How to Fix a Table of Contents in Word

To fix a table of contents in Word, click inside it and select References > Update Table > Update entire table. That fixes wrong page numbers and missing or renamed headings in most cases. If headings still don’t appear, or normal text shows up in the table, the problem is the styles: Word builds the table from paragraphs that use heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2 and so on), so apply the right style to each heading and update again.

Applies to: Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021 and 2019 on Windows and Mac. Most steps also work in Word for the web. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.

Step 1: Update the whole table

1. Click anywhere in the table of contents.
2. Select References > Update Table, or press F9.
3. Choose Update entire table, not Update page numbers only, and select OK.

Word doesn’t update the table automatically as you edit, so do this as the last step before you save, print or export a PDF. “Update page numbers only” keeps old heading text, which is why new or renamed headings may not appear.

Step 2: Fix headings that are missing

A heading only appears in the table if it uses a heading style that the table includes.

1. Click in the missing heading.
2. On the Home tab, select Heading 1, Heading 2 or Heading 3 in the Styles gallery, matching its level.
3. Update the entire table again.

Text that only looks like a heading because it’s bold and large won’t be picked up. Turn on View > Navigation Pane: every heading listed there will appear in the table of contents. See how to make something a heading in Word.

Heading 4 or lower is missing

Word’s built-in tables show three levels. To show more, select References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents, raise Show levels, and select OK. Choose Yes to replace the existing table.

Step 3: Remove text that shouldn’t be there

If ordinary sentences, captions or blank lines appear in the table, those paragraphs have a heading level hidden in their formatting.

1. Click in the paragraph that shouldn’t be listed.
2. Apply the Normal style from the Home tab. If that changes its look too much, open Paragraph settings (the small arrow in the Paragraph group) instead.
3. On the Indents and Spacing tab, set Outline level to Body Text and select OK.
4. Update the entire table.

Step 4: Fix wrong page numbers

• Update the entire table after all editing is finished.
• Hide tracked changes and comments before updating. On the Review tab, set the display to No Markup, update the table, then switch back. Visible markup changes where pages break.
• Hide hidden text. Select Home > Show/Hide ¶ to turn off formatting marks, then update. Hidden text that’s shown can push headings onto later pages.
• Check page numbering in each section. If the table says a heading is on page 1 when it’s on page 12, numbering may restart in a later section. Open the footer and check Page Number > Format Page Numbers.

Step 5: Fix the formatting

If the table’s font, spacing or indents change every time you update it, change the table’s own styles instead of formatting the table directly.

1. Select References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents.
2. Select Modify. The list shows styles TOC 1 to TOC 9, one for each level.
3. Select a level, select Modify, change the font, size or spacing, and select OK.
4. Select OK until you’re back in the document, and choose Yes to replace the table.

In the same Custom Table of Contents box, you can change the Tab leader (the dots between headings and page numbers) and turn page numbers on or off.

Fix error messages and odd displays

“Error! Bookmark not defined”

The table is out of date and points to a heading that was deleted or changed. Update the entire table. If the error appears in a PDF, update the table in Word and export again.

The table shows code like { TOC \o “1-3” \h }

Word is showing field codes. Press Alt + F9 (Option + Fn + F9 on some Macs) to switch back.

The table has a gray background

That’s field shading, which only shows on screen. To hide it, select File > Options > Advanced, find Field shading under Show document content, and set it to Never.

Clicking an entry doesn’t jump to the heading

Press Ctrl while clicking. To make plain clicks work, select File > Options > Advanced and clear Use CTRL + Click to follow hyperlink.

When to start over

If the table has been edited by hand, mixed with typed entries, or copied from another document, it may be easier to replace it:

1. Click in the table, select References > Table of Contents > Remove Table of Contents.
2. Check that every heading uses a heading style in the Navigation pane.
3. Select References > Table of Contents and choose Automatic Table 1 or 2.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn’t my table of contents update automatically?

Word keeps the table as a field that only refreshes when you update it, so it doesn’t jump around while you write. Word does ask to update it before printing if Update fields before printing is turned on in File > Options > Display.

Can I edit the table of contents by typing in it?

You can, but your changes disappear the next time you update it. Change the heading in the document instead.

How do I add an appendix to the table of contents?

Give the appendix title a heading style and update the table. See how to add an appendix in Word.

Where can I find Microsoft’s instructions?

Microsoft’s guide to formatting or customizing a table of contents covers the same settings.

Related: How to get rid of a section break in Word.

Related: How to set up APA format in Word.

Related: How to use Track Changes in Word.

Related: How to add a table of contents in Word.