TOC repair
Fix a PDF to EPUB table of contents that does not work before readers lose chapter navigation.
A converted EPUB can contain readable text and still feel broken if the table of contents does not work. Missing headings, duplicated entries, wrong chapter jumps, and page-number based TOCs are common when fixed PDF pages become reflowable EPUB chapters.
Direct answer
What this page helps you decide
To fix a PDF to EPUB table of contents, rebuild navigation from real chapter headings instead of PDF page numbers. Confirm each TOC entry points to the correct EPUB section, remove duplicate or OCR-damaged headings, and preview chapter jumps on Kindle, Kobo, or another target reader.
Best fit
Use cases
- The EPUB has no table of contents after PDF conversion.
- TOC entries exist but jump to the wrong chapter or page.
- Scanned headings are OCR-damaged and cannot be used as navigation.
PDF page numbers do not make a good EPUB TOC
A PDF table of contents often points to printed page numbers. An EPUB needs links to HTML sections in the reflowable book. When the converter relies on old page references, navigation can jump to the wrong location or disappear entirely.
How to rebuild chapter navigation
Use real chapter starts and heading hierarchy as the source of truth. Normalize OCR errors, remove repeated running headers, map front matter separately, and verify that each navigation item lands on the expected chapter start.
What to test in the preview
Open the EPUB preview and click several TOC entries: front matter, chapter one, a middle chapter, a back-matter section, and any appendix. If chapter jumps are wrong in the sample, the full conversion needs navigation repair.
Questions
FAQ
Why is the EPUB table of contents missing after conversion?
The converter may not have detected real chapter headings, especially if the PDF is scanned or the headings are only visual text.
Why do TOC links jump to the wrong place?
The EPUB navigation may be mapped from PDF page references or OCR-damaged headings instead of clean section anchors.
Can a scanned PDF get a working EPUB TOC?
Yes, but headings usually need OCR cleanup and chapter detection before the EPUB navigation can be trusted.