Whether you’re building a lesson plan, pitching a project, or just trying to make your presentation less of a text wall, knowing how to add bullet points in Google Slides is a game-changer. Bullet points help organize your content, highlight key points, and keep your slides clean and readable.
This guide covers not only how to add bullet points but also how to customize them, use sub-bullets, and troubleshoot common formatting issues—so your slides look sharp and professional.
The quick way to add bullet points in Google Slides
Adding bullet points in Google Slides takes just a click or two.
Step-by-step:
- Open your Google Slides presentation.
- Click on the text box where you want to add bullet points (or insert a new one by clicking Insert > Text box).
- Highlight the text or place your cursor where you want bullets.
- Click the bulleted list icon in the toolbar (it looks like three stacked dots).
Voilà—bullet points appear!
Shortcut tip:
- On Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + 8
- On Mac: Press Command + Shift + 8
This toggles bullet points on or off.
How to add sub-bullets (nested bullet points)
Sub-bullets are great for adding more detail without cluttering the main point.
Step-by-step:
- After creating a bullet point, press Enter to create the next bullet.
- Press Tab to indent the new bullet into a sub-bullet.
- Press Shift + Tab to move it back to a main bullet.
Sub-bullets can keep going, but stick to one or two levels for clarity.
Customizing bullet points in Google Slides
Don’t like the default black dot? Google Slides lets you change bullet styles.
Step-by-step:
- Highlight the bulleted text.
- Click Format in the top menu.
- Select Bullets & numbering > List options.
- Choose from:
- Standard bullets (dots, squares, dashes)
- Numbered lists
- Or click More bullets for symbols, emojis, or icons
Customize color and size:
- Change bullet color:
Highlight the text, click the text color icon in the toolbar, and choose a color. (Bullets change along with text color.) - Change bullet size:
Adjust the font size of the text—the bullets will scale with it.
How to add bullet points in a new text box
Sometimes you need to create a separate bullet list without affecting other text.
Step-by-step:
- Click Insert > Text box.
- Draw your text box where you want it.
- Click the bulleted list icon and start typing.
This method gives you full control over where your bullet points appear.
Using bullet points in slide layouts
Certain Google Slides layouts come with preformatted bullet points—like title and content slides.
Here’s how to use them:
- Click Slide > Apply layout > choose a layout with content placeholders.
- Click inside the placeholder and start typing.
- Google Slides will automatically format text as bullets.
This is handy for keeping your slides consistent.
How to remove bullet points in Google Slides
Tired of the dots? Removing bullet points is as easy as adding them.
Step-by-step:
- Highlight the bulleted text.
- Click the bulleted list icon again to toggle them off.
Or use the keyboard shortcut:
- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + 8
- Mac: Command + Shift + 8
Pro tips for bullet points in Google Slides
Bullet points are easy—but using them well takes practice. Here’s how to make your lists stand out:
✅ Keep it brief
Aim for one line per bullet. Avoid full sentences unless absolutely necessary.
✅ Limit the number
Stick to 3–5 bullets per slide. Too many points overwhelm your audience.
✅ Use parallel structure
Start each bullet with the same part of speech (verbs, nouns, etc.) for consistency.
✅ Mix in visuals
Pair bullets with icons, images, or graphs to break up the text.
✅ Customize bullets for style
Use emojis, checkmarks, arrows, or other symbols to match your theme.
Example:
- 🔍 Research trends
- ✍️ Draft the report
- 📨 Send updates
Common issues with bullet points (and how to fix them)
❌ Bullets won’t appear
- Solution: Make sure you’re in a text box, not a shape or image. Text boxes support bullet formatting.
❌ Sub-bullets don’t indent properly
- Solution: Use Tab to indent and Shift + Tab to outdent. If that fails, check Format > Align & indent.
❌ Bullet color won’t change
- Solution: Bullets change color with the text color. Highlight the bullet text, then select a new text color.
Why use bullet points in presentations?
Bullet points aren’t just decoration—they help your audience follow along without getting lost in a wall of text.
Benefits:
- Organize information clearly
- Highlight key ideas quickly
- Make content scannable
- Guide the flow of your presentation
Good bullet points = more engaged listeners.
Final thoughts: master bullet points for cleaner slides
Knowing how to add bullet points in Google Slides might seem basic—but it’s a small skill with big impact. It helps you present information clearly, professionally, and in a way your audience can actually absorb.
So keep your points sharp, your slides clean, and your message clear.
