Why does my EPUB need a clickable table of contents?
Stores require a clickable navigation TOC so readers can jump between chapters. Chiify builds one automatically when you use heading styles in your DOCX.
Last updated 2026-06-15
A clickable table of contents (the navigation menu inside an ebook) lets readers jump straight to any chapter. Stores require it, and books without a proper one get rejected.
It is not the same as a printed contents page
- A printed contents page is text you can see on a page.
- A navigation TOC is built into the EPUB's structure and powers the reader app's chapter menu. This is the one stores check.
How to get one automatically
When you upload a DOCX, Chiify builds the navigation TOC from your Heading 1 chapter titles. So the fix for "missing TOC" is almost always: mark your chapter titles as headings and re-upload. See format your manuscript.
If you uploaded a finished EPUB
Some export tools produce a TOC that only contains the word "Start" instead of your chapters. If a store flags this, rebuild from your DOCX through Chiify's free conversion for a complete, valid navigation. See common EPUB errors.
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