Formatting Issues

How to Create an Accessible Word Table of Contents Without the Document Title

Elise Williams Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to generate a table of contents that meets accessibility standards but excludes the document title, which is currently formatted as Heading 1.

How to Create an Accessible Word Table of Contents Without the Document Title

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a clean table of contents for an accessible document where the cover page title must not appear in the index.
Observed behavior: The goal is to maintain the correct heading structure (using Heading 1 for the title) for screen readers while preventing Heading 1 from appearing in the generated table of contents.

Before you start

Ensure you have consistently applied built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, etc.) throughout your document to correctly define its structure.

Solution 1Recommended

Customize Table of Contents Settings to Exclude Heading 1

Adjust the custom TOC options to only include specific heading levels, removing Heading 1 so the document title on the cover page is excluded.

By default, Word includes Headings 1 through 3 in the table of contents. To keep your document accessible, you should keep the title as Heading 1, but you can manually tell Word to skip Heading 1 when building the table of contents.

Open Table of Contents Options

Navigate to the 'References' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Table of Contents', and select 'Custom Table of Contents' (or 'Insert Table of Contents' depending on your version) from the drop-down menu.

Access TOC Level Settings

In the Table of Contents dialog box, click on the 'Options' button to open the list of styles used to build the TOC.

Remove Heading 1 from the TOC

Scroll through the 'Available styles' list. Locate 'Heading 1' and delete the number '1' in the 'TOC level' box next to it. Ensure that 'Heading 2' has '1', 'Heading 3' has '2', and so on, depending on how you want your remaining headings nested.

Generate the Table of Contents

Click 'OK' to close the Options dialog, then click 'OK' again in the main dialog box. If prompted to replace the existing table of contents, confirm by clicking 'Yes'.

Customize Table of Contents Settings to Exclude Heading 1

Accessibility Maintained: This method preserves your Heading 1 tag for screen readers on the cover page while keeping your visible table of contents clean and professional.

Efficient Document Formatting with WPS Office

Easily Customize Table of Contents in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to manage document structures and generate customized Tables of Contents. You can easily exclude specific heading levels to maintain accessibility standards while keeping your layout professional.

1. Navigate to References: Open your document in WPS Writer and go to the 'References' tab on the top menu bar.
2. Insert Table of Contents: Click on 'Table of Contents' and select 'Insert Table of Contents' from the drop-down menu.
3. Open Options: In the dialog box that appears, click the 'Options' button at the bottom right.
4. Modify TOC Levels: Delete the TOC level number next to 'Heading 1' to exclude it, then adjust the levels for Heading 2 and subsequent headings as needed.
5. Apply Changes: Click 'OK' twice to generate your customized, accessible table of contents.

Customize TOC levels with just a few clicksFully compatible with Microsoft Word .docx formatBuilt-in tools to manage styles and headings easilyLightweight and free to use across multiple devices

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I exclude a specific heading without changing its style in the text?

Yes. By modifying the Table of Contents options and removing the TOC level number for that specific heading style, the text remains formatted as that heading in the document but is completely omitted from the generated index.

Why should the document title be formatted as Heading 1?

For digital accessibility, screen readers expect a logical and hierarchical heading structure. The document title is typically the most important element on the page, so it should be designated as Heading 1 to properly guide visually impaired readers.

How do I update the table of contents if I add new headings later?

Right-click anywhere inside the existing table of contents and select 'Update Field'. Choose 'Update entire table' to refresh the entries. Word will automatically remember your custom settings and continue to exclude Heading 1.

Document & File Issues