This article is for people who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Microsoft 365 screen reader support content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.
Use Outlook for Mac with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in macOS screen reader, to quickly create bulleted and numbered lists in various styles.
Notes:
-
New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.
-
This topic assumes that you are using the built-in macOS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, go to VoiceOver Getting Started Guide.
In this topic
Create a bulleted or numbered list
-
While writing an Outlook message, at the start of a new line, do one of the following:
-
To start a bulleted list, type an asterisk (*), and then press Spacebar. A filled circle bullet list item is automatically created.
-
To start a numbered list, type 1. (the number 1 followed by a period), and then press Spacebar. A numbered list item is automatically created.
-
-
Type the list item text.
-
To add another list item, press Return, and then type its text.
-
To finish the list, press Return twice. The focus moves to an empty line below the list. You hear: "New line."
Create a nested list
You can create a list within a list, such as nested bullets in a bulleted list or outline-style numbering in a numbered list.
-
From an existing list, navigate to the item that should come before the nested list, and press Return to create a new list item after it.
-
With the cursor at the start of the line for the new item, press the Tab key. Outlook automatically increases the indent for that item and makes it part of a nested list.
-
Type the text of the first nested list item.
-
To add another nested list item, press Return, and then type its text.
The bullet or numbering style for the nested list item is based on the style of its parent item. You can change these styles to any available bullet or number style.
Change the indentation of a list
-
Select the entire list.
-
Press F6 until you hear "Message, selected, tab," and then do one of the following:
-
To increase indent, or move the list farther away from the margin, press the Tab key until you hear "Increase indent, button," and then press Spacebar.
-
To decrease indent, or move the list closer to the margin, press the Tab key until you hear "Decrease indent, button," and then press Spacebar.
-
The focus stays in the toolbar.
Change the bullet or number style
If you want to change the style of existing bullets or numbers, you can choose any style from the bullet or number library.
-
Select the entire list.
-
Press F6 until you hear “Message, selected, tab," and then do one of the following:
-
To select a new bullet style, press the Tab key until you hear: "Bullets, menu button." To expand the menu, press Control+Option+Shift+M. Use the arrow keys to browse the styles, and then press Spacebar to apply the currently selected style.
-
To select a new numbering style, press the Tab key until you hear: "Numbering, menu button." To expand the menu, press Control+Option+Shift+M. Use the arrow keys to browse the styles, and then press Spacebar to apply the currently selected style.
-
The menu closes and the focus stays in the toolbar.
Note: If your list contains nested lists, their style is not affected by this. You need to place the cursor inside the nested list to change its style separately.
See also
Use screen reader to create bulleted or numbered lists in Outlook (Windows, Web, Mobile)
Use a screen reader to align text and paragraphs in Outlook
Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook
Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook
Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail
Technical support for customers with disabilities
Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.
If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.
