To change bullet color in Microsoft Word without changing the text color, click in the bulleted list, go to Home, click the arrow next to Bullets, and choose Define New Bullet. Click Font, pick a Font color, and click OK twice. The bullets in that list change color while your text stays the same. If you just want the bullets and text to match, selecting the whole list and changing the font color changes both.
Method 1: Change bullet color with Define New Bullet
- Select the bulleted items you want to change, or click in the list to change the current level.
- On the Home tab, click the small arrow next to the Bullets button.
- Click Define New Bullet.
- Click Font.
- Choose a color from Font color, and click OK.
- Check the preview, then click OK.
This also lets you change the bullet’s size, or pick a new symbol with Symbol.
Method 2: Change the color of one bullet
- Click ¶ on the Home tab to show formatting marks.
- Select the paragraph mark (¶) at the end of the bulleted line.
- Change the font color with Home > Font Color.
Word formats a bullet to match the line’s paragraph mark, so only that bullet changes. Turn off ¶ when you’re done.
Method 3: Change bullet color for every level
- Click in the list and go to Home > Multilevel List > Define New Multilevel List.
- Click More to show all options.
- Select a level on the left, click Font, choose a color, and click OK.
- Repeat for other levels, then click OK.
Troubleshooting
- The bullet color resets. A style may override it. Right-click the List Paragraph style, choose Modify, and check its formatting, or apply your bullet change after styling.
- Only some bullets changed. Different levels are formatted separately. Repeat for each level, or use Method 3.
- New bullets appear in the old color. Press Enter at the end of a recolored item to continue with the new color.
Related: Insert bullet points in Word.
Related: Change bullet size in Word.
Related: Curve or arch text in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a picture as a bullet?
Yes. In Define New Bullet, click Picture and choose an image or icon.
Does this work in Word for Mac?
Yes. Click the arrow next to Bullets > Define New Bullet > Font.
How do I indent bullets?
See how to indent bullet points in Word.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.