Fix a Word Table of Contents That Will Not Update in WPS Office
Question details
The user needs to update a Word Table of Contents that still shows deleted headings and wrong page numbers after document revisions.
- Product
- WPS Office Writer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A Word document was heavily revised, and the Table of Contents no longer matches the current headings or page numbers.
- Observed behavior
- The Table of Contents does not refresh; update commands are disabled, or the table is plain text rather than an updatable field.
Turn off Track Changes and save a copy of the document before updating a Table of Contents so the field can refresh cleanly.
Update the Table of Contents field in WPS Writer
Use this when the TOC is an automatic field but shows outdated entries or page numbers.
An automatic Table of Contents is a field that must be refreshed after heading or page changes. If it has been converted to plain text, updating will not work.
Launch WPS Office, click Menu > Open, and select the Word document that contains the Table of Contents.
Place the cursor anywhere in the TOC area so WPS Writer detects the field.
On the References tab, click Update TOC or Update Table.
In the dialog, select Update entire table and click OK.
Unlock a locked Table of Contents field
Use this when the update command is grayed out or the field does not respond to F9.
Replace a manually typed Table of Contents
Use this when the TOC is plain text instead of an automatic field.
Update a Word Table of Contents with WPS Office
Open the Word file in WPS Writer, click the Table of Contents, and refresh it from the References tab. WPS Office keeps the original .docx formatting and saves the updated table back to Word format.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Go to the WPS Office download page and install WPS Office on your computer.
- 2. Open the Word document: Launch WPS Writer and use Menu > Open to open the affected .doc or .docx file.
- 3. Click inside the Table of Contents: Place the cursor anywhere in the Table of Contents field.
- 4. Update the TOC: Click References > Update TOC, then choose Update entire table and click OK.
- 5. Save the document: Press Ctrl+S or click Menu > Save to keep the refreshed Table of Contents in Word format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Word Table of Contents not updating?
The TOC is likely a locked field, a manually typed list, or Track Changes is blocking the update. Click inside the TOC and use References > Update TOC, choosing Update entire table. If the command is disabled, unlock the field first with Ctrl+Shift+F11.
How do I update page numbers only instead of the entire Table of Contents?
Click inside the TOC, go to References > Update TOC, and select Update page numbers only. If headings are missing or changed, choose Update entire table instead.
Can WPS Office update a Table of Contents created in Microsoft Word?
Yes. Open the .docx file in WPS Writer, click the TOC, and use References > Update TOC. WPS Office preserves the Word field and saves it back in Word format.
What should I do if my Table of Contents is plain text?
Plain text cannot be updated. Delete the old TOC and insert a new automatic one from References > Table of Contents.
Why does my TOC show deleted headings?
The field has not been refreshed or it is locked. Select the TOC, unlock it if needed, and choose Update entire table to remove deleted headings and correct page numbers.
