PowerPoint Lists

Learn how to create bulleted and numbered lists to organize information clearly on slides.

Video

Watch the lesson video, then complete the reading and challenge.

Lesson Notes

Read through the key concepts before you try the challenge.

Bulleted Lists

Bulleted lists are commonly used in PowerPoint to organize information into clear and easy-to-read points.

To add bullets, select the text you want to format and click the Bullets command in the Paragraph group on the Home tab.

Bullets command in the PowerPoint ribbon

You can also click the drop-down arrow next to the Bullets command to choose from different bullet styles.

Bullet style dropdown menu

Choosing a Bullet Style

PowerPoint includes several built-in bullet styles such as circles, squares, arrows, and checkmarks.

Selecting a style immediately updates the appearance of the list.

Selecting a bullet style in PowerPoint

Customizing Bullets

If you want more control over the appearance of your bullets, you can open the Bullets and Numbering dialog box.

From here you can change the bullet style, adjust the size, or select a different color.

Bullets and Numbering dialog box

You can also click Customize to choose symbols or other bullet characters.

Symbol dialog used for custom bullets

Numbered Lists

Numbered lists are useful when presenting steps, instructions, or information that should appear in a specific order.

To apply numbering, select the text and click the Numbering command on the Home tab.

Numbering command in PowerPoint

Click the drop-down arrow next to the Numbering button to choose from different numbering formats.

Numbered list formatting options

Continuing Numbering

When you create numbered lists across multiple slides or sections, PowerPoint can continue numbering automatically.

You can adjust where numbering starts by opening the Bullets and Numbering dialog box and changing the Start At value.

Changing numbering start value
Numbering continued across a list

Completed Slide Example

After applying bullets or numbering and customizing the formatting, your slide will look more organized and easier for your audience to read.

Final result of formatted lists on a PowerPoint slide

Knowledge Check

When should you use a numbered list on a slide?

Practice File

Download this file and follow along with the lesson.

Challenge

Apply what you've learned in this lesson.

Complete the following tasks using the practice presentation:

  1. Open the practice presentation.
  2. Select the slide that contains the agenda list.
  3. Convert the list into a numbered list.
  4. Change the numbering so the list starts at 5.
  5. Customize the bullet style for another list on the slide.
Final result for the lists challenge