How to Use WPS Bullets and Numbering on Windows

Use Bullets and Numbering through 7 how-to topics in WPS Writer; choose a topic from the index and follow the entry path and steps to complete the task.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Add bullets

Feature entry: Home tab → Bullets

1. Select the paragraphs where you want to add bullets.
2. Click the Home tab on the top menu bar.
3. In the Paragraph area, click Bullets.
4. Enter your list content and press Enter to create the next bullet.
5. Press Enter twice to exit list mode.

Success Criteria

• A consistent bullet symbol appears before each selected paragraph.
• Pressing Enter creates the next bullet automatically.

Tips While Using

• For non-consecutive paragraphs, hold Ctrl while selecting paragraphs before applying bullets.
• Press Enter twice to end the current list.

2. Customize bullets

Feature entry: Home tab → Bullets drop-down → Custom Bullets

1. Select the target paragraph.
2. Click the drop-down arrow next to Bullets.
3. Select Custom Bullets.
4. Choose a bullet style in the settings window.
5. Adjust color, size, or a special symbol font as needed, then confirm.

Success Criteria

• The bullet symbol style changes for the selected list.
• The new style is applied to the selected range.

Tips While Using

• When using special symbol fonts, make sure the required font is available on the system.
• If the document is shared to another device, missing fonts may affect display.

3. Add numbering

Feature entry: Home tab → Numbering

1. Select the paragraphs where you want to add numbering.
2. Click Numbering on the Home tab.
3. Apply the default numbering style.
4. Enter content and press Enter to generate the next number automatically.
5. If needed, click the drop-down arrow to choose another numbering format.

Success Criteria

• Continuous numbering appears before the selected paragraphs.
• New items increase automatically in sequence.

Tips While Using

• If you only want to change one numbering level, select content at that level first.
• Press Enter twice to stop automatic numbering.

4. Customize numbering

Feature entry: Home tab → Numbering drop-down → Custom Numbering

1. Select the numbered paragraphs you want to adjust.
2. Open the Numbering drop-down menu.
3. Click Custom Numbering.
4. Change the numbering style, font, or suffix format.
5. Adjust alignment if needed, then click OK.

Success Criteria

• The numbering format updates as expected, such as a changed number style or suffix.
• Numbering remains consistent within the selected range.

Tips While Using

• After changing a suffix, check whether the spacing between the number and text is still clear.
• Alignment changes may affect the paragraph layout, so review indentation as well.

5. Change the starting number or continue numbering

Feature entry: Right-click a numbered item → Starting Number or Continue Numbering

1. Right-click the numbered item you want to adjust.
2. Select Starting Number and enter a new value, or select Continue Numbering.
3. Confirm the setting.
4. Check whether the following numbers continue as expected.

Success Criteria

• The list can begin from a specified number.
• A broken numbering sequence can continue from the previous list.

Tips While Using

• After changing the starting value, later items will be renumbered accordingly.
• In long documents, review surrounding numbering logic after the change.

6. Set up multilevel numbering

Feature entry: Home tab → Numbering drop-down → Custom Numbering → Multilevel Numbering

1. Select the content that needs hierarchy.
2. Open the Numbering drop-down menu and enter Custom Numbering.
3. In the dialog box, select Multilevel Numbering.
4. Choose a style and customize numbering style, position, and font as needed.
5. Click OK to apply the settings.
6. Use Increase Indent or Decrease Indent to adjust levels.

Success Criteria

• A hierarchical numbering structure appears in the document.
• Different levels show clear numbering styles and indentation.

Tips While Using

• Multilevel numbering is useful for chapters, clauses, and step-based content.
• Select full paragraphs when changing levels to avoid inconsistent formatting.

7. Use Format Painter to copy list styles

Feature entry: Home tab → Format Painter

1. Select a paragraph that already has the bullet or numbering style you want.
2. Double-click Format Painter.
3. Click other paragraphs that should use the same style.
4. Press Esc to exit Format Painter mode.

Success Criteria

• Target paragraphs receive the same list style as the source paragraph.
• The style can be applied to multiple locations in sequence.

Tips While Using

• Confirm the source paragraph formatting is correct before applying it in batch.
• After batch application, spot-check indentation, symbols, and numbering format.