Document Editing Problems

How to Fix 'No Table of Figures Entries Found' Error in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 873 views

Question details

The user is unable to generate a table of figures because the software cannot locate any valid entries.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to create or update a table of figures in a document.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word displays the error message 'No table of figures entries found' instead of generating the requested reference table.

Before you start

Verify that your document actually contains figures, images, or charts, and check if the text beneath them was typed manually rather than inserted via the References tool.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Word's Built-in Caption Feature

Word requires figures to be captioned using its native Caption tool with a specific label to successfully recognize and compile the table.

The most common reason for this error is manually typing text under images. Word's automated table generation relies on hidden field codes created only when using the official Insert Caption tool.

Locate and select your figure

Scroll to the first image, chart, or figure in your document that needs to be included in the table, and click on it to select it.

Insert a proper caption

Navigate to the 'References' tab on the ribbon and click on 'Insert Caption'.

Select the correct label

In the Caption dialog box, ensure the 'Label' dropdown is set to 'Figure' (or your desired label), type your descriptive text, and click 'OK'. Repeat this for all images.

Generate the table of figures

Go to the page where you want the table to appear, click 'Insert Table of Figures' on the References tab, and ensure the 'Caption label' dropdown perfectly matches the label you used in step 3.

Consistency is Key: If you used different labels (e.g., 'Equation' or a custom label) for your images, you must generate a separate table for each label type, or change all image captions to use the 'Figure' label.

Efficient Document Formatting

Create Tables of Figures Seamlessly in WPS Writer

WPS Office offers a highly compatible and intuitive Writer application that makes captioning figures and generating reference tables hassle-free. It seamlessly supports Microsoft Word document formats, meaning your existing reference tables will work perfectly.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx or .doc file.
2. Add captions to your images: Select an image in your document, go to the 'References' tab, and click 'Insert Caption'. Choose 'Figure' as the caption label and enter your text.
3. Insert the Table of Figures: Place your cursor where you want the table to be generated, click 'Insert Table of Figures' under the 'References' tab, verify that the 'Figure' label is selected, and click 'OK'.

Perfect compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and existing field codes.Intuitive interface for inserting captions and managing document references.Free, lightweight, and fast office suite for Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my table of figures say 'No entries found' even though I typed descriptions under my images?

Manually typing text under an image does not link it to the software's internal reference system. You must use the 'Insert Caption' tool located in the References tab so the program can generate the hidden field codes required to compile the table.

Can I include both tables and figures in the same table of figures?

By default, word processors separate reference tables based on the caption label (e.g., 'Table' vs. 'Figure'). To combine them into one list, you would need to assign the exact same label to both types of elements when creating their captions.

How do I update the table of figures after adding a new image?

Right-click anywhere inside your existing table of figures and select 'Update Field'. You will be prompted to either update just the page numbers or update the entire table. Choose 'Update entire table' to pull in your newly captioned images.

Does WPS Writer support existing tables of figures from Microsoft Word?

Yes, WPS Writer is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents. Any captions and tables of figures created in Word will be recognized, preserved, and can be easily updated within WPS Writer.

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