In Word 2016, how can I exclude a certain heading from my Table of Contents without having it removed from the Navigation Pane?

To be more specific, I don't want my TOC to include the link to the TOC itself (obviously), but I do wish for it to appear in the Navigation Pane. I tried highlighting my TOC heading and choosing "Do Not Show in Table of Contents" (References Tab ---> Add Text). It did remove the heading from the TOC but it also removed it from the Navigation Pane, which is not what I want.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Both the Navigation Pane and the TOC display heading styles and other styles with outline levels by default.

To have a style appear in the Navigation Pane and not in the TOC you need to have separate styles. Any styles to appear in the Navigation Pane must have an outline level as a part of their paragraph formatting. That is the only criteria for the Navigation Pane and it is not optional.
Using the Navigation Pane in Word 2010 and Later

The TOC, on the other hand, has numerous options. By default, it, too, uses outline levels but you can, instead, or in addition, specify certain styles or even use TC fields.

• TOC Tips and Tricks by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP
• Generating a Table of Contents - Complex Documents
• How to create a table of contents in Microsoft Word by Shauna Kelly

Thank you! :-)

You are welcome.

I have the same question
Please I need more explanation, and how to use and apply such separate styles
Thank you

• Tips for Understanding Styles in Word by Shauna Kelly
• Understanding Styles in Microsoft Word
• Managing Word Styles by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP

Thank you, Mr. Charles Kenyon