What Is the Keyboard Shortcut for Bullet Points?
The keyboard shortcut for bullet points changes depending on the app and operating system you use. On Windows, the most universal shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + L in Microsoft Word and Ctrl + Shift + 8 in Google Docs. On Mac, those become Cmd + Shift + L and Cmd + Shift + 8 respectively.
If you just need the raw bullet symbol (•) without list formatting, Windows users can press Alt + 0149 on the numeric keypad, while Mac users press Option + 8 in any application.
Did You Know? The bullet point symbol (•) carries the Unicode code point U+2022 and has been part of the Unicode Standard since version 1.1, released in 1993. That means every modern operating system, browser, and text editor supports it natively.
Bullet Point Keyboard Shortcuts by App
Microsoft Word (Windows and Mac)
Microsoft Word uses Ctrl + Shift + L on Windows and Cmd + Shift + L on Mac to toggle a bulleted list on or off. Pressing the shortcut again on the same line removes the bullet formatting.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
| Toggle bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L |
| Insert bullet symbol (•) | Alt + 0149 (numpad) | Option + 8 |
| Increase indent (sub-bullet) | Tab | Tab |
| Decrease indent | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
Pro Tip: In Word, typing an asterisk (*) followed by a Space at the start of a line auto-converts into a bullet point. This AutoFormat behavior works by default unless you have disabled AutoFormat As You Type in the Word options.
Google Docs (Web, Windows, Mac)
Google Docs uses Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows and browsers, and Cmd + Shift + 8 on Mac. The same shortcut works inside Gmail when composing a new message.
| Action | Windows / Web Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
| Toggle bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + 8 | Cmd + Shift + 8 |
| Toggle numbered list | Ctrl + Shift + 7 | Cmd + Shift + 7 |
| Add sub-bullet | Tab | Tab |
| Remove sub-bullet | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
Microsoft Outlook (Windows and Mac)
Outlook shares its shortcut behavior with Word because both applications use the same underlying text engine. The shortcut for a bulleted list in an email compose window follows the same pattern.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
| Toggle bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L |
| Insert bullet symbol (•) | Alt + 0149 (numpad) | Option + 8 |
Microsoft PowerPoint (Windows and Mac)
PowerPoint uses the same shortcut as Word for bulleted lists. Most presentation content boxes activate bullets by default, so the shortcut acts as a toggle.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
| Toggle bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L |
| Increase list level | Tab | Tab |
| Decrease list level | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
Microsoft OneNote (Windows and Mac)
OneNote handles bullets slightly differently. On Windows, you press Ctrl + Period (.) to start a bulleted list. On Mac, the shortcut is Cmd + Period (.).
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
| Toggle bulleted list | Ctrl + . | Cmd + . |
| Toggle numbered list | Ctrl + / | Cmd + / |
| Increase indent | Tab | Tab |
| Decrease indent | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
Notion (Windows, Mac, Web)
Notion supports both keyboard shortcuts and Markdown-style triggers. Typing * or – followed by a Space on any blank line instantly creates a bulleted list block, no shortcut key required.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
| Create bulleted list block | Ctrl + Shift + 5 | Cmd + Option + 5 |
| Markdown trigger (type then Space) | * or – or + | * or – or + |
| Indent block | Tab | Tab |
| Un-indent block | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
Pro Tip: In Notion, typing /bullet in any empty block opens the bulleted list command directly from the slash command menu. This works on desktop apps, mobile apps, and the web version.
Slack (Windows, Mac, Web)
Slack’s text editor supports rich formatting through keyboard shortcuts in the compose box.
| Action | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
| Toggle bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + 8 | Cmd + Shift + 8 |
| Toggle numbered list | Ctrl + Shift + 7 | Cmd + Shift + 7 |
Apple Pages (Mac)
Apple Pages does not have a single default keyboard shortcut for bullet points. The recommended approach is to set a custom shortcut via System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts, pointing to the menu item Format > List > List Bullet.
| Action | Mac Shortcut |
| Insert bullet symbol (•) | Option + 8 |
| Increase indent | Tab (in list context) |
Apple Notes (Mac and iOS)
Apple Notes on Mac supports bulleted lists through the Format menu, but you can bind a custom shortcut to Format > Lists > Insert Bulleted List using System Settings. On iOS, tap the Aa button in the keyboard toolbar to access the bullet list option.
| Action | Mac Shortcut | iOS |
| Toggle bulleted list | Custom (bind via System Settings) | Tap Aa > Bulleted List |
| Insert bullet symbol (•) | Option + 8 | Long press on dash or use special characters |
LibreOffice Writer (Windows, Mac, Linux)
LibreOffice Writer, a popular open-source alternative to Microsoft Word, uses its own shortcut. On all platforms, F12 toggles a numbered list, and there is no single default key for unordered bullets. The recommended method is Format > Lists > Unordered List or creating a toolbar button.
| Action | Windows / Linux Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
| Insert bullet symbol (•) | Alt + 0149 (numpad) | Option + 8 |
| Increase indent level | Tab (in list) | Tab (in list) |
| Decrease indent level | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
Markdown (Universal)
In any Markdown-supporting application (VS Code, Obsidian, GitHub, Reddit, Discord, etc.), bullet points use plain-text syntax with no special key required.
| Syntax | Result |
| – Item | Unordered bullet |
| * Item | Unordered bullet |
| + Item | Unordered bullet |
| – Sub-item (2 spaces) | Nested bullet |
Quick-Reference: Bullet Point Shortcuts at a Glance
| Application | Windows / Web | Mac |
| Microsoft Word | Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L |
| Google Docs | Ctrl + Shift + 8 | Cmd + Shift + 8 |
| Gmail | Ctrl + Shift + 8 | Cmd + Shift + 8 |
| Microsoft Outlook | Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Ctrl + Shift + L | Cmd + Shift + L |
| Microsoft OneNote | Ctrl + . | Cmd + . |
| Notion | Ctrl + Shift + 5 | Cmd + Option + 5 |
| Slack | Ctrl + Shift + 8 | Cmd + Shift + 8 |
| Bullet symbol only (•) | Alt + 0149 | Option + 8 |
How to Insert a Bullet Point Without a Numeric Keypad
Many laptops and compact keyboards do not include a numeric keypad, which blocks the standard Alt + 0149 method on Windows. You have three solid alternatives:
- Copy and paste the symbol: Copy this bullet point • and paste it anywhere you need it.
- Use the Character Map (Windows): Open Start, search “Character Map,” find the bullet symbol (U+2022), and click Copy.
- Use the app’s built-in shortcut: Most modern apps (Word, Google Docs, Notion, Slack) offer a proper list-formatting shortcut that does not require the numpad at all.
On Mac, Option + 8 works on every keyboard layout because it does not depend on a numpad.
Pro Tips for Power Users
Build muscle memory with one shortcut first. Research on keyboard shortcut adoption shows that users who focus on mastering three to five shortcuts at a time retain them significantly better than users who try to learn an entire shortcut sheet at once. Start with the shortcut for your primary writing tool before branching into others.
Use Tab and Shift + Tab for hierarchy. Every app in this guide supports Tab to create a sub-bullet and Shift + Tab to move back up one level. This behavior is consistent across Word, Google Docs, Notion, OneNote, PowerPoint, and Slack.
Markdown triggers save keystrokes in block-based apps. In Notion, Obsidian, and many note-taking tools, typing a hyphen followed by a space is faster than any shortcut key because your fingers never leave the home row. This “inline trigger” approach is the standard in most modern productivity apps built after 2015.
FAQ
What is the keyboard shortcut for a bullet point in Word? In Microsoft Word on Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + L to start or stop a bulleted list. On Mac, the shortcut is Cmd + Shift + L. You can also type an asterisk (*) followed by a Space at the start of a line to trigger AutoFormat bullets automatically.
What is the bullet point shortcut in Google Docs? Google Docs uses Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows and Cmd + Shift + 8 on Mac to toggle a bulleted list. The same shortcut works in Gmail’s compose window as well.
How do I type a bullet point symbol (•) on any keyboard? On Windows, hold Alt and type 0149 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. On Mac, press Option + 8. Both methods insert the raw bullet symbol (U+2022) without applying list formatting.
Does the bullet point shortcut work on a laptop without a numpad? The Alt + 0149 method requires a numeric keypad, so it will not work on most laptops. Instead, use your application’s list shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + L in Word, Ctrl + Shift + 8 in Google Docs) or copy the symbol directly from a source. Mac users can always use Option + 8 regardless of keyboard layout.
How do I create a sub-bullet point using the keyboard? In virtually every major writing app, pressing Tab at the start of a bullet-point line indents it to create a sub-bullet. Press Shift + Tab to move it back up one level. This works in Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, OneNote, Notion, and Slack.
Can I use a keyboard shortcut for bullet points in Notion? Yes. In Notion, press Ctrl + Shift + 5 on Windows or Cmd + Option + 5 on Mac to create a bulleted list block. You can also type an asterisk (*), hyphen (-), or plus sign (+) followed by a Space to trigger a bullet block instantly using Notion’s Markdown-style input.
Is there a bullet point shortcut for Apple Notes on iPhone or iPad? On iOS, tap the Aa formatting button that appears above the keyboard in Notes to access the bulleted list option. There is no dedicated hardware shortcut key for bullet points on the iOS software keyboard.