In Microsoft Word, you can create a table of contents that updates instantly to reflect changes in a document. The easiest way to create and maintain a table of contents is with styles. In this guide, we'll show you how to do this in the following versions of Word: Word for Microsoft 365, Word Online, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, Word 2007, Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Word 2019 for Mac, and Word 2016 for Mac.
How to Create a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word
A table of contents in Microsoft Word is based on the headings in the document. Headings formatted with the H1 style become main topics, while headings formatted with H2 become subtopics.
You may be working with a document that has already been written and needs to have a table of contents added, but you want to preserve the document's font and formatting. To match the automatic headings to what's already in the document, format them with the H1 or H2 styles, as appropriate.
Once that's done, follow these steps:
