List of figures not updating in Word? Fix it

Quick answer

Right-click the list of figures, choose Update Field, then choose Update entire table. If Word still shows no entries or skips figures, repair the source captions with References > Insert Caption, keep one consistent Figure label, and rebuild the list.

How to update a list of figures in Word

1. Click inside the list of figures and select Update Table or right-click and select Update Field.
2. Choose Update entire table, not only page numbers, so new and renamed captions can appear.
3. If an entry is still missing, select its figure and use References > Insert Caption.
4. Use the same caption label for every figure. Mixing Figure, Fig., and custom labels creates separate lists.
5. If the field is damaged, delete only the list and recreate it with References > Insert Table of Figures.
6. Export the PDF and confirm that entries, page numbers, and links still point to the correct figures.

Why Word says no entries were found

Word builds a list of figures from caption fields. If captions were typed manually, placed inside text boxes, copied from another file, or styled like normal paragraphs, Word may not recognize them.

• Captions are typed manually instead of inserted as captions.
• The label is inconsistent: Figure, Fig., Figure 1, or a local-language label.
• Captions are inside floating objects or text boxes.
• Captions use normal text instead of Word caption structure.
• The list of figures was inserted before captions existed.

How to fix "No table of figures entries found"

The error means the document contains images, charts, or diagrams, but Word cannot find captions that match the selected label. Check one missing figure first: if its caption is plain text, replace it with a real caption. Then confirm the list is configured for the same label and update the entire table.

Why a handmade list is risky

A handmade list of figures can look correct on screen. The problem appears when a reviewer clicks it, when page numbers change, or when the PDF is exported. If the list is not linked to real captions, it will not update when figures move.

What to check before submission

• Every figure has a real caption.
• Caption labels are consistent across the thesis.
• The list of figures is not empty.
• The list of figures updates after right-clicking and updating fields.
• Clicking a list entry goes to the correct figure or page.
• The exported PDF still shows the figures and captions.

What a repair should preserve

A safe repair should preserve the academic text, figure images, figure order, caption wording, and PDF output. Formatting should repair structure and links, not rewrite captions or invent figure titles.

Signs the list was handmade

• Clicking an entry does not jump to the figure or page.
• Page numbers do not change after updating fields.
• Entries use spaces or dots typed by hand instead of Word leaders.
• The list still looks correct even after a figure caption is renamed, moved, or deleted.

What about list of tables?

The same problem happens with tables. If tables are not captioned correctly, Word cannot generate a reliable list of tables. This matters for theses that require both "List of Figures" and "List of Tables" before the introduction.

Read the related guide: list of tables not working in Word thesis.

For full document structure, read also: table of contents not working in Word thesis.

Continue the submission check with the thesis margins and line spacing guide, the footnote formatting guide, and the 34-point thesis formatting checklist.

How this guide is produced

This guide is based on formatting-only thesis repair checks: captions, Word fields, internal links, page numbers, and PDF export. Always use your university guideline as the final authority.