A short Google Docs table of contents may need only major headings, while a technical manual may need several levels. Use the contents settings to choose the displayed hierarchy instead of deleting individual generated entries by hand.
Open the contents options
- Open the Google Doc on a computer and click its table of contents.
- Open the additional table-of-contents options and choose More options.
- In the side panel, review which headings are displayed.
- Adjust the available formatting and heading indents as needed.
Read the list after the change. A concise contents page should still give readers enough information to find important material. Removing lower levels can make a long section difficult to navigate if its subsections carry the useful distinctions.
Keep the document hierarchy intact
Do not demote a real heading to Normal text merely to hide it from a contents list. That changes the document’s structure and can also affect outline navigation and accessibility.
Likewise, changing a heading’s font size is not the same as changing its level. Adjust the contents presentation through the relevant options while keeping the underlying section hierarchy meaningful.
Check document-mode limits
Google’s guidance notes that table-of-contents formatting cannot be changed in Pageless in the same way. If the expected panel options are unavailable, confirm the mode before concluding that the document is damaged.
After editing headings later, refresh the contents and recheck the selected levels. Inspect the exported file if that is the delivery format. A simplified contents page is successful when it remains accurate and useful, not merely when it occupies fewer lines.
References
- Add a title, heading, or table of contents in a document
- Change a document’s page setup: pages or pageless
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.