How to Add a New Section to a Word Table of Contents

To add a new section to a table of contents in Microsoft Word, format the section title with a built-in Heading style, then right-click the existing table of contents and choose Update Field or Update Table and select Update entire table. Word can then add the heading and its page number; text that is merely bold or enlarged will not normally appear as a TOC entry.

How Word builds a table of contents

An automatic Word table of contents is generated from the document’s heading structure. In a typical document, Heading 1 marks major sections, Heading 2 marks subsections, and Heading 3 marks a level beneath those. Word uses those styles to identify both the text of an entry and its place in the hierarchy. Updating the TOC refreshes the entries and page numbers based on the document as it currently exists.

This explains a frequent point of confusion: typing a heading that looks like the other headings does not necessarily make it a heading. For example, changing a paragraph to 16-point bold text may make it look like a section title, but Word may still treat it as ordinary body text. Applying a Heading style gives the paragraph the structural information the automatic TOC needs.

Automatic and manual tables of contents behave differently. An automatic TOC is linked to document headings and can be refreshed. A manually typed list is ordinary text, so Word cannot reliably add new headings or recalculate its page numbers for you. If the existing list does not respond to an update, check whether it was inserted as an automatic table.

Add a section and include it in the TOC

In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, use this sequence:

Go to the place where the new section should begin and create a paragraph for its title. If the section must start on a fresh page, insert a page break separately; a heading style alone does not guarantee a new page.
Type the section title, such as “Recommendations.” Select the paragraph or place the cursor in it.
On the Home tab, in Styles, choose the appropriate level. Use Heading 1 for a major section, Heading 2 for a subsection under a Heading 1, and Heading 3 for a subsection under a Heading 2.
Go to the TOC, right-click inside it, and choose Update Field. Depending on the version and how the TOC is selected, Word may show Update Table instead.
Select Update entire table, then confirm. This updates both the heading list and page numbers. “Update page numbers only” will not add a newly created heading.

You can also select the TOC and use the update control that appears above it, or use References > Update Table when that command is available on the ribbon. The right-click route is useful when the ribbon layout differs. If you are updating a long document, check the result from the beginning of the TOC through the new entry, not just the new section itself.

Choose the right heading level

Pick a heading level according to the section’s role, not according to how large or prominent you want its letters to look. A report might use Heading 1 for “Project Overview,” Heading 2 for “Schedule,” and Heading 3 for “Milestones.” A new major chapter should generally use the same level as the other chapters. If you label every section Heading 1, the TOC may show a flat list instead of the intended outline.

Heading levels also help readers who use Word’s Navigation pane or assistive technology. A logical outline makes it easier to move through a document and understand which topics belong together. If the heading’s default appearance does not match your design, modify the style rather than replacing it with unstructured formatting. To change a style’s appearance, right-click its tile in Home > Styles, choose Modify, and adjust the formatting. The paragraph remains a heading even after its font or spacing changes.

For a quick structural check on Windows, open View > Navigation Pane. The headings should appear in a sensible hierarchy. If your new title is missing there, Word probably does not recognize it as a heading, or it uses a style that is not assigned an outline level. The Navigation pane is a useful diagnostic, but the final check is still to update the TOC and confirm the entry appears where expected.

Set which heading levels appear

A heading can be formatted correctly and still be absent from a particular TOC if that table is set to display fewer levels or uses custom style mappings. For example, a TOC configured to show only Heading 1 will omit Heading 2 and Heading 3 entries. In Windows Word, open References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents. In the dialog, check the number beside Show levels. Increase it if the desired heading level should be included, then confirm the change and update or replace the table as prompted.

For a document that uses custom styles instead of the built-in Heading styles, select Options in the Custom Table of Contents dialog. Word lets you assign a TOC level to styles listed there. Enter the appropriate level beside the style you want included, then confirm the dialogs. This is useful for a house style such as “Chapter Title,” but it requires a deliberate mapping. Merely naming a custom style “Heading 1” does not make it the built-in Heading 1 style.

Changing the TOC’s level settings affects what the table displays, not the underlying document hierarchy. Before making the change, consider whether the extra entries will make the TOC too detailed. A short guide may benefit from showing every subsection, while a long manual may be easier to scan with only its major sections and immediate subheadings.

Update the whole table or only page numbers?

Word’s two update choices solve different problems. Update page numbers only is appropriate when the headings and their order have not changed but pagination has—for example, after a small formatting edit shifts a few pages. It leaves the list of TOC entries alone. Update entire table refreshes the entry text, hierarchy, ordering, and page numbers, so choose it after adding, deleting, renaming, or releveling a heading.

If you only correct a typo in a section title, update the entire table so the TOC text matches the document. If the only change is that a paragraph moved and now starts on another page, updating page numbers may be enough. When uncertain, updating the entire table is usually the safer choice for an automatic TOC, although you should review any deliberate formatting or manual edits made directly inside the TOC afterward.

Word for Mac and Word for the web

On Word for Mac, apply a heading using Home > Styles, then select or right-click the TOC and choose its update command. The exact wording and placement can vary with the ribbon layout and Word version; look for Update Table or an update option in the context menu. The same distinction between updating page numbers and updating the entire table applies. Mac keyboard shortcuts for applying heading styles may differ from Windows, so using the Styles gallery avoids relying on a shortcut that may be customized.

Word for the web can display and edit many documents with TOCs, but its available layout and custom TOC controls may differ from the desktop app. If you need to map a custom style to a TOC level or change detailed TOC settings, open the file in the desktop version of Word and use the Custom Table of Contents options. Regardless of platform, verify that the new title uses a recognized heading style and that the TOC has been refreshed.

Common problems and how to fix them

The heading is missing. Apply a built-in Heading style, then update the entire table. If it still does not appear, check the TOC’s Show levels setting or custom style mappings.
The entry appears at the wrong indentation. The heading probably has the wrong level. Change it to the appropriate Heading style and update the entire table.
The entry appears, but the page number is wrong. Update the entire table after layout changes. Also check whether the document contains section breaks or unusual page-number formats that make the displayed numbering differ from the physical page count.
The TOC does not change at all. It may be a manually typed list, or you may have chosen to update page numbers only. Try the entire-table option. If there is no update command, consider replacing the list with an automatic TOC.
The TOC entry has unwanted formatting. Avoid fixing the entry by manually reformatting it every time. Adjust the TOC styles or the source heading style, then update the table and review the result.
There is a duplicate entry. Check for a second heading paragraph with the same text, including a hidden or repeated heading, and remove or restyle the unintended one before updating.

Also distinguish a document section from a page break. A new section heading is a navigational element; a page break controls where content begins. Word’s section breaks have additional layout effects, such as allowing different headers, footers, or page orientation, and are not required merely to add a TOC entry. Use a section break only when the document’s layout needs one.

When to rebuild the table of contents

Most of the time, updating the existing automatic TOC is preferable to deleting and recreating it. Rebuild or replace it when it is manual, damaged, configured in a way you cannot identify, or needs a different overall design. In Windows Word, use References > Table of Contents to choose an automatic layout or open the custom settings. Replacing a table can remove direct formatting applied inside it, so note any intentional customizations first.

Do not type the new entry directly into an automatic TOC as a lasting fix. A later update can overwrite manually inserted text because Word regenerates the table from the headings and settings. Instead, correct the source heading, adjust the table’s level settings if necessary, and regenerate the TOC. If you need a one-off contents list that will never change, a manually edited list can work, but you will be responsible for maintaining every entry and page number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my new heading not showing in the Word table of contents?
It may be formatted as ordinary text rather than a recognized heading, or the TOC may be set to show fewer levels. Apply the right Heading style, check the TOC settings, and choose Update entire table.

Should I choose Update page numbers only or Update entire table?
Choose Update entire table after adding, removing, renaming, or changing the level of a heading. Choose Update page numbers only when the entry list is already correct and only pagination has changed.

Can I add a TOC entry without changing the heading style?
Yes, if you configure the TOC to include a custom style or map that style to a TOC level. Otherwise, an ordinary paragraph will not be included in an automatic TOC simply because it looks like a heading.

Can I type an entry directly into the table of contents?
You can edit text in some TOCs, but a later update may replace that manual change. For an entry that should remain linked to the document, format the source paragraph as a heading and update the table.

Does adding a new section require a section break?
No. A heading style is what makes the title available to the TOC. Insert a page break if the section should start on a new page, and use a section break only when you need different page layout or header and footer behavior.

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