How to Create a Comprehensive Table of Contents in Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating a table of contents (TOC) in Google Slides can significantly improve the navigation and professional appearance of your presentation, especially when you’re dealing with a lengthy or structured slideshow. Although Google Slides does not have a fully automated TOC feature like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, there are several effective methods to create one manually or semi-automatically. Here’s a detailed walkthrough of each step, along with some expert tips.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Open Your Google Slides Presentation
To begin, you need to open the presentation in which you want to create the table of contents.
- Go to Google Slides.
- Open the specific presentation where you want to insert the TOC.
- If you’re starting fresh, create a new presentation and add your content slides before setting up the TOC.
Step 2: Choose or Create a Slide for the Table of Contents
Decide where the table of contents should appear. It’s usually best placed at the beginning (after the title slide), but in some presentations—especially training manuals or internal documentation—it can be included at the end or as a floating reference slide.
- Navigate to the slide where you want the TOC.
- If it doesn’t exist yet, click Slide > New slide or use Ctrl + M (Cmd + M on Mac) to insert a new slide.
- Choose a clean layout like “Title and Body” or “Blank” for better visual clarity.
Step 3: Manually Insert Your Table of Contents (Recommended Method)
Since Google Slides doesn’t currently have a native button labeled “Table of Contents,” you’ll need to manually build it using text boxes and links.
A. List Your Slide Titles
- Click on a Text Box (Insert > Text box), and type out the titles of your main slides or sections.
- It’s a good idea to only include key slides or section headers to avoid clutter.
B. Link Each Entry to Its Slide
- Select the text of the slide title in the TOC.
- Right-click and choose Link, or use Ctrl + K / Cmd + K.
- In the “Link” dialog box, you’ll see a list of slides by their title. Click the corresponding slide to link it.
- ✅ Repeat this for each TOC entry to make it fully clickable and interactive.
Step 4: Add Slide Numbers (Optional)
Adding slide numbers next to each TOC entry helps users navigate more efficiently, especially in printed or exported versions.
- After the slide title, insert the corresponding slide number manually.
- You can also use the slide sorter view to verify slide numbers before assigning them.
- ⚠️ Keep in mind: Google Slides doesn’t update these numbers automatically if you rearrange slides, so manual updates are necessary.
Step 5: Style and Format the Table of Contents
Give your TOC a polished look to make it easy to read and professional.
- Font & Size: Use a clean font like Arial, Roboto, or Open Sans. Keep the size readable, usually 18–24pt depending on the layout.
- Colors: Use consistent color schemes. Highlight active links with colors or underline them.
- Spacing: Use even spacing between TOC entries for better readability.
- Bullet Points or Numbering: Consider using bullet points or numbered lists for a structured look.
Alternative Method: Using Outline View to Structure Your TOC
Google Slides offers an Outline view, which can help you visualize your presentation structure. While this view itself isn’t a TOC, you can use it to assist in manually building one.
How to Use Outline View:
- Click View > Show Outline from the menu.
- The left sidebar will display all your slide titles.
- You can copy the section titles directly from this sidebar into your TOC slide.
- Rearranging slides in the outline view also updates your actual slide order.
- 💡 Tip: Naming your slides clearly in the title box ensures a meaningful outline and makes your TOC more intuitive.
Optional: Exporting Your Table of Contents
If you want to share your TOC outside of Google Slides (e.g., as a reference document or handout), you can export it along with the presentation.
To Export:
- Click File > Download and choose one of the following:
- PDF Document (.pdf) – Best for maintaining formatting and links.
- Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) – For editing in PowerPoint.
- Plain Text (.txt) or Google Docs (requires copy-pasting manually).
- If needed, you can copy the TOC slide into a separate document for reference.
Things to Keep in Mind
- No Auto-Updates: Unlike Google Docs, TOCs in Slides do not auto-update. If you change slide titles or order, you must manually update your TOC.
- Clickable Navigation Only Works in Presentation Mode: The TOC links work when you’re presenting or previewing the slides, but not while editing in normal view.
- Consistency is Key: Maintain consistent slide naming and structure so your TOC stays accurate and easy to understand.
- Mobile Limitations: Some advanced formatting may not display properly on mobile devices; test your TOC on different screens if you’re sharing.
Pro Tips for a Better Table of Contents in Google Slides
- Use Master Slides: If you’re building a template with TOC slides, design a custom TOC layout in the master slide view for consistency.
- Icons and Visual Cues: Add small icons (like arrows or page icons) to guide the reader visually.
- Multicolumn Layouts: For long TOCs, consider a two-column layout to fit more content while keeping it visually balanced.
- Slide Transitions: Add subtle transitions between TOC and linked slides for a more fluid presentation experience.
- Interactive Buttons: Use shapes or buttons linked to sections for a more engaging, dashboard-like TOC.
Final Thoughts
Although Google Slides lacks a one-click automated table of contents feature, you can still build a functional, professional, and navigable TOC with a bit of manual effort. It’s a powerful way to guide your audience, especially in educational, corporate, or proposal presentations.
By following these steps, customizing your TOC, and maintaining it as your presentation evolves, you ensure a smooth experience for both you and your viewers.
If you’re managing presentations regularly or creating templates for teams, consider creating a reusable TOC slide that you can adapt for each new deck.