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How to Create a Clickable Table of Contents in WordPress

Create a clickable WordPress table of contents from your headings using the native block or a plugin. Follow exact setup steps, shortcode examples, placement options, and fixes for missing or duplicate entries.
WorldWordPress Length11 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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The quickest way to add a clickable table of contents (TOC) is to build your article with proper Heading blocks, then insert WordPress’s native Table of Contents block from the + inserter. It creates links from the headings on that page. If you need automatic insertion across many posts, heading thresholds, exclusions, widgets, or shortcode placement, use a plugin such as Table of Contents Plus or Easy Table of Contents.

What a WordPress table of contents does

A table of contents is a navigational list generated from the headings in a post or page. Each item points to an anchor attached to its corresponding heading, so a reader can jump directly to a walkthrough section, boss strategy, hardware explanation, or other part of a long article.

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WordPress’s native block is heading-driven: it reads the Heading blocks in the page and builds the list for you. Easy Table of Contents works from the HTML heading elements <h1> through <h6>. Table of Contents Plus also builds its list from headings and regenerates it when the page loads, so edits to heading text and structure are reflected automatically.

A TOC does not create a heading hierarchy for you. It can only represent the structure already present in your content. Set up the headings first, then add the TOC.

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Build the heading structure before inserting the TOC

Use the page title as the H1 in most cases

In a standard WordPress post or page, the title is rendered as the page’s H1. Treat that title as the top-level heading and start the article’s major sections with H2 headings. Use H3 headings for subsections inside an H2, and continue with H4 only when the content genuinely has another nested level.

For example, a gaming guide might use this hierarchy:

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  • H1: Elden Ring early-game build guide (the post title)
  • H2: Recommended starting class
  • H2: Stat priorities
  • H3: Strength-focused version
  • H3: Dexterity-focused version
  • H2: Upgrade route

Do not choose a heading level merely because its text looks large. In the block editor, select a Heading block and use its level control. Headings introduce sections, organize the page, and make long content easier to scan for people and assistive technologies.

Write headings that work as navigation labels

TOC entries are usually copied directly from heading text. Make each heading understandable when it is read out of context. “Step 3” is less useful than “Step 3: Unlock the fast-travel shrine.” Keep labels concise enough to wrap cleanly on a phone, but specific enough that a reader can predict what appears after the jump.

Keep headings in the order the reader encounters the material. Do not add headings solely to make the TOC longer; every entry should introduce a real section.

How to add a TOC with the native WordPress block

1. Open the post or page in the block editor

From the WordPress dashboard, open the post or page you want to edit. The method below applies to the block editor. If the content is still in the Classic Editor, convert it to blocks or use a plugin that supports shortcode placement.

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2. Add and check your Heading blocks

Place a Heading block at every major section and subsection. Confirm the level of each block in the block toolbar or the block settings. In most articles, the title is H1, major sections are H2, and nested sections are H3.

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At this stage, read the headings in sequence without the body copy. They should form a useful outline of the article. Reorder or rename any heading that would be confusing as a standalone navigation link.

3. Insert the Table of Contents block

  1. Place the cursor where the TOC should appear, usually after a short introduction.
  2. Select the + block inserter.
  3. Search for Table of Contents.
  4. Select the Table of Contents block from the results.

The block creates a list from the headings on that page. You do not have to type the entries manually, and adding, removing, or moving a heading updates the block’s list in the editor.

4. Confirm that every item is clickable

The native block uses HTML anchors on Heading blocks. In the editor, select a TOC item and verify that it points to the intended section. Use the preview or a published view to test the links as a reader would. Check headings with similar wording carefully; a jump that lands one section above or below usually indicates a heading was moved or duplicated during editing.

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5. Preview desktop and mobile layouts

Long game titles and multi-part section names can wrap across several lines. Preview at desktop and phone widths and check that the TOC remains readable, does not overlap other blocks, and leaves enough spacing before the first section. Test every link on both views, especially when a theme uses sticky navigation or a fixed header.

If the native block is missing

The Table of Contents block is supplied through the block editor experience. WordPress.com Support notes that the Gutenberg plugin must be active when the block is unavailable in an environment that expects it. Without the required block support, an existing TOC block can show a warning in the editor and appear as a basic list on the front end.

  • Confirm that you are using the block editor rather than the Classic Editor.
  • Update WordPress and the block editor components available to your site.
  • Check whether a plugin or theme is disabling specific blocks.
  • If your site cannot provide the block, use one of the heading-based plugins below.

A basic list may display the headings but not provide the same anchor behavior. Test the front-end links before publishing.

Use Table of Contents Plus for automatic or advanced insertion

Table of Contents Plus is useful when one rule should apply to many posts or pages. It can insert a TOC automatically, set a minimum number of headings, restrict the feature to selected post types, exclude individual headings, add a widget or block, and control presentation.

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Install and activate the plugin

  1. In the WordPress dashboard, open Plugins > Add New.
  2. Search for Table of Contents Plus.
  3. Select Install, then select Activate.

The plugin’s official listing also describes manual installation: upload its files to wp-content/plugins/, then activate it from the Plugins screen. Use that route only when your hosting setup or deployment process requires manual uploads.

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Choose where automatic TOCs appear

In the plugin settings, enable the post types that should receive a TOC, such as posts or pages. Set the minimum number of headings required before a TOC is displayed. A threshold prevents a two-section announcement from receiving a large navigation box while still adding one to a long guide.

Available placement choices include before the first heading, after the first paragraph, at the top, at the bottom, or at a shortcode position. Pick one site-wide default, then override it on individual pages when the opening layout calls for a different location.

Control which headings are included

Select the heading levels that belong in the list. For a long guide, including H2 and H3 usually gives readers useful detail without reproducing every minor note. Including H4 through H6 can make the TOC unwieldy unless the page has a deliberate, deeply nested structure.

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Use the plugin’s exclusion controls when a heading should remain part of the article but should not appear in navigation. Review exclusions after renaming headings, because a rule based on heading text may no longer match.

Place a TOC at an exact point with [toc]

When the automatic location is not appropriate, insert the shortcode [toc] in the post where the list should appear. This is useful when a guide has a custom lead-in, a notice, or a media block that must appear before navigation.

Use the shortcode only where the plugin is active. If the plugin is deactivated, the shortcode may be shown as plain text or ignored, depending on the site configuration.

Suppress the TOC on one page with [no_toc]

Insert [no_toc] on a page that falls under an automatic rule but should not display a TOC. This is appropriate for short pages, landing pages, or content whose headings are visual labels rather than a navigational outline.

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Adjust appearance and optional behavior

Table of Contents Plus lists controls for list style, width, typography, theme colors, widgets, and smooth scrolling. Match the TOC to your theme’s contrast and spacing rather than copying a setting from another site. Make sure link text remains visibly different from surrounding text and that keyboard users can reach every item.

The plugin generates its TOC from headings each time the page loads. After changing a heading, refresh the front end and verify both the label and destination.

Use Easy Table of Contents

Easy Table of Contents is another heading-based option. Its official listing says it reads HTML heading tags from <h1> through <h6>, can insert a TOC automatically, and supports the [ez-toc] shortcode.

Configure automatic insertion

  1. Install and activate Easy Table of Contents from the WordPress Plugins screen.
  2. Build the page with proper H1–H6 headings.
  3. In the plugin settings or the page’s meta box, enable Insert table of contents.
  4. Update or publish the page.

The plugin reads the rendered heading tags, so check the page’s actual heading levels rather than relying on font size or bold formatting. If a visual label is a paragraph styled to look like a heading, it will not become a TOC entry.

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Place it with [ez-toc]

Add [ez-toc] in the content when you need the list at a particular location. The same shortcode can be used where the plugin documents theme-file placement, provided the site’s theme and security settings allow shortcode output there.

Which WordPress TOC method should you choose?

Need Best fit Reason
One or a few block-editor posts Native Table of Contents block It is inserted directly in the editor and builds its list from the page’s headings.
Automatic insertion across many posts Table of Contents Plus or Easy Table of Contents Both document automatic heading-based generation; Table of Contents Plus also offers heading thresholds and post-type controls.
An exact position inside the article Native block or a plugin shortcode Insert the block where needed, or use [toc] or [ez-toc].
Heading exclusions, widgets, styling, or smooth scrolling Table of Contents Plus Those controls are listed among its documented features.
A site that cannot load the native block A heading-based plugin The plugin can generate the list from rendered H1–H6 elements.

Choose one primary system for a site section. Running multiple automatic TOC systems on the same post can create duplicate lists or competing styles.

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Make the TOC genuinely clickable and accessible

Use descriptive, unique headings

Each navigation label should identify a distinct destination. If two headings have identical text, readers may not know which link they selected, and an automated system may need to disambiguate their anchors. Rename repeated labels with context, such as “Controller layout” and “Keyboard layout.”

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Keep the list proportional to the article

A TOC should expose the article’s useful structure, not every short paragraph. Include the levels that help a reader make a decision or find a procedure. For a walkthrough, H2 entries might be areas or missions and H3 entries might be objectives. For a technical tutorial, H2 entries might be tasks and H3 entries might be troubleshooting branches.

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Account for fixed headers

A theme with a sticky header can cover the first lines of a section after a jump. Preview the destination on the front end. If the theme provides anchor-offset settings, use them; otherwise, adjust spacing or the theme’s heading-anchor behavior rather than adding empty paragraphs.

Do not remove the headings after adding the block

The TOC depends on those headings. Replacing a Heading block with bold paragraph text, moving content into a layout that strips heading tags, or changing levels without checking the result can remove entries or alter the hierarchy.

Troubleshoot missing, wrong, or duplicate entries

The TOC is empty

  • Confirm that the page contains actual Heading blocks or rendered H1–H6 tags.
  • Check that the plugin or block is active and not disabled by the editor configuration.
  • If a plugin has a minimum-heading threshold, add another qualifying heading or lower that threshold.
  • Update the page, reload the front end, and test again.

A heading is missing

  • Inspect its block type and heading level; bold text inside a paragraph is not a heading.
  • Check whether the selected heading level is excluded by plugin settings.
  • Look for an exclusion rule matching the heading text.
  • Ensure the heading is part of the page content rather than inside an embed or an area the TOC system does not parse.

The link lands at the wrong section

  • Look for duplicate or nearly identical headings.
  • Check whether a heading was moved after the TOC was created.
  • Clear any page-cache layer that may be serving an older version, then test in a private browser window.
  • Test the link on the published page, not only in the editor preview.

Two TOCs appear

  • Remove either the native block or the plugin’s automatic insertion for that page.
  • Search the content for both [toc] and [ez-toc].
  • Check whether a theme widget or reusable block is adding a second list.

The front end shows a warning or a plain list

This can happen when the editor block is unavailable or its supporting component is inactive. Restore the required block support, replace the block with an active plugin, or remove the broken block and insert a working method. Always retest the published view after changing plugins.

A practical workflow for long gaming guides

  1. Outline the guide: list the decisions, stages, maps, builds, or troubleshooting cases a reader may need to reach directly.
  2. Assign heading levels: use H2 for the major route through the guide and H3 for variants or substeps.
  3. Write the headings first: make each label meaningful as a standalone link.
  4. Add the body content: keep each section focused on the promise made by its heading.
  5. Insert one TOC system: use the native block for manual control or a plugin for rules that apply repeatedly.
  6. Test every destination: click each item on desktop and mobile, including headings near the bottom of the page.
  7. Recheck after edits: adding a boss phase, changing a build name, or splitting a section can change the list and its anchors.

This workflow is especially useful for walkthroughs with optional routes. Put the main route in H2 headings and optional strategies in H3 headings so the TOC communicates both the overall progression and the available branches.

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SEO, usability, and performance considerations

Proper headings help introduce sections and organize content for readers and search engines. A TOC adds a navigational layer to that structure; it does not replace clear writing, descriptive headings, or useful information. No official performance percentage or ranking guarantee is established for adding a TOC, so treat it as a usability feature rather than a promise of traffic gains.

Keep the markup lean by using one TOC per page and limiting the included heading levels to those readers need. Avoid stuffing headings with keywords or creating artificial sections merely to produce more links. If a page is short enough to scan without navigation, a TOC may add visual weight without helping the reader.

Pre-publish checklist

  • The page title functions as the H1 in the normal theme output.
  • Major sections use H2 and nested sections use H3 where appropriate.
  • Headings are descriptive, ordered, and not duplicated without context.
  • Exactly one TOC method is active on the page.
  • Every TOC item appears because of a real heading.
  • Every item jumps to the intended section on the published page.
  • The list remains readable on a narrow screen.
  • A fixed header does not cover the destination heading.
  • Automatic insertion rules and any shortcode are still enabled after the final edit.

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