How to Bold Text in WhatsApp
Bold text in WhatsApp makes your messages stand out. Whether you're highlighting an important point in a group chat, emphasising a deadline in a business message, or just adding visual weight to a word, bold formatting helps your text get noticed. This guide covers everything you need to know — the manual method, platform-specific instructions, common mistakes, and a faster alternative using our free visual formatter.
The Quick Answer
To make text bold in WhatsApp, place an asterisk (*) before and after the text you want to bold:
*This text will be bold*
When you send the message, WhatsApp renders it as: This text will be bold. The asterisks disappear and the text appears in a heavier weight to all recipients.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open your chat — go to the individual or group conversation where you want to send a bold message.
- Type your message — write the full message first, then go back to add formatting, or format as you type.
- Add asterisks — place a
*character immediately before the first word and immediately after the last word you want to bold. No spaces between the asterisk and the text. - Send — tap the send button. WhatsApp processes the markdown and displays the formatted text to all recipients.
Bold on Different Platforms
iPhone (iOS)
On iPhone, you have two options. You can type the asterisks manually as described above, or you can use the built-in shortcut: select the text you want to bold, tap “BIU” in the pop-up menu, then choose “Bold.” WhatsApp will automatically add the asterisks for you.
Android
On Android, type the asterisks manually. Some Android keyboards (like Gboard) also let you select text and choose a bold option from the contextual menu, but this depends on your keyboard app and WhatsApp version. The manual asterisk method is the most reliable.
WhatsApp Web & Desktop
On WhatsApp Web and the desktop app, type the asterisks manually. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+B (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+B (Mac) after selecting the text. This is the same shortcut used in most text editors.
Examples
| You type | WhatsApp shows |
|---|---|
*hello* | hello |
*Important meeting at 3pm* | Important meeting at 3pm |
Please *confirm* your attendance | Please confirm your attendance |
*Bold* and _italic_ | Bold and italic |
Common Mistakes
- Extra spaces —
* hello *will NOT work. The asterisks must touch the text directly:*hello*. - Wrong characters — make sure you use the standard asterisk
*(Shift+8 on most keyboards), not a bullet point or other symbol. - Forgetting the closing asterisk — if you only type
*hellowithout a closing*, the text will appear as plain text with the asterisk visible. - Line breaks inside bold— bold formatting doesn't span across line breaks. Each line needs its own set of asterisks.
When to Use Bold
Bold formatting works best for:
- Headlines and section titles in longer messages
- Key information like dates, times, locations, and amounts
- Emphasis on important words or phrases
- Status labels like *URGENT*, *CONFIRMED*, *ACTION REQUIRED*
- Names and labels in structured messages
Combining Bold With Other Formats
WhatsApp supports nesting multiple formats. You can combine bold with italic, strikethrough, or monospace for additional emphasis:
*_bold and italic_*→ bold and italic*~bold and strikethrough~*→bold and strikethrough*`bold and monospace`*→bold and monospace
The order of the formatting characters doesn't matter — *_text_* and _*text*_ both produce the same bold-italic result.
The Easier Way — Use WhatFormat
Remembering asterisks, underscores, and tildes is a hassle — especially when you want to combine formats or write longer structured messages. WhatFormat lets you format text visually, just like a word processor. Click the Bold button, type your text, and copy. The formatting syntax is added automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bold part of a word in WhatsApp?
No, WhatsApp applies bold formatting to whole words or phrases. The asterisks must be placed at word boundaries — *bol*d will not work. You need to bold the entire word: *bold*.
Does bold formatting work in WhatsApp group chats?
Yes, bold formatting works in all WhatsApp chats — individual conversations, group chats, and WhatsApp Business chats. All participants will see the bold text regardless of their device.
Why is my bold formatting not showing in WhatsApp?
Common causes include: extra spaces between the asterisk and text (e.g., * hello * won't work), using the wrong character (the asterisk must be the standard * character), or having an outdated version of WhatsApp. Make sure there are no spaces between the asterisks and your text.
Can I combine bold with italic or strikethrough in WhatsApp?
Yes, you can nest formatting in WhatsApp. For bold and italic, use *_text_* or _*text*_. For bold and strikethrough, use *~text~* or ~*text*~. The order of the markers doesn't matter as long as they're properly nested.