How to Add a Table of Contents in Google Docs

You can add a table of contents to any Google Doc in under a minute

A table of contents in Google Docs pulls directly from your document's headings and updates itself automatically whenever you change a heading or add a new section. You do not need to type it manually or update it by hand — Google Docs handles that for you. The table of contents appears as a clickable list at the top or anywhere else you place it, and readers can jump to any section by clicking a heading.

The process requires two things: headings formatted with Google Docs' built-in heading styles (not just bold text), and the table of contents tool from the Insert menu. If your document uses plain text or bold instead of proper headings, the table of contents will be empty until you fix that first.

Key Takeaways

Your document must use Google Docs heading styles — Heading 1, Heading 2, and so on — not bold or larger font, or the table of contents will not populate.
Insert a table of contents by clicking Insert, then Table of Contents, then choosing your preferred style from the three options shown.
The table of contents updates automatically whenever you add, remove, or rename a heading in your document.
You can place the table of contents anywhere in your document, though the top is most common for readers to find it.
Clicking a heading in the table of contents jumps the reader directly to that section in the document.

Format your headings before you insert the table of contents

Google Docs will only include text that is formatted as a heading style. If you have written your document with bold text or larger font size, those sections will not appear in the table of contents. You need to go back and apply the actual heading styles first.

Select the text you want to turn into a heading. At the top of the document, click the style dropdown — it usually says "Normal text" by default. Choose Heading 1 for your main section titles, Heading 2 for subsections under those, and Heading 3 for subsections under those. Use Heading 1 for the broadest categories and go deeper only if you have nested sections. A document with only Heading 1 and Heading 2 is cleaner and easier to navigate than one that jumps between all six heading levels.

Repeat this for every section title in your document. Once all your headings are formatted correctly, you are ready to insert the table of contents.

Insert the table of contents from the Insert menu

Click the Insert menu at the top of your document. Scroll down until you see "Table of Contents" — it is usually near the bottom of the menu, below options like Image, Drawing, and Chart. Click it.

Google Docs will show you three style options. The first is a plain numbered list. The second is a blue-linked version where each heading appears as a clickable link. The third is similar but with a different visual style. Choose whichever matches your document's look. You can change this later if you want — just delete the table of contents and insert a new one with a different style.

Google Docs will insert the table of contents at your cursor position. If your cursor is at the top of the document, it goes there. If you want it elsewhere, click where you want it first, then insert.

The table of contents updates automatically as you edit

Once the table of contents is in place, you do not need to do anything else to keep it current. If you add a new Heading 1 or Heading 2 anywhere in the document, it appears in the table of contents within seconds. If you change the text of a heading, the table of contents changes too. If you delete a section, it disappears from the table of contents.

The only time the table of contents does not update is if you change text that is not formatted as a heading. If you have a section title in bold but not in heading style, changes to that text will not show up in the table of contents — because it was never included in the first place.

Readers can click headings in the table of contents to jump to sections

When you share the document with others, they can click any heading in the table of contents and jump directly to that section. This works in Google Docs on the web and in the mobile app. The link is built in — you do not need to set anything up.

This is especially useful in longer documents where readers might want to skip to a specific section without scrolling through everything before it. A reader looking for your pricing information can click "Pricing" in the table of contents and land there instantly.

Delete or replace the table of contents if you need to change it

If you want to remove the table of contents, click anywhere inside it and press Delete or Backspace. The whole thing disappears, but your headings remain unchanged. You can insert a new table of contents later if you want.

If you want to change the style — for example, from plain text to blue links — delete the current table of contents and insert a new one with the style you prefer. There is no way to change the style of an existing table of contents without deleting and recreating it.

Troubleshooting: Your table of contents is empty or incomplete

If you insert a table of contents and it shows nothing, or only shows some of your sections, the problem is almost always that some of your section titles are not formatted as headings. Go back through your document and check each section title. Select it and look at the style dropdown at the top — it should say "Heading 1" or "Heading 2", not "Normal text" or anything else. If it says "Normal text", click the dropdown and choose the right heading level.

Another common issue is using the wrong heading levels. If you have a Heading 3 with no Heading 2 above it, Google Docs will still include it in the table of contents, but it may look odd. Stick to a consistent hierarchy: use Heading 1 for main sections, Heading 2 for subsections, and Heading 3 only if you have subsections within those.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I manually edit the table of contents?

You can click inside it and type, but any changes you make will disappear the next time Google Docs updates the table of contents — which happens automatically whenever you change a heading. The table of contents is generated from your headings, not the other way around. Edit your headings instead, and the table of contents will reflect those changes.

What if I want the table of contents in the middle of my document instead of at the top?

Click where you want it to go, then insert the table of contents. It will appear at your cursor position. You can move it later by clicking and dragging it to a new location, or by cutting and pasting it.

Does the table of contents work in shared documents?

Yes. Anyone you share the document with can see the table of contents and click the links to jump to sections. The links work the same way whether they are viewing, commenting, or editing.

Can I have multiple tables of contents in one document?

Yes, you can insert as many as you want. Each one will show all the headings in the entire document. This is rarely useful, but it is technically possible.

What happens to the table of contents if I change a heading from Heading 1 to Heading 2?

The table of contents updates automatically to reflect the new heading level. The heading will appear indented under the Heading 1 above it, if there is one. If there is no Heading 1 above it, it will appear at the top level of the table of contents.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.