I see that sometimes when I press it, it automatically changes the TOC without asking what I want it to do. Now it's not giving me an option at all. It's just automatically updating the entire TOC, and thus removing quite a bit of manual work I had to do on this long TOC. I added a header and thus increased the size of the header. This changed the page numbers a little, and all I want to do is update that, but I no longer appear to have this option. Is there a way to turn this on and off? Thanks.

If headings have been removed or added, Word may not give you choice; instead, it updates the whole TOC by default.

Note that manual changes that you make to the TOC will never be retained when you update.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

All TOC formatting should be managed through the use of TOC Styles; anything else will be wiped out any time the TOC updates (e.g. if you print the document).

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

After it updates the first time, if I update again then it gives me the option to update page numbers only (which I should be given the option of doing the first time). But for now it seem the only option I have is to update the whole thing and then manually enter in all the information again.

You should not be inputting anything manually into a Table of Contents. As Stefan and I have already told you, making manual changes to a Table of Contents (or any other field, for that matter) is basically a waste of time.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

If you must make changes to a TOC, you will have to unlink the TOC field first (that is, convert it to text). You would lose the ability to update it further.

However, if you explained what you are trying to accomplish, perhaps Paul or I could suggest an alternative method to do it.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Okay, I'll take your word for it that it's a waste of time, but the headers don't contain enough information for the table of contents in my book. What should I do instead?

Us. TC fields. Use Style Separators.
How to create a table of contents in Microsoft Word by Shauna Kelly
Generating a Table of Contents - Complex Documents

Charles has given you some suggestions on ways to add additional entries to the TOC (including entries that do not show up as headings in the body of the document).

Again, if you explained more in detail what you are trying to add, maybe someone could give you a more specific suggestion.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional