To add navigation to a Word document, give your section titles heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2 and so on), then turn on View > Navigation Pane. The pane lists every heading, and clicking one jumps straight to it. For readers, you can also add a clickable table of contents and internal links to bookmarks.
Quick Answer
Apply Heading 1 and Heading 2 styles from the Home tab, then tick View > Navigation Pane (or press Ctrl + F and click Headings).
Step 1: Apply Heading Styles
- Click in a section title.
- On the Home tab, choose Heading 1 in the Styles gallery. Use Heading 2 for subsections.
- Repeat for each title. Shortcuts: Ctrl + Alt + 1 for Heading 1, Ctrl + Alt + 2 for Heading 2.
Step 2: Open the Navigation Pane
- Go to the View tab and tick Navigation Pane.
- Click Headings in the pane. Click any heading to jump to it.
- Drag a heading up or down to move the whole section, or right-click it to promote, demote or delete it.
Step 3: Add a Clickable Table of Contents
- Click where the contents list should go, usually after the title page.
- Choose References > Table of Contents and pick an automatic style.
- Readers press Ctrl and click an entry to jump to it. Update it with Update Table after editing.
Step 4: Link to Specific Spots
- Select text at the destination and choose Insert > Bookmark. Name it and click Add.
- Select the text that should link there, choose Insert > Link, click Place in This Document, and pick the bookmark or heading.
Navigation Options Compared
| Tool | Who it helps | Shows in PDF? |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation Pane | You, while editing | As PDF bookmarks, if you choose that when saving |
| Table of contents | Readers | Yes, as clickable links |
| Bookmarks and links | Readers | Yes |
| Cross-references | Readers (e.g. “see Figure 3”) | Yes |
Troubleshooting
- Pane is empty: Titles were formatted by hand. Apply heading styles to them. See selecting all headings at once.
- Removing a blank page shown in the pane? See deleting a page in Word.
- Adding back matter: See making an appendix.
- Links need Ctrl + click: That’s the default. Turn it off in File > Options > Advanced > Use CTRL + Click to follow hyperlink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep the Navigation Pane open for every document?
Word usually remembers whether it was open last time. Otherwise, press Ctrl + F to open it quickly.
Does it work on a Mac?
Yes. Choose View > Sidebar > Navigation, or View > Navigation Pane depending on your version.
Can I collapse sections?
Yes. Click the small arrow next to a heading in the pane or the document to collapse its section.
Summary
- Apply heading styles to section titles.
- Turn on View > Navigation Pane.
- Add a table of contents for readers.
- Use bookmarks and links for specific spots.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.