How do I format text on WhatsApp properly?

Make Your Messages Stand Out With WhatsApp’s Native Formatting Tools

If you want to keep things simple, WhatsApp’s built-in formatting tools are your best bet. These features are easy to use and don’t require any extra apps—all you need to know are a few special characters or shortcuts. Let’s dive into the most common ones.

Add Emphasis with Bold Text

Type asterisks around text: To make any word or phrase bold on WhatsApp, all you need to do is put an asterisk () before and after the text. For example, if you type Don’t forget the meeting, it will show up as Don’t forget the meeting once you send it. You don’t have to leave spaces between the asterisks and the text—WhatsApp automatically detects the formatting and removes the symbols when the message is sent. Last month, my friend was organizing a birthday party and sent a group chat message with the time in bold; everyone noticed it right away, and no one missed the party. This small formatting trick made a big difference in getting the message across clearly.
Use keyboard shortcuts (if available): If you’re using a keyboard that supports formatting shortcuts—like Gboard on Android or the default keyboard on iOS—you can skip typing asterisks. Just select the text you want to bold, then tap the “B” icon in the pop-up menu. This is super handy when you’re in a hurry and don’t want to fumble with special characters. I use this shortcut all the time when I’m typing on my phone; it saves me a few seconds each time, which adds up over the day.
Preview before sending: Before you hit the send button, take a quick look at the input box. WhatsApp shows a preview of the formatted text, so you can check if it looks right. If the text isn’t bold, double-check that you have both an opening and closing asterisk. I once forgot the closing asterisk and sent a message that had an asterisk at the start but no end—let’s just say it looked a bit messy. Previewing helps you avoid those awkward mistakes.

Use underscores around text: Italics are perfect for adding a subtle emphasis or making a joke stand out. To italicize text, use underscores (_) before and after the words. For example, _That’s hilarious_ becomes That’s hilarious. This works for any length of text, from a single word to a whole paragraph. I often use italics when I’m sharing a quote or a thought that’s a bit more casual, like _I think we should go to the park this weekend_. It adds a friendly tone that bold text doesn’t always convey.
Try keyboard shortcut options: Just like bold, many keyboards have an italic icon (I) that you can use. Select the text, tap the I icon, and it will turn italic. This is great for people who prefer point-and-click over typing symbols. My mom, who isn’t great with special characters, uses this shortcut all the time—she says it’s way easier than remembering to type underscores. She even uses it to italicize her grandkids’ names in messages, which makes them feel extra special.
Check for consistency: It’s easy to mix up underscores with asterisks if you’re in a hurry. If you use one underscore and one asterisk, the text won’t format correctly. For example, _hello will just show up as _hello instead of being italic. I once did this when I was typing a message to my sister—she teased me for it for days. So always take a second to make sure you’re using the right symbols. A quick glance at the preview box can save you from embarrassment.

Add tildes around text: Strikethrough is useful for correcting mistakes without deleting the original text, or for showing that something is no longer relevant. To use strikethrough, put tildes (~) before and after the text. For example, ~I’ll be there at 3 PM~ becomes I’ll be there at 3 PM. This is perfect for when you change your plans—like ~Meeting at 2~ now at 3 PM. Everyone can see the old info and the new info clearly, which avoids confusion. I use this all the time when I’m scheduling meetings; it’s a quick way to update everyone without having to retype the entire message.
Use keyboard shortcuts: Some keyboards have a strikethrough icon (S) that you can use. Select the text, tap the S icon, and it will add the tildes for you. This is a huge time-saver if you’re editing a message and need to mark out old content quickly. I use this when I’m sending work messages—if I make a typo, I can strikethrough it and correct it without retyping the whole message. It’s much faster than deleting and starting over.
Combine with other formats: Did you know you can combine strikethrough with bold or italic? For example, ~This is bold and strikethrough~ works perfectly. Just make sure the symbols are in the right order: asterisks first, then tildes, then your text, then reverse order for closing. I tried this last week in a group chat when I needed to correct a bolded statement—everyone could see the mistake and the correction clearly, which avoided any mix-ups. It’s a great way to add depth to your messages.

There are a few common reasons why your formatted text might not be showing up on WhatsApp Web. First, make sure you’re using the correct symbols or shortcuts. For example, if you’re trying to make text bold, you need to use asterisks () around the text, or the Ctrl+B shortcut. If you’re using the wrong symbol—like a hyphen instead of an asterisk—it won’t format. Second, check if your browser is up to date. Outdated browsers can sometimes cause issues with WhatsApp Web’s features, including text formatting. Try updating your browser to the latest version and see if that fixes the problem. Third, make sure you’re not using any browser extensions that might interfere with WhatsApp Web. Some extensions, like ad blockers or privacy tools, can block certain features. Try disabling any extensions temporarily to see if that’s the issue. I once had an ad blocker that was preventing WhatsApp Web from formatting text, and disabling it fixed the problem right away. Finally, if none of these solutions work, try logging out of WhatsApp Web and logging back in. This can reset any temporary glitches that might be causing the issue. Remember, if you’re still having trouble, you can check the WhatsApp Help Center (https://faq.whatsapp.com/ target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”) for more troubleshooting tips.

Yes, you can copy formatted text from WhatsApp Web to other apps, but the formatting might not always transfer perfectly. For example, if you copy bold text from WhatsApp Web to a word processor like Google Docs, the bold formatting will usually stay. However, if you copy text with strikethrough to a plain text editor like Notepad, the strikethrough will disappear, and you’ll see the tilde symbols instead. This is because plain text editors don’t support rich formatting. To ensure that the formatting transfers correctly, try copying the text to an app that supports rich text, like Google Docs or Microsoft Word. I’ve used this feature many times—for example, when I need to save a formatted message from WhatsApp Web to a document for later reference. Another thing to note is that some apps might handle formatting differently. For instance, if you copy bullet points from WhatsApp Web to an email, they might turn into hyphens or another symbol. But overall, copying formatted text from WhatsApp Web is a useful feature that can save you time. Just remember to check the formatting in the target app to make sure it looks the way you want it to.

If you try any of these formatting methods, let me know how it goes in the comments below! I’d love to hear about your favorite tricks for making WhatsApp messages stand out. Whether you’re using native tools or WhatsApp Web, there’s a way to make your messages look exactly how you want them to. Happy formatting!