WhatsApp Text Formatting: Bold, Italic, Strikethrough

This guide shows you exactly how to apply bold, italic, and strikethrough formatting to your WhatsApp messages. You’ll learn the simple symbols to wrap around your text, see examples for each style, and get tips for combining them. No prior setup is needed—just your phone or computer with WhatsApp installed.

What You’ll Need

• A smartphone or computer with WhatsApp installed and an active account.
• The chat window open where you want to send the formatted message.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the chat where you want to send the formatted text. This can be a one-on-one conversation or a group chat.
2. Type your message in the message input field at the bottom of the screen. Do not press send yet.
3. To make text bold: Place an asterisk (*) immediately before and after the word or phrase you want bold. For example, type *this is bold* and it will appear as this is bold.
4. To make text italic: Place an underscore (_) immediately before and after the word or phrase. For example, type _this is italic_ and it will appear as this is italic.
5. To make text strikethrough: Place a tilde (~) immediately before and after the word or phrase. For example, type ~this is strikethrough~ and it will appear as this is strikethrough.
6. Check the preview: As you type, WhatsApp will show a live preview of the formatted text in the input box. If you see the formatting applied, you’re good to go.
7. Send the message by tapping the send button (paper plane icon) or pressing Enter on your keyboard.

Common Mistakes

• Spaces inside the symbols: The formatting only works if there are no spaces between the symbol and the text. For example, * bold * will not work; it must be *bold*.
• Using the wrong symbol: Each style uses a specific symbol: asterisk for bold, underscore for italic, tilde for strikethrough. Mixing them up (e.g., using _bold_) will not produce the desired effect.
• Forgetting to close the symbol: You need the symbol at both the beginning and the end. *bold will not work.
• Using smart quotes or special characters: Make sure you’re using the standard asterisk (*), underscore (_), and tilde (~) characters, not curly or accented versions.

Tips

• Combine styles: You can combine formatting by nesting symbols. For example, *_bold italic_* will produce bold italic. Try ~*bold strikethrough*~ for bold strikethrough.
• Formatting on desktop: The same symbols work on WhatsApp Web and the desktop app. You can also use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+B for bold, Ctrl+I for italic, and Ctrl+Shift+X for strikethrough (Windows) or Cmd+B, Cmd+I, Cmd+Shift+X (Mac).
• Use the formatting bar (Android/iOS): On mobile, you can also select the text you’ve typed, and a small formatting bar will appear above the selection, letting you tap B, I, or S to apply the style without typing symbols manually.
• Formatting in status updates: You can use the same symbols in your WhatsApp Status text updates as well.

Troubleshooting

• Formatting not applied: Check that you have no spaces between the symbol and the text, and that you’ve used the correct symbol. Also, make sure you’re using the standard characters, not a fancy version from a different keyboard.
• Formatting appears as plain text: If the asterisks or underscores show up in the message, it means WhatsApp didn’t recognize the formatting. This can happen if you’re using an older version of WhatsApp. Update the app from your app store.
• Only part of the message is formatted: Ensure the symbols enclose exactly the text you want to format. For example, *hello* world will only make “hello” bold.
• Combined formatting not working: When nesting, make sure the outer symbol is closed last. For example, *_text_* works, but _*text*_ might not on some versions. Try the first pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I format text in WhatsApp groups?

Yes, the same formatting symbols work in group chats, individual chats, and even in your status updates.

Do I need to download anything to use these formatting tricks?

No, these are built-in features of WhatsApp. You just need the latest version of the app.

Will the formatting appear on the recipient’s phone if they use an older version?

If the recipient’s WhatsApp is very outdated, they might see the raw symbols instead of the formatted text. Ask them to update the app.

Can I format text in WhatsApp Web?

Yes, the same symbols work on WhatsApp Web and the desktop app. You can also use keyboard shortcuts.

How do I make text bold on an iPhone?

Type the asterisk symbol (*) before and after the text, or select the text and tap the “B” option in the formatting bar that appears.

Can I use formatting in automated messages or business API?

Yes, the same formatting symbols are supported in the WhatsApp Business API, but you may need to enable the feature in your API settings.

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