How to type a bullet point on a Mac
The bullet point shortcut on a Mac is Option + 8. Press it anywhere, in Messages, a web form or a spreadsheet cell, and you get •. Adding Shift gives a smaller middle dot instead: Option + Shift + 9 types ·.
Quick answer
Press Option + 8 → •
Step by step
Start the line
Put the cursor at the beginning of the line you want to bullet.
Press Option + 8
The bullet appears.
Add a space and your text
Then press Return for the next line and repeat.
• or ·?
Option + 8 types the full bullet (U+2022), the right size for lists. Option + Shift + 9 types the middle dot · (U+00B7), which is smaller and better as an inline separator: Home · About · Contact. Mixing them up is common, so check which one you have if a list looks oddly faint. More bullet styles, from ◦ to ➤, are in our bullet point symbols.
Automatic lists in Mac apps
In Pages, Notes, TextEdit and Mail, typing a bullet (or an asterisk) followed by a space at the start of a line usually starts a proper list with hanging indents. In Notes, Shift + Command + 7 toggles a bulleted list. Real lists wrap cleanly, so use them in documents and keep typed bullets for places that have no list feature.
Bullets in Numbers and Excel
Inside a spreadsheet cell, Option + 8 works as usual; to put several bulleted lines in one cell, press Option + Return between them in Numbers, or Control + Option + Return in Excel for Mac. In Excel formulas, =UNICHAR(8226) returns the bullet. The bullet point in Excel guide has more on this.
Other routes
If Option + 8 is taken by an app or you use another layout, search “bullet” in the Character Viewer, or copy • from the bullet point symbol page, which also lists the HTML entity •.
Frequently asked questions
What is the bullet point shortcut on a Mac?
Option + 8. Option + Shift + 9 gives the smaller middle dot ·.
How do I make a bulleted list in Notes on a Mac?
Press Shift + Command + 7, or type an asterisk and a space at the start of a line.
How do I put bullets inside one Excel cell on a Mac?
Type Option + 8 for each bullet and press Control + Option + Return between lines.