# Markdown Table of Contents > Auto-generate and insert a linked Table of Contents from your headings. - Page: https://acepdfmd.com/tool/markdown-toc/ - Updated: 2026-09-12 - Runs at: https://acepdfmd.com (Uploaded files are deleted within 60 minutes. No signup for light use.) - Also in 29 languages: https://acepdfmd.com//tool/markdown-toc/ ## Add a linked table of contents to Markdown files automatically Long README files and internal wikis run into the same problem: a reader scrolls through the whole page before finding the section they need. If you have ever opened a long Markdown file and wished it started with a clickable outline, this tool builds one for you. You give it a single Markdown file, and it reads every heading, turns each one into a link, and inserts that list near the top as a new file you can download. The option labeled Include headings up to level lets you pick 2, 3, or 4; the default of 3 usually captures main sections and their subsections without pulling in every small heading. The links follow standard Markdown anchor style, so they work the same way in a code repository or a static site. Processing happens on the site's own servers over a secure connection, and the file is deleted within sixty minutes, so nothing is left behind afterward. The tool only builds the outline; it does not renumber your headings or fix ones that skip a level, so an uneven heading structure produces an uneven table of contents. Straighten the headings first if the result looks wrong, then run it again. Use is free on a daily allowance, and a free account removes that cap. It works from a browser on a computer or phone, with nothing to install. ## How to use the Markdown Table of Contents tool 1. Add your MD, MARKDOWN file: drag & drop or click to browse. 2. Set your options: Include headings up to level. 3. Click “Process Markdown Table of Contents” and download your result. ## Common questions ### Is Markdown Table of Contents free? Yes. Markdown Table of Contents is free for light use with no signup needed. Anonymous visitors get 10 free tasks per day, and creating a free account makes daily use unlimited. A paid Pro plan removes ads and raises file-size limits for heavier work. ### Is my file safe? Yes. Your file is sent over HTTPS, processed by self-hosted open-source software on our servers (no third-party AI or cloud APIs), and deleted within 60 minutes at the latest, usually right after your result is ready. ### What file formats does Markdown Table of Contents accept? Markdown Table of Contents accepts MD, MARKDOWN files. Convert other formats to a supported one first; the related tools below can usually do it. ## Related tools - [Markdown Editor & Preview](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/markdown-editor/): Open, write, and edit Markdown with a live rich preview (tables, images, task lists), then export to .md, PDF, Word, or HTML. - [Markdown Linter and Formatter](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/markdown-lint/): Fix spacing, headings, lists and tables to a consistent style and get a report of what changed. - [Split Markdown](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/markdown-split/): Split a .md file into separate files at each heading. - [Merge Markdown](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/markdown-merge/): Combine multiple .md files into one document, in order. - [Markdown to PDF](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/markdown-to-pdf/): Convert a .md file into a formatted PDF. - [PDF to Markdown](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/pdf-to-markdown/): Convert PDF content into clean Markdown (great for docs/LLMs). Read the guide: [PDF to Markdown: How It Works and How to Use It for AI](https://acepdfmd.com/guides/pdf-to-markdown-guide/)