How to Create a Clickable Table of Contents in Google Docs

I’ve always been fascinated by Google’s tools—each time I explore one, I discover features I never knew existed. Take Google Docs, for example. Like many, I first switched to it just for the real-time collaboration feature. But over time, I’ve realized Google Docs has countless hidden gems that make work smarter and faster.

One such feature that recently blew my mind is the clickable table of contents. Instead of endlessly scrolling through long documents, you can jump to any section instantly—saving time and keeping things organized.

In this guide, I’ll show you step by step how to create and customize a clickable table of contents in Google Docs. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll never go back.

How to Add Table of Content in Google Docs

The first step is to add a table of content in the Google Doc (If you already have a table of content in your document, you can head over to the next section (clickable table of contents) of the article).

1. Open the Google Doc in which you want to add a clickable table of content. Click on “Format” and select “Paragraph Styles”.

Here you will see Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, till Heading 6. The number basically denotes the heading rank, i.e., Heading 1 can be the main heading, sub-heading would be Heading 2, a section under the first sub-heading would be Heading 3, and so on and so forth.

Before adding a table of content, you would first need to organize your entire document basis the above so that the Table reflects what you want it to reflect.

2. In the example below, I have made “Top 4 Joomla Extensions” as my Heading 1. I first placed my cursor before the term, then clicked on Format and then clicked on Paragraph Styles choose Heading 1.

3. Next, I want to make “AcyMailing starter” as my heading 2. I followed the same step and clicked on “Heading 2”.

Do the same for the entire document and to check if you are doing it correctly, click on the small page-like icon on the left pane as highlighted below. It is the “Show document outline”

4. The headings would display now on the left sidebar.

How to Create a Clickable Table of Contents in Google Docs

5. Once the document is ready place your cursor where you want to add the Table of Contents. Click on “Insert”, scroll down, click on “Table of Contents”.

When you click on “Table of Contents”, you get two options – “With page numbers” and “With Blue Inks” (as can be seen in the below snapshot).

If you click on “With Blue Inks”, the table of content that gets added in your doc is already clickable (as shown below). You can navigate to the required section by just clicking on it.

However, if you already had an existing table of contents in your doc, you would need to make it clickable by following the below.

6. Click on the heading and press “Ctrl + K” or “Command +K”. An add links menu will appear as shown below. Simply click on “Apply”

The heading will now appear in blue ink, implying it to have become clickable. You can do this for all the headings one by one and it’s done.

Final Thoughts

The clickable table of contents in Google Docs is a game-changer for anyone working with lengthy documents. It makes navigation effortless, saves time, and adds a professional touch to your work.

I use this feature constantly, and I recommend you do too—whether for academic writing, business reports, or personal projects.

Have you discovered another hidden gem in Google Docs? Share it in the comments—I’d love to cover it in a future guide.

Until then, happy writing and stay organized! ✍️