How to Type a Bullet Point (•) on Any Keyboard Easily

A bullet point is the small dot used for lists, like this:

• First item
• Second item
• Third item

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

Type the bullet symbol (•) on Windows and Mac
Create real bullet lists in Word and Google Docs
Copy and paste different bullet styles (• ● ◦ ▪ etc.)
Fix common issues (like Alt code not working)

Table of Contents

Quick Answer (Fastest Ways)

Mac: Press Option (⌥) + 8 to type •
Windows (Alt code): Hold Alt and type 0149 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt → •
Windows (quick alternative): Hold Alt and type 7 on the numeric keypad → • (works on many PCs)

If your Alt code types something else or doesn’t work, jump to the FAQ section below.

Copy and Paste Bullet Point Symbols

If you just want to copy a bullet and paste it anywhere, use these:

Common bullets
• ● ◦ ○ ▪ ▫ ‣ · ⦿ ■ □

Copy tip: Click and drag to highlight, then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac). Paste with Ctrl+V / Command+V.

Method 1: Type the Bullet Symbol (•) on Windows (Alt Code)

This is the most common way to type a bullet symbol in Windows apps.

Bullet alt code (most common)

Alt + 0149 → •

Steps

Click where you want the bullet symbol to appear.
Make sure Num Lock is ON.
Hold down the Alt key.
Type 0149 on the numeric keypad (the number pad on the right side).
Release Alt.

See the full list of Alt codes for symbols

If you don’t have a numeric keypad

Try one of these instead:

Use copy/paste (section above)
Use Character Map (Method 5)
In Word/Docs, use the Bullets feature (Method 3 and 4)

Method 2: Type the Bullet Symbol (•) on Mac

Mac shortcut

Press Option (⌥) + 8 → •

Steps

Click where you want the bullet.
Hold Option (⌥).
Press 8 once.

This works in most places: Word, Pages, Notes, Google Docs, email, browsers, etc.

Method 3: Make Bullet Lists in Microsoft Word (The “Real” Bullet Point Method)

If your goal is a proper bulleted list (not just inserting one dot), this is the best method.

Create a bullet list in Word (Windows & Mac)

Place your cursor where you want the list.
Go to Home tab → click Bullets (•) in the Paragraph section.
Type your first line and press Enter for the next bullet.

Quick keyboard trick (Word)

In many Word versions, you can do this:

Type an asterisk: *
Press Space
Word may automatically turn it into a bulleted list.

To stop bullets, press Enter twice, or use the Bullets button again.

Method 4: Bullet Points in Google Docs

Create a bullet list

Click where you want the list.
Go to Format → Bullets & numbering → Bulleted list
Choose your bullet style.

Shortcut tip

On many keyboards, Google Docs also supports:

Ctrl + Shift + 8 (often toggles bulleted list in Google Docs)

If that shortcut doesn’t work on your setup, just use the menu path above.

Method 5: Insert Bullet Point Using Symbol Menus (Word / Excel / PowerPoint)

Use this if you want to insert the bullet symbol as a character.

Word / PowerPoint

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols
Find the bullet symbol •
Click Insert

See the full guide to inserting symbols in Word/Excel

Excel

Excel also supports:

Insert → Symbol
Or just copy/paste from the section above

Method 6: Use Character Map (Windows)

This is helpful if Alt codes aren’t working.

Click Start
Search for Character Map
Open it and search for bullet
Click the bullet symbol •
Click Select → Copy
Paste it where you need it

Bullet Point Info (Unicode + HTML)

If you’re typing bullets in HTML or code, here are the common values:

Bullet character: •
Unicode: U+2022
HTML entity: •

FAQ: Bullet Point Not Working? (Fixes)

1) Why is my Alt code not working?

Common reasons:

You didn’t use the numeric keypad (top row numbers usually won’t work)
Num Lock is off
Your laptop has no keypad (or needs Fn to activate it)
Some apps handle Alt codes differently

Fix: Use copy/paste or Character Map instead.

2) Why does Alt + 0149 work in Word but not in some apps?

Some apps (or websites) don’t interpret Alt codes the same way as Microsoft Word.

Fix: Use:

Option+8 on Mac
Insert → Symbol
Or copy/paste the bullet from this page

3) What’s the difference between a bullet symbol and a bullet list?

Bullet symbol (•): just one character (like typing a letter)
Bullet list: a formatting feature that creates a proper list with spacing, indentation, and alignment

If you’re writing a document, use the Bullets button in Word/Docs.

Conclusion

The fastest ways to type a bullet point are:

Mac: Option (⌥) + 8
Windows: Alt + 0149 (numeric keypad)
Anywhere: Copy and paste (•) from the list above

If you create bullet lists often, use the built-in Bullets feature in Word or Google Docs — it’s cleaner and easier than typing the symbol repeatedly.