Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Create and Update a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word

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There are several ways to create a table of contents in Microsoft Word. In this tutorial, we are going to look at the two most convenient ways. Plus, we are going to update a table of contents after making changes to the document. We will also delete a table of contents.

Important Note: To follow these steps, your headings must be formatted with Word’s heading styles. For information on heading styles, please see “How to Create and Customize Headings in Microsoft Word.”

This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 100 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. The steps are the same in Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010. However, your interface may look slightly different in those older versions of the software.

How to Create a Built-In Table of Contents

Word’s built-in tables of contents are the easiest to create. However, they offer the fewest number of customization options.

  1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the table of contents.
  2. Select the References tab in the ribbon.
References tab in Word 365
Figure 1. References tab
  1. Select the Table of Contents button.
Table of Contents button in Word 365
Figure 2. Table of Contents button
  1. Select a built-in table of contents from the drop-down menu.
Built-in tables of contents in Word 365
Figure 3. Built-in tables of contents

Your table of contents should appear in your document.

Example of built-in table of contents in Word 365
Figure 4. Built-in table of contents

How to Create a Custom Table of Contents

Word’s custom tables of contents provide formatting options and allow you to include or exclude specific heading levels.

  1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the table of contents.

Pro Tip: The custom table of contents option does not automatically create a title (e.g., Table of Contents or Contents), so be sure to leave a blank line above your cursor where you can enter a title later.

  1. Select the References tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
  2. Select the Table of Contents button (see figure 2).
  3. Select Custom Table of Contents from the drop-down menu.
Custom Table of Contents option in Word 365
Figure 5. Custom Table of Contents option
  1. Select a visual style from the Formats menu in the Table of Contents dialog box. (The From Template option is based on the styles established in your current template.)
Formats menu in the Table of Contents dialog box in Word 365
Figure 6. Formats menu
  1. Select the number of levels you want to include in the Show levels menu.
Show levels menu in the Table of Contents dialog box in Word 365
Figure 7. Show levels menu
  1. (Optional Step) Select additional options concerning page numbers and tab leaders, which are the dots, dashes, or lines that appear before the page number.
Page number and tab leader options in the Table of Contents dialog box in Word 365
Figure 8. Page number and tab leader options

How to Choose Individual Heading Levels for a Table of Contents

By default, Word’s tables of contents include text formatted with sequential heading styles (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, etc.). However, you can manually include or exclude individual heading levels within your custom table of contents.

  1. Select the Options button in the Table of Contents dialog box.
Options button in the Table of Contents dialog box in Word 365
Figure 9. Options button
  1. Enter the sequence of the heading levels you want to appear in the TOC level text boxes in the Table of Contents Options dialog box.
TOC level text boxes in the Table of Contents Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 10. TOC level text boxes

In the example above, I entered 1 across from Heading 2 because I want my table of contents to begin with Heading 2 and exclude Heading 1.

  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Table of Contents Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 11. Table of Contents Options OK button
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Table of Contents dialog box in Word 365
Figure 12. Table of Contents OK Button

Your table of contents should appear in your document.

  1. Type a title (e.g., Table of Contents or Contents) above your table of contents.

How to Update a Table of Contents

Your table of contents won’t automatically update as you add additional headings to your document. Instead, you can update your table of contents as you add headings or when the document is complete.

  1. Place your cursor in the table of contents.
  2. Right-click and select Update Field from the shortcut menu.
Update Field option in Word 365
Figure 13. Update Field option

Pro Tip: You can also select Update Table in the Table of Contents group in the References tab.

  1. Select Update entire table from the Update Table of Contents dialog box.
Update entire table option the Update Table of Contents dialog box in Word 365
Figure 14. Update entire table option
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Update Table of Contents dialog box in Word 365
Figure 15. Update Table of Contents OK button

Your table of contents should update immediately.

How to Delete a Table of Contents

You don’t have to select the table of contents to delete it.

  1. Select the References tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
  2. Select the Table of Contents button (see figure 2).
  3. Select Remove Table of Contents from the drop-down menu.
Remove Table of Contents option in Word 365
Figure 16. Remove Table of Contents option

Your table of contents should be deleted immediately.

Related Resources

How to Create and Update a List of Tables or Figures in Microsoft Word

How to Cross-Reference Tables and Figures in Microsoft Word

How to Insert Figure Captions and Table Titles in Microsoft Word

Updated January 03, 2022