Learning how to add bullet points in Google Slides is fundamental for creating clear, impactful presentations. Bullet points transform cluttered text into scannable insights, helping audiences grasp your message 60% faster. In this guide, you’ll master bullet creation, troubleshooting, and advanced formatting.
- Why Bullet Points Matter in Presentations
- How to Add Bullet Points in Google Slides: 3 Simple Methods
- How to Make Sub-Bullet Points More Special?
- How to Customize Bullet Points with Color or Logos?
- How to Animate Bullet Points in Google Slides?
- Troubleshooting of How to Put Bullet Points in Google Slides
Why Bullet Points Matter in Presentations
Bullet points are more than just formatting, they are a powerful communication tool, and can even serve as a checkbox for slides. Here’s why they matter:
Simplify complexity: Turn long paragraphs into clear, actionable points. Improve retention: Audiences remember 40% more when content is presented in bullet form versus dense text (Neuroscience research). Focus attention: They direct viewers to your key messages without overwhelming them.
How to Add Bullet Points in Google Slides: 3 Simple Methods
Here are three simple methods to add bullet points in slides, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user:
Method 1: Using the Toolbar (Beginner-Friendly)
If you need a fast solution, this method uses simple keystrokes:
1. Visit the Google Slides and open your presentation.
2. Select the text that you want to add bullet points to.
3. Click the “Bulleted List” on the top toolbar. Google Slides will automatically add the default round bullet points at the beginning of each line of text.
(If you want other style bullet points, you can expand the bulleted list, which includes six other shapes of bullet points.)
💡If you don’t want to add bullet points to the beginning of each line, you can first select one line or your target lines, add the bullet point to this line alone, and then repeat this process for the remaining lines.
Method 2: Keyboard Shortcuts (Pro Tip!)
Select the target text and, based on your device, immediately add bullet points to your text in the following way!
- Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + Shift + 8.
- Mac: Press Command + Shift + 8.
💡Press “Tab” after creation for sub-bullets.
Method 3: Customizing Bullet Styles
This method helps you make bullets match your content or brand:
1. Select existing bullet points.
2. Go to Format > Bullets & numbering > List options.
3. ChooseSymbols: Arrows (➔), checkmarks (✓), squares (■).
Images: Upload logos or icons (PNG/SVG).
Color/Size: Match brand palettes (HEX codes supported).
If all of this feels a bit too tedious to do manually, you can try WorkPPT — an AI-powered slide maker.
WorkPPT uses AI to turn your ideas into complete presentations. It breaks down your text into clear bullet points, making your content easier to read and present.
How to Make Sub-Bullet Points More Special?
1. Go to the text box where you want to add bullet points.
2. Type your main bullet point and press Enter for a new bullet.
3. To create a sub-bullet, do one of the following:
- Click the “Increase hanging indent” button (it looks like a right-facing arrow) in the toolbar.
Or, use the keyboard shortcut:
- Windows/Chrome OS:
Tab - Mac:
Tab
4. Type your sub-bullet point.
5. To move back to a higher-level bullet (undo the indent), press:
- Windows/Chrome OS:
Shift+Tab - Mac:
Shift+Tab
How to Customize Bullet Points with Color or Logos?
1. Change Bullet Point Color
By default, bullets inherit the text color, so changing the text color also changes the bullet color. Here are the steps to color your bullet points:
- Highlight the bullet points you want to change.
- Click the Text color button (looks like “A” with a color bar) on the toolbar.
- Choose your desired color.
💡 Note: Google Slides does not allow you to set a different color for the bullet and the text independently—the bullet will always match the text color.
2. Add Special Characters to Bullet Points
1. Select the bullet points you want to customize, and click the “More bullets” option in the pop-up.
2. In the “Insert special characters” pop-up, choose the category of icons you want, such as emojis. Select your favorite icon—click as many times as you need for multiple icons.
3. Select the icons you want to resize, and use the font size controls in the toolbar to adjust their size.
How to Animate Bullet Points in Google Slides?
1. Click on the text box that contains your bullet points.
2. Go to the menu bar and click on Insert > Animation. Alternatively, right-click the text box and select Animate.
3. The Motion or Animations pane will appear on the right. Under “Object Animations,” click “Add animation” (or directly select an animation).
4. Choose an animation effect (such as “Appear,” “Fade in,” “Fly in from left,” etc.).
5. To animate each bullet point one at a time, check the box labeled “By paragraph” in the animation pane. This tells Google Slides to animate each bullet (or paragraph) individually, not all at once.
6. Set the start condition (on click, after previous, with previous). Adjust speed/duration if needed.
7. Click the “Play” button in the animation pane to preview how the bullets will appear one by one.
Troubleshooting of How to Put Bullet Points in Google Slides
| Issue | Solution |
| Misaligned bullet | Use Format→Align&indent→Adjust left indent |
| Shortcut not working | Disable brower extensions conflicting with shortcuts(e.g.,Grammarly) |
| In consistent formatting | Apply Paint Format(brush icon)→Click target text box. |
| Bullet disappearing | Esure text box isn’t overflowing→Resize o raplit content. |
💬 Conclusion:
Mastering how to add bullet points in Google Slides ensures your ideas cut through noise—not distract with formatting chaos. Yet manual tweaking consumes hours designers could spend strategizing. This is where AI revolutionizes creation:
🚀Tools like WorkPPT turn bullet-point struggles into one-click precision, auto-generating structured slides from raw notes in 30 seconds while enforcing brand consistency. Reclaim your time; let AI handle the mechanics.
