How to Create Bullet Points in Microsoft Word

To create bullet points in Word for Windows, select your text, then choose Home > Bullets. You can also select Bullets in an empty paragraph and start typing. Press Enter for another item, then press Enter twice to finish the list.

The desktop instructions cover Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024, with separate steps for Mac, Word for the web, and mobile apps. Voice commands require Word for Microsoft 365 on desktop or access to Dictate on the web. The optional Click to Do workflow uses Windows 11 menus on eligible Copilot+ PCs.

Create a list from new or existing text

For text you have already written in Word for Windows, select the paragraphs you want to turn into a list. Open Home and select Bullets. To choose a different marker, open the arrow beside Bullets and select a style.

For a new list, place the cursor in an empty paragraph and select Home > Bullets before typing. Write your first item, then press Enter to create the next bullet. Continue until the list is complete, then press Enter twice to return to ordinary text.

Start bullets automatically as you type

At the beginning of a paragraph, type an asterisk (*) and press Spacebar. Word converts it into a bullet, ready for your first item. This works in Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024 on Windows and Mac, as well as Word for the web.

Type your first item, then press Enter to continue the list, or Return on Mac. To finish, press Enter twice, or Return twice on Mac.

Use a keyboard shortcut on desktop

Place your cursor in the paragraph you want to turn into a bullet, or select several paragraphs to format them together. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + L. On Mac, press Command + Shift + L.

To choose a marker with the keyboard in Word for Windows, press Alt + H, then U to open the bullet gallery. Use the Arrow keys to choose a marker, press Enter, and begin typing your list.

Add bullet points in Word for the web

In your browser, select the paragraphs you want to format, then choose Home > Paragraph > Bullets. For a new list, position the cursor, open the arrow beside Bullets, and choose a marker. Type an item and press Enter to continue, or press Enter twice to finish.

For the direct web shortcut, position your cursor in the document or select the target paragraphs. On a Windows computer, press Ctrl + . to apply bullets. On a Mac, use Home > Paragraph > Bullets instead.

You can also find the command through Search. Select your paragraphs or position the cursor, press Alt + Q, and type bullets. Press Down Arrow to locate the Bullets command, then press Enter.

Create bullets on a phone or tablet

On an iPad or Android tablet, select the text you want to format. Tap the Bullets icon and choose a bullet style.

On iPhone, type the first item, activate Show ribbon, then open Home > Bullets and choose a marker. Activate Hide ribbon to resume typing. With VoiceOver, swipe to each control and double-tap to activate it.

On an Android phone, type your first item and activate More options. Open Home > Bullets, choose a marker, then activate More options again to resume typing. With TalkBack, swipe to each control and double-tap to activate it.

Add bullet points beneath another item

To create a subordinate item on desktop or the web, press Enter while you are in the list, then press Tab before typing the new item. On Mac, use Return, then Tab.

On an Android phone, create an item and choose Home > Increase indent. On iPhone, create an item, then open Home and select the control with the accessible label Increase indent position.

Change the bullet symbol or appearance

For a custom symbol in desktop Word on Windows or Mac, select the paragraphs and open Home > Paragraph, then open the Bullets arrow and choose Define New Bullet. Choose Symbol on Windows or Bullet on Mac, select your marker, and select OK. Custom bullet creation is unavailable in Word for the web, so use desktop Word for that task. For check boxes, follow the steps to add check boxes in Word.

To use a picture as the marker on Windows or Mac, select the list and open Home > Paragraph. Choose the Bullets arrow > Define New Bullet > Picture. Choose the image, using a locally stored picture on Mac, select Insert or OK to preview it, then select OK.

To change the bullet font, size, or color in Word for Windows, select the list and open Home > Paragraph > Bullets arrow > Define New Bullet. Select Font and choose the appearance you want. The same Define New Bullet dialog offers Left, Centered, and Right bullet alignment.

Fix automatic bullets and pasted lists

If Word for Windows leaves the asterisk as ordinary text, open File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type. Check Automatic bulleted lists, then select OK. To stop automatic conversion later, uncheck Automatic bulleted lists and select OK. You can still apply bullets manually through the ribbon.

To preserve a copied list's formatting in Word for Windows, copy the formatted list and press Ctrl + V to paste it. Open Paste Options and select Keep Source Formatting. When pasting numbered items into an existing bulleted list, select Merge List to convert them to bullets.

Create list content with voice or AI

In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows or Mac, connect a microphone, make sure you have an internet connection, and sign in to Microsoft 365. Select Home > Dictate and wait until listening starts. On Mac, you can also start Dictate with Option + F1.

Using English commands, say create bullet list, then dictate your first item. Say next bullet before each additional item, and say exit list when you finish.

In Word for the web, sign in with Dictate access, microphone permission, and an internet connection. Select Home > Dictate and start listening. Say create bullet list, dictate an item, then say next bullet before each additional item. Say exit list to finish.

To generate list content with Copilot, you need an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription or Copilot license; availability varies by platform, account, app version, and rollout. In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows or Mac, open your document, position the cursor, and open Copilot at the bottom right. Enter a request describing your topic and asking for a bulleted format, then select Generate and review the result before retaining it. Describe the format in your own words rather than treating the request as a fixed command.

On an eligible Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, Click to Do can generate a bulleted summary of visible text. This action requires English as the default language and a Microsoft or Microsoft Entra sign-in, and it is unavailable in China.

Press Windows + Q, or hold Windows while clicking visible text, select at least 10 words, and choose Create a bulleted list. This action creates a bulleted list of key details from the selected text rather than directly formatting a Word list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you insert a single bullet without creating a list?

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 for Windows, select Insert > Symbol > More Symbols. Find the bullet character in a suitable font, double-click it, then select Close. Repeat as needed, remembering that each bullet is a standalone character rather than an automatically continuing list.

How do you insert a bullet using its character code?

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 for Windows, open Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, locate the bullet, and inspect Character code and from:. For Unicode (hex), type the displayed code in your document and press Alt + X. For Symbol (decimal), first change the font on the Home tab to the font set where you found the bullet, such as Wingdings. Enable Num Lock, hold Alt, and enter the four-digit code on the numeric keypad, then change the font back. Either method inserts a standalone symbol.

Can you reuse a custom bullet from another document?

Yes, in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 for Windows, open the document containing the marker and open the Bullets arrow under Home > Paragraph. Under Document Bullets, right-click the marker and select Add to Library, then apply it from the gallery in your document. In Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024 on Mac, custom bullet styles are added to the library automatically.

How do you enable Click to Do for the optional summary workflow?

On an eligible Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, open Settings > Privacy & security > Click to Do and turn on Click to Do. You can open it with Windows + Q, by holding Windows while clicking, through Windows Search, from the Snipping Tool menu, or with a right swipe on a touch-enabled PC. This setting controls the optional AI workflow; you do not need it for Word's normal bullet commands.