To type a bullet point (•) on Windows 11, hold Alt, type 0149 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt; on a Mac with a supporting keyboard layout, press Option + 8. The Windows shortcut requires an application that accepts Alt codes and a working numeric keypad. Without a keypad, copy and paste • instead.
A single • character and a formatted bulleted list are different outputs. For several list items in Word or Google Docs, use the app’s list shortcut to apply list formatting. The Windows steps below use Windows 11 menus.
The short version
- Windows character: Hold Alt, type 0149 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
- Mac character: Press Option + 8 with a keyboard layout that supports this mapping.
- No Windows keypad: Copy • with Ctrl + C and paste it with Ctrl + V.
- Formatted lists: Word desktop uses Ctrl + Shift + L on Windows, while Google Docs uses Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows and ChromeOS.
| Method | Keys or action | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Alt code | Hold Alt, type keypad 0149, then release Alt | Windows 11 apps accepting Alt codes |
| Mac keyboard shortcut | Option + 8 | Current macOS with a supporting keyboard layout |
| Mac Character Viewer | Control + Command + Space, or Edit > Emoji & Symbols | Compatible text-entry apps on current macOS |
| Copy and paste | Copy • and paste it into your text | Compatible Windows 11 and current macOS text fields |
| Word Unicode conversion | Type 2022, then press Alt + X | Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows |
| Word desktop list | Ctrl + Shift + L on Windows; Command + Shift + L on Mac | Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 |
| Word web list | Ctrl + . on a Windows keyboard | Word for the web |
| Google Docs or Slides list | Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows or ChromeOS; Command + Shift + 8 on Mac | Google Docs and Slides web editors |
| Google special characters | Insert > Symbols > Special characters | Google Docs and Slides on a computer |
| Excel keypad shortcut | Alt + 7 on the numeric keypad | Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024 on Windows |
| Excel Symbol dialog | Insert > Symbol, then character code 2022 | Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024 on Windows |
| GNOME Unicode entry | Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2022, then press Enter | Current GNOME environments and apps supporting this input method |
Type a bullet on Windows
Place your cursor where you want the bullet. Hold Alt while entering 0149 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt to insert •. Turn on Num Lock if necessary.
Without a numeric keypad, copy and paste the character instead, as described below.
Type a bullet on Mac
Position the insertion point in your text and press Option + 8. This enters • on keyboard layouts that support the mapping. If your layout produces a different character, use Character Viewer.
Press Control + Command + Space to open Character Viewer in a compatible text-entry app. Search for bullet or the code 2022, then click • to insert it. In the expanded viewer, double-click the character instead. You can also open the viewer through Edit > Emoji & Symbols.
Copy and paste a bullet
Select this character: •. On Windows 11, press Ctrl + C, place your cursor in the destination, and press Ctrl + V. On Mac, use Command + C and Command + V instead. You can paste the character into desktop applications and browser text fields that accept it.
Insert a bullet or start a list in Word
In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, type 2022 where you want a single bullet. If the digits sit next to other text, select those four digits to isolate what Word converts. Press Alt + X to convert the hexadecimal code into •.
For a formatted list in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024, place the cursor in a paragraph or select the paragraphs you want to format. Press Ctrl + Shift + L on Windows, or Command + Shift + L on Mac. These shortcuts apply list formatting.
Word for the web uses Ctrl + . on a Windows keyboard. Place the cursor in the paragraph or select your paragraphs before pressing the shortcut.
In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, press Enter after an item to continue the list. Press Enter on an empty item to finish.
Make bullets in Google Docs and Slides
In the Google Docs or Slides web editor, place your cursor in text or select the paragraphs you want to format. Press Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows or ChromeOS, or Command + Shift + 8 on Mac. Keyboard-layout differences can affect these shortcuts.
For a single • on a computer, choose Insert > Symbols > Special characters. Find the bullet using its Unicode value 2022, by browsing categories, or by drawing it in the box. Click the character to insert it.
Google Sheets does not have the same direct Special characters insertion dialog. To use that bullet in Sheets, copy the character from Docs or Slides and paste it into a cell.
Add a bullet to an Excel cell
In Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024 on Windows, select a cell or position the cursor within its text. Hold Alt, press 7 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. Microsoft documents this shorter keypad method specifically for Excel.
Without a numeric keypad, select the cell and choose Insert > Symbol in the Symbols group. Enter 2022 in Character code, select Insert, then select Close. To add another bullet on a new line within the same cell, press Alt + Enter and repeat the insertion.
Enter a bullet in Linux with GNOME
In a current GNOME environment, press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2022, then press Space or Enter. This inserts • in applications that support GNOME’s Unicode input mechanism. The shortcut does not apply universally to Linux applications.
Fix a bullet shortcut that does not work
On Windows 11, check that you are entering the Alt code on the numeric keypad. The number row above the letters does not work for this method. If you lack a working keypad or the app does not accept Alt codes, copy and paste • instead.
If you are trying Alt + X outside Word, copy and paste • instead. The Unicode conversion steps above apply to Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024 on Windows. If you are creating a list in Word for the web, use its Ctrl + . shortcut on a Windows keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you keep a bullet ready to paste again in Windows?
On Windows 11, press Windows + V and select Turn on if prompted. Copy •, then press Windows + V and select that clipboard item whenever you need it.
Can you create a bullet shortcut on an iPhone?
You can create one with Apple keyboard text replacement on an iPhone running iOS 27. While editing text, touch and hold the Emoji button or Switch Keyboard key, then tap Keyboard Settings > Text Replacement > Add. Enter • in Phrase and a distinctive abbreviation such as bbullet in Shortcut, then use that abbreviation when typing.
What is the bullet list shortcut in Apple Notes?
In Notes on Mac, press Shift + Command + 7 to apply bulleted-list formatting. You can use the same shortcut in Notes on an iPad with an external keyboard connected.
Can Excel generate a bullet with a formula?
In Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024 on Windows or Mac, enter =UNICHAR(8226) in a cell and press Enter. To put a bullet and a space before the text from cell A1, use =UNICHAR(8226)&" "&A1.