Learn how to create a professional Table of Contents in Google Slides with step-by-step instructions, design tips, and navigation enhancements.
A table of contents (TOC) is an essential component of presentations, especially lengthy ones. It gives your audience an overview of the topics you’ll cover and provides a clear structure for your presentation. While Google Slides doesn’t have a built-in feature to automatically create a table of contents like Google Docs, you can manually create one with a few simple steps.
In this blog post, we'll walk you through how to create a table of contents in Google Slides, along with tips to make it effective and visually appealing.
Why Add a Table of Contents?
Improves Clarity: It gives a clear roadmap of the presentation.
Organizes Information: Helps in structuring your content logically.
Facilitates Navigation: Useful for long presentations where viewers may want to jump to specific sections.
Steps to Create a Table of Contents in Google Slides
Step 1: Plan Your Slide Structure
Before creating a table of contents, decide on the key sections or topics in your presentation. For instance:
Introduction
Problem Statement
Proposed Solutions
Data Analysis
Conclusion
Write down these headings as they will form the basis of your TOC.
Step 2: Insert a Blank Slide
To create a table of contents:
Open your Google Slides presentation.
Navigate to the left-hand slide panel.
Right-click between slides and choose “New Slide.”
Ensure it is blank or formatted with a title layout.
Step 3: Add a Title
Click on the Title Box on the slide.
Type something like “Table of Contents” or “Agenda.”
This makes it clear that the slide lists the topics covered.
Step 4: List Your Topics
Add a Text Box (Insert → Text Box).
Type your list of topics or sections. For example:
Introduction
Background Information
Objectives
Methodology
Results and Discussion
Conclusion
Tip:
You can use bullet points, numbering, or a clean, minimalistic style for your list.
Step 5: Link the Table of Contents to Slides
For presentations where you want the TOC to serve as a clickable navigation tool:
Highlight a topic in the TOC.
Right-click and choose “Insert Link.”
A dialog box will appear. Select “Slides in this presentation.”
Choose the corresponding slide for that topic.
Repeat this process for all topics in the TOC.
Example:
If "Objectives" is the second item in your TOC, link it to Slide 3 (assuming that slide contains the Objectives content).
Step 6: Format Your TOC
Fonts: Use bold or larger font sizes for the section titles.
Alignment: Keep the text left-aligned for readability.
Spacing: Use adequate spacing between items for clarity.
Design Elements: Add dividers or icons to make it visually appealing.
Tips for an Effective Table of Contents
Keep It Simple: Avoid overwhelming viewers with too much information.
Use Visual Aids: Incorporate icons, graphics, or background images related to your presentation.
Maintain Consistency: Use the same font and color scheme as the rest of your slides.
Test the Links: If you’ve added clickable links, ensure they work correctly.
Using Templates for TOC in Google Slides
If you want to save time, consider using pre-designed templates that include a table of contents slide. Many websites offer free or premium Google Slides templates with built-in TOC designs.
Conclusion
Creating a table of contents in Google Slides may require a bit of manual effort, but it significantly enhances the professionalism and navigability of your presentation. By following the steps outlined above, you can craft a TOC that is both functional and visually engaging.
Whether you’re presenting in a business meeting, classroom, or conference, a well-designed TOC ensures your audience stays on track and engaged. Give it a try in your next presentation!
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