The bullet • is U+2022, the standard marker for an item in an unordered list. Press Alt+0149 on Windows, or tap the key above to copy it. In a document or on a web page, prefer a real list, because that tells a screen reader how many items there are. Type the character directly only where lists are not available.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (Alt code) | Hold Alt, type 0149 on the numpad |
|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Bullet Point" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 2022, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 2022, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | • · \2022 (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Windows
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold Alt and type 0149 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt, • appears.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Bullet Point" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 2022.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to •.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| · (U+00B7) | Middle dot, much smaller | Use it as a separator between words or inline items, not as a list marker. |
| ● (U+25CF) | Black circle, a geometric shape | Noticeably larger. Useful as a status dot, but heavy at the start of a list line. |
| ‣ (U+2023) | Triangular bullet | A conventional marker for a nested second-level list item. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the bullet?
It is U+2022, decimal 8226. The named HTML entity is •. The Windows Alt code is Alt+0149.
Should I type bullet characters by hand?
Usually not. A real list, whether in a word processor or an HTML <ul>, announces itself to a screen reader and gives you consistent spacing and indentation. Typed bullets are just text and do none of that.
Why do bullets look different sizes in different places?
The bullet is drawn by the font, and fonts vary a lot in how large and how high they set it. It is the same character throughout. Only the typeface has changed.
What is the difference between a bullet and a middle dot?
The bullet is a list marker and is drawn large enough to read as one. The middle dot, U+00B7, is a small separator used inside a line, for example between a byline and a date.
Why do my bullets disappear when I paste into a plain-text field?
If the list was real formatting rather than typed characters, there is nothing to paste. The markers were generated by the list, so plain text keeps the words and drops the bullets.