How to Edit Table of Contents in Word

Edit a Word table of contents by changing heading styles, then updating the TOC field from References.

A Word document gets messy when the contents list stops matching the pages below it. For how to edit table of contents in Word, the main rule is simple: edit the headings in the document first, then update the table. Typing inside the contents list only changes the field until Word rebuilds it.

Use direct typing only for a manual table of contents. For an automatic table, Word pulls entries from heading styles, page breaks, and field settings, so those source items decide what appears.

Find Out What Kind Of Contents List You Have

A Word table of contents is either automatic or manual, and the edit method changes with that choice. Automatic lists update from document headings; manual lists behave like ordinary typed text.

Click once inside the contents list. An automatic table usually turns gray or shows a small Update Table control. A manual table lets you edit the words and page numbers directly, but Word will not track later page changes for you.

Automatic table: fix source headings, update the field, and let Word rebuild the list.
Manual table: type the entry and page number by hand, then check the pages yourself.
Copied table from another file: treat it as automatic if it shows gray field shading.

Change The Heading Text That Appears In The TOC

Heading text in an automatic TOC comes from the document body, not from the list itself. Change the actual heading line first, then update the table so the new wording appears.

Go to the heading inside the document.
Edit the heading words in place.
Click inside the table of contents.
Select References > Update Table.
Choose Update entire table, then select OK.

The revised heading appears in the contents list, and old wording disappears from the field.

How Do You Change The Lines In The Contents List?

The lines in an automatic contents list change when you apply or remove Word heading styles. A line appears when its paragraph uses Heading 1, Heading 2, or another included heading level.

Place the cursor in the paragraph you want to add. On Home, choose the needed style in the Styles group, such as Heading 1 for main sections or Heading 2 for subsections. To remove a line from the contents list, select that heading and apply Normal or a non-heading style.

Word may still show the old entry until the table updates. Click the table, choose References > Update Table, then choose Update entire table.

Edit Needed	Where To Change It	Update Choice
Wrong section title	Edit the heading in the document body	Update entire table
Wrong page number only	Leave headings alone; click the TOC	Update page numbers only
Missing section	Apply Heading 1, Heading 2, or another heading style	Update entire table
Extra section	Change that paragraph to Normal	Update entire table
Too many heading levels	Open Custom Table of Contents and lower Show levels	OK, then replace the table
Dotted leader looks wrong	Change Tab leader in table settings	OK, then replace the table
Text style looks wrong	Use Modify in table settings	OK, then replace the table
Links do not matter for print	Keep the automatic table; print ignores click behavior	Update page numbers only

Change Page Numbers, Dots, And Heading Levels

Word stores page-number display, dotted leaders, and the number of TOC levels in the table settings. Those edits belong in References, not in the body headings.

Go to References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents. Microsoft says this dialog lets you show, hide, and align page numbers, change the tab leader, choose a format, and set the number of heading levels shown in the table. Microsoft’s table of contents settings list those controls.

Choose the settings you want, select OK, then confirm that you want to replace the existing table. The old layout is swapped for the new one while the heading source stays in the document.

Format The TOC Text Without Breaking Updates

TOC text formatting should be changed through Word’s TOC styles, not by dragging over entries and applying random fonts. Style-based formatting survives table updates more reliably.

Open References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents, then select Modify. If Modify is unavailable, change Formats to From template. Pick a TOC level, such as TOC 1, choose Modify, adjust the font or spacing, and confirm each dialog.

The edited TOC style controls the matching list level. TOC 1 formats first-level entries, TOC 2 formats second-level entries, and the pattern continues for deeper levels.

Why Won’t Word Table Of Contents Edits Stick?

Manual edits inside an automatic table disappear because Word replaces the field during the next update. The fix is to edit the source heading, TOC setting, or TOC style instead of the generated line.

One exception is a manual table. A manual table keeps typed changes because Word is not rebuilding it from heading fields. That convenience costs you automatic page tracking, so long documents usually work better with an automatic table.

Problem After Updating	Likely Cause	Fix
Edited entry reverts	The change was typed inside the TOC field	Edit the heading in the document body
Page numbers stay wrong	The table was not updated after pagination changed	Use Update page numbers only
New heading missing	The paragraph is not using a heading style	Apply a heading style, then update the entire table
Subheadings missing	Show levels is set too low	Raise the level count in Custom Table of Contents
Modify is unavailable	Formats is not set to From template	Change the format setting, then choose Modify

Make The Final Update Before Sharing

The final pass should refresh the field after every heading, page break, image, and section change. A table of contents is usually the last item to update before sending or exporting the document.

Press Ctrl + A on Windows or Command + A on Mac to select the document.
Press F9 if that function works on your device, or click the table and use References > Update Table.
Choose Update entire table after heading edits.
Choose Update page numbers only when only pagination changed.
Scan the contents list against the first few headings and the last heading in the document.

The document is ready when the table entries match the body headings and the page numbers point to the correct pages.

References & Sources

Microsoft.“Format or Customize a Table of Contents in Word.”Explains Word controls for page numbers, tab leaders, formats, heading levels, and TOC style changes.