Nine years earlier, following the events of Toy Story 2, Bo Peep and

Woody attempt to rescue RC, Andy's remote controlled car, from a rainstorm. Just
as they finish the rescue, Woody watches as Bo is donated to a new owner, and
considers going with her, but ultimately decides to remain with Andy. Years later,
a teenage Andy donates them to Bonnie, a younger child, before he goes off to
college. While the toys are grateful to have a new child, Woody struggles in
adapting to an environment where he is not the favorite like he was with Andy,
evidenced by Bonnie taking Woody's sheriff badge and putting it on Jessie
instead, not even bothering to give him a role during her playtime.
On the day of Bonnie's kindergarten orientation, Woody worries over her
and sneaks into her backpack. After a classmate takes away Bonnie's arts and
crafts supplies, Woody covertly recovers the materials and various pieces of
garbage from the trash, including a plastic spork. Bonnie uses these to create a
bipedal spork with googly eyes she dubs "Forky". Forky comes to life in Bonnie's
backpack and begins to experience an existential crisis, thinking he is garbage
rather than a toy and wishing to remain in a trash can. As Forky becomes Bonnie's
favorite toy, Woody takes it upon himself to prevent Forky from throwing himself
away.
When Bonnie's family goes on a road trip, Forky jumps out of the RV
window and Woody pursues him. After Woody explains how important he is to
Bonnie, Forky decides to accompany Woody and return to her. Near the RV park
where Bonnie's family is staying, Woody spots Bo Peep's lamp in an antique store
window and goes in, hoping to find her. Inside, he and Forky encounter a talking
doll named Gabby Gabby, who desires Woody's voice box to replace her broken
one. While Woody is able to escape, Gabby captures Forky. At a playground,
Woody is reunited with Bo Peep and her sheep Billy, Goat and Gruff, who now
live as "lost" toys that aren’t dedicated to one child. Bo agrees to help Woody
save Forky and get back to Bonnie.
 Meanwhile, Buzz searches for Woody but becomes lost at a fairground
and becomes a carnival game prize. He escapes with plush toys Ducky and
Bunny, and they meet up with Woody and Bo. With pocket toy cop Giggle
McDimples and stuntman toy Duke Caboom, they unsuccessfully try to rescue
Forky from Gabby, her ventriloquist puppet henchmen and the store owner's cat.
In the aftermath of the failed rescue, Bo and the other toys argue over whether to
go back. Woody declares that rescuing Forky is his remaining purpose and tells
Bo that being loyal is something a lost toy wouldn’t understand. Alone, Woody
encounters Gabby again, who expresses her longing for a child’s love. Woody
sympathizes with her plight, and willingly trades his voice box for Forky.
The toys part ways, but Woody watches Gabby as she is rejected by her
ideal owner, Harmony. Woody comforts a heartbroken Gabby and invites her to
become one of Bonnie's toys. Bo returns with the others to help and reconciles
with Woody. They head for the carnival, while Forky fetches Buzz and Bonnie's
toys; they interfere with the RV's controls, forcing Bonnie's father to drive back to
the carnival. When Gabby sees a crying girl lost in the carnival, she decides
instead to become that child's toy, emboldening the child to approach a security
guard and be reunited with her parents.
At the carousel, Woody and Bo share a bittersweet goodbye, but Woody is
hesitant to leave Bo again. After Buzz tells Woody that Bonnie will be okay
without him, Woody decides to stay with Bo instead of returning to Bonnie.
Woody passes his sheriff badge over to Jessie and bids a heartfelt farewell to his
friends.
Woody and Bo begin a life together with Ducky, Bunny, Giggle, and
Duke, dedicated to finding new owners for lost toys. On her first day of first
grade, Bonnie creates a second impromptu toy out of a plastic knife, who suffers
the same existential crisis as Forky once did, who immediately becomes smitten
with her.