How to Create a Table of Contents in Microsoft PowerPoint

If you’re building a PowerPoint presentation that’s more than a few slides long, adding a Table of Contents (TOC) can make it more professional and easier to navigate. Unlike Word, PowerPoint doesn’t have a built-in feature for this—but creating a TOC manually is quick and simple.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step.

Step 1: Plan Your Slide Sections

Before you start building your TOC, figure out the structure of your presentation. Group your slides into logical sections—like:

• Introduction
• Market Analysis
• Strategy
• Financials
• Conclusion

Jot these down; they’ll become your TOC headings.

Step 2: Add a TOC Slide

1. Open your presentation.
2. Go to the Home tab > click New Slide > choose Title and Content layout.
3. Drag this slide to the second position (right after your title slide).
4. In the title box, type Table of Contents or Agenda.

Step 3: List Your Sections

In the content box, list your main sections, each on a new line. Use bullet points or numbers. For example:

1. Introduction
2. Market Analysis
3. Strategy
4. Financials
5. Conclusion

Make sure each item matches a section or key topic in your deck.

Step 4: Add Links (Optional, but Recommended)

You can make each TOC item clickable so it jumps to that section in your slideshow.

Here’s how:

1. Select the text (e.g., “Market Analysis”).
2. Right-click > choose Link (or press Ctrl + K).
3. In the pop-up, select Place in This Document.
4. Pick the slide you want it to jump to.
5. Click OK.

Repeat for each TOC item.

Step 5: Use Section Headers for Long Presentations

If your presentation has 20+ slides, use PowerPoint’s Section feature to organize content.

To add sections:

1. Right-click between slides in the left-hand panel.
2. Choose Add Section.
3. Name the section.
4. Repeat as needed.

This won’t automatically create a TOC, but it helps you stay organized—and matches your manual TOC layout.

Bonus Tip: Keep It Updated

If you move slides around or add new sections, remember to update your TOC manually. It won’t adjust automatically like in Word.

Final Thoughts

Creating a Table of Contents in PowerPoint is easy once you know the steps. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference—especially for long or client-facing decks. A clear TOC helps your audience follow along and shows that you know what you’re doing.

Want to take it further? Try adding icons or slide thumbnails next to each TOC item for extra visual punch.