading you deleted by mistake |
FAQ
Does the table update by itself?
No. Update it with F9 or References › Update Table, especially before printing.
Can I start page numbering after the contents page?
Yes. See page numbers from page 2 or 3.