Quick Answer
On a Mac, press Option + 8 to type a clean bullet point (•). On Windows with a numeric keypad, hold Alt and type 0149 (or the shorter Alt + 7). On any phone, the bullet sits behind a long press on the hyphen or asterisk in the symbol layer.
If you are writing a list, the easiest way is to type an asterisk and a space at the start of a line. Word, Google Docs, Notion, and every Markdown editor convert that into a real bulleted list automatically.
What counts as a bullet point
The word "bullet" covers a few different Unicode characters. The classic bullet (•, U+2022) is the small filled circle used in most copy. The hyphen bullet (⁃), the triangular bullet (‣), and the white bullet (◦) are alternative shapes used for nested lists. For most writing, stick with the standard • for consistent rendering across fonts.
The fast reference table
- Mac: Option + 8
- Windows numeric keypad: Alt + 0149 (or Alt + 7 for the larger version)
- Windows emoji picker: Windows + period, search "bullet"
- iOS: tap 123, then #+= layer, long press hyphen
- Android: tap ?123, long press hyphen or asterisk
- Microsoft Word: Ctrl + Shift + L starts a bulleted list
- Google Docs: Ctrl + Shift + 8 (Cmd + Shift + 8 on Mac)
- Markdown, Notion: type an asterisk and a space at line start
- Linux or Chromebook: Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2022, press Enter
Typing a bullet point on Mac
The Mac shortcut is the simplest in the entire operating system: Option + 8. The combination drops a clean • at the cursor in every app on the system, from Pages to Slack to Mail.
If you want the larger version (●, the black circle), open Character Viewer with Control + Command + Spacebar and search "black circle".
Typing a bullet point on Windows
Alt codes
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold the left Alt key.
- Type 0149 on the numeric keypad for the small bullet (•), or 7 for the slightly bigger one (•).
- Release Alt.
The emoji and symbol picker
Laptops without a numeric keypad can use the built in picker.
- Press Windows + period (or Windows + semicolon).
- Click the omega tab for symbols.
- Type "bullet" in the search bar.
- Click the symbol to insert.
Pin the bullet to the recently used row by inserting it once. It then sits at the top of the picker for the rest of your session.
Typing a bullet point on iPhone and Android
iOS
- Tap 123 in the lower left to enter the number layer.
- Tap #+= to switch to the secondary symbol page.
- Press and hold the hyphen key.
- The bullet • slides up. Drag your finger onto it.
Android
Tap ?123 to enter the symbol layer, then long press the hyphen or the asterisk. Depending on the keyboard skin, the bullet sits behind one or the other.
If you use bullets every day for notes, save a text replacement that turns a short trigger like "bp" into a real •. On iOS, Settings, General, Keyboard, Text Replacement covers it.
Automatic bulleted lists
Most writing tools convert simple keystrokes into proper bulleted lists. This is usually better than inserting raw bullet characters because the list inherits indentation, spacing, and reflow when you edit.
Microsoft Word
- Type * (asterisk) followed by a space at the start of a line. Word converts the line into a bulleted list.
- Or press Ctrl + Shift + L to start a bulleted list from the cursor.
- Press Tab to indent and create a nested sub bullet.
Google Docs
- Press Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows or Cmd + Shift + 8 on Mac.
- Or type * (asterisk) followed by a space at the start of a line.
Notion
- Type - (hyphen) or * (asterisk) followed by a space.
- The line transforms into a bulleted list block.
- Press Tab to nest, Shift + Tab to outdent.
Markdown
Every Markdown flavour treats lines starting with -, *, or + as bullets. The output renders as a proper html unordered list. Indent with two spaces or a tab to create sub bullets.
HTML and CSS
The HTML entity • renders as •. The numeric entities • and • produce the same result. If you want to style a custom bullet shape on a real list, use list-style-type with a CSS Unicode escape (for example list-style-type: square or content rules on ::before pseudo elements).
Troubleshooting
My bullet shows up as a hollow box
The font lacks the U+2022 glyph. Modern system fonts (Segoe UI, San Francisco, Roboto, Noto Sans) all include it. Custom display fonts sometimes do not.
Word keeps converting my text into a list when I do not want it to
Disable autoformat under File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options, AutoFormat As You Type. Uncheck "Automatic bulleted lists".
FAQs
Should I use bullet points in body copy?
Bullets work best for three to seven short parallel items. Anything longer reads better as prose. Anything shorter (one or two items) is usually clearer as a sentence with a colon.
What is the difference between • and ●?
• (U+2022) is the typographic bullet, sized to match body text. ● (U+25CF) is a much larger black circle used for symbols, charts, and decorative purposes. Use the bullet for lists.
The takeaway
One shortcut on Mac, one Alt code on Windows, and the asterisk + space trick everywhere else. Bullet points stop being a friction point as soon as you pick the method that matches your daily writing tool.
