How to Make a Table of Contents in Google Docs (2026)

A long report, a client handbook, a training guide or a proposal with several parts: once a document runs past a few pages, readers need a map. A clickable table of contents in Google Docs gives them one, and it builds itself from your headings, so you're not typing page numbers by hand.

The catch is that the contents list is only as good as the headings underneath it. I'll go through Google's own steps, then the small habits that make the list tidy and the reasons it sometimes looks empty.

Adding a Google Docs table of contents from the Insert menu

According to Google's help article on titles, headings and tables of contents, the steps on a computer are:

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click the place in the text where you want the contents list to sit, usually just under the title.
3. Go to Insert, then Page elements, then Table of contents.
4. Choose the style you'd like from the options.

Each entry becomes a link to its heading, so a reader can click a line and jump straight there.

Setting up headings so your Google Docs contents list fills in

Google says the table of contents lists only the headings and titles that use the document's text styles. If you've made a line big and bold by hand, it won't appear. Select the line and apply a heading style instead, using the styles control on the toolbar. Then each section name will show up in the list.

Keep the structure simple: a title, main headings, then smaller headings underneath. A reader scanning the list should be able to see the whole shape of the document at once.

Refreshing a Google Docs table of contents after you edit

This is where most people think it's broken. Google says new headings don't appear in the table of contents until you click Refresh. So if you add a section and the list looks the same, click the Refresh icon on the contents list and it updates with the new heading.

What you want	What Google's help says
Add a table of contents	Insert, Page elements, Table of contents
Make a new heading appear	Add the heading, then click Refresh
Change the look	Click the contents, then the More table of contents options icon, then More options
Remove it	Right-click it and choose Delete table of contents
What it lists	Only headings and titles in the document's text styles

Changing the format of a table of contents in Google Docs

To edit the list, click it, click the More table of contents options icon to its left and then More options. A panel on the right lets you change the format and heading indents and choose which headings are displayed. If your document has lots of small headings, showing only the main ones keeps the list short and readable.

One thing to know: Google says if the document is in pageless format you can't change the table of contents formatting. Switch the document to pages format if the options are missing.

Choosing which style of contents list suits your Google Docs file

When you insert the list, Google offers a choice of styles. Pick the one that matches where the document will be read. A list with links works well on screen, because readers can click straight to a section. If the file will be printed, check how the entries look on paper before you send it out, since a click means nothing on a printed page.

It's worth giving your headings short, plain names. A heading like Delivery questions answered works better than a long sentence, because the list is only as readable as its shortest entries. Aim for names that someone skimming would understand without reading the section beneath.

Removing a Google Docs table of contents

Right-click the contents list and click Delete table of contents. Your headings stay exactly as they were, so you can insert a fresh list at any time.

Where a Google Docs table of contents earns its place

• Client handbooks and onboarding packs: new clients can jump to what they need.
• Proposals and reports: busy decision makers can go straight to the section they care about.
• Training notes and policies: staff can find the answer without scrolling.
• Long guides you share as a link: readers can move around without a download.
• Resumes and one-pagers: leave it out, because short documents don't need a map.

I'd only add one once a document has enough sections to justify it. For a longer written application, how an experienced professional should structure a resume shows how headings help a reader, and if you're working in an online editor, writing a resume in an online document tool is a useful comparison.

If your Google Docs table of contents is blank or out of date

1. Check that your headings use heading styles, not manual bold text.
2. Click Refresh on the contents list after any edit.
3. Make sure the document is in pages format if formatting options are missing.
4. Open More options and check which headings are set to display.
5. I couldn't confirm a phone route in Google's page, so menus vary in the mobile app. Finish the contents list on a computer.
6. Contact Google through its help centre if the Insert menu doesn't offer Table of contents at all.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a table of contents in Google Docs?

Click where you want it, go to Insert, then Page elements, then Table of contents, and choose a style.

Why is my table of contents empty?

Google says it lists only headings and titles that use the document's text styles. Apply a heading style to your section names, then click Refresh.

How do I update the table of contents?

Click Refresh on the contents list after adding or changing a heading. Google says new headings don't show until you do.

Can I change how it looks?

Yes. Click it, click the More table of contents options icon, choose More options and adjust the format, indents and which headings display.

How do I delete it?

Right-click the table of contents and choose Delete table of contents.