How to Bold, Italicize, and Strikethrough Text in WhatsApp

Formatting symbols

WhatsApp formats text using symbols placed before and after a word or phrase, with no spaces between the symbols and the text:

• Bold: asterisks, as in *important*.
• Italic: underscores, as in _note_.
• Strikethrough: tildes, as in ~old price~.
• Monospace: three backticks on each side, as in ```code```.
• Inline code: one backtick on each side, as in `text`.

You can combine styles: *_bold and italic_*.

Lists and quotes

Recent versions of WhatsApp also support:

• Bulleted list: Start the line with - or *, followed by a space.
• Numbered list: Start the line with 1., 2., and so on, followed by a space.
• Quote: Start the line with >, followed by a space. The line will be highlighted.

To start a new line without sending the message: on your phone, use the keyboard's line break key; on WhatsApp Web or desktop, press Shift + Enter.

Format text from the menu

If you don't want to memorize the symbols:

• Android: Type your text, select a word (tap and hold), then tap the three dots in the menu that appears to see Bold, Italic, Strikethrough, and Monospace.
• iPhone: Select a word, tap Format (or the BIU icon) in the menu, then choose a style.
• WhatsApp Web and desktop: Select the text to open a small formatting toolbar. The shortcuts Ctrl+B (bold) and Ctrl+I (italic) work in many versions.

Why isn't the formatting working?

• Space between the symbol and the word: * important * won't turn bold. Put the symbol right next to the text.
• Symbol in the middle of a word: In some cases, formatting only works when the symbol is at the beginning or end of a word.
• Formatting across multiple lines: Bold and italic usually apply only within a single line. Format each line separately.
• Outdated app: Features like lists and quotes aren't available in older versions, including for people receiving messages on an older version.

What about your name, About section, or status?

Symbol-based formatting works in messages. In fields like your profile name or About section, the symbols appear as typed. To use bold-looking letters in these places, people often use Unicode letters, which look bold or italic but are actually different characters. Fancy text for Instagram generates this type of text for you to copy and paste.

Use these sparingly: screen readers, used by people who are blind, may read these letters as mathematical symbols or skip the text. Search may also fail to recognize the word. For messages, always use WhatsApp's built-in formatting.

Best practices for long messages

• Use bold for details people shouldn't miss, such as a date, amount, address, or deadline.
• Break long announcements into short sections, with a blank line between them.
• Use numbered lists for step-by-step instructions.
• In group chats, don't bold everything. When everything is highlighted, nothing stands out.
• Very long messages may be cut off with a "Read more" link. The Character Counter can help keep your text concise.

Example of a well-formatted announcement

Here's a building maintenance announcement designed to be read in seconds in a group chat:

*Water tank maintenance*
> Saturday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Turn off the valves before 8 a.m.
- Avoid using the washing machine during this time
_Questions? Contact the front desk_

In the chat, the heading appears in bold, the time stands out as a quote, the instructions are in a list, and the final note is italicized. People are more likely to skim a paragraph with all the same formatting.

If you send announcements often, save a formatted template in a note on your phone and just update the dates and details. That way, the formatting is always right without having to remember the symbols.

Frequently asked questions