To stop Microsoft Word from automatically numbering lists, click File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options, open the AutoFormat As You Type tab, uncheck Automatic numbered lists, and click OK. Word will no longer turn lines that start with “1.” into a numbered list. To undo automatic numbering just once, press Ctrl + Z right after Word applies it. To remove numbering from a list that’s already in your document, select it and click the Numbering button on the Home tab to turn it off.
Below are all three methods, plus how to remove numbers from headings and fix numbering that keeps coming back.
Method 1: Turn off automatic numbered lists
- Click File > Options. (On a Mac, click Word > Preferences > AutoCorrect.)
- Click Proofing, then AutoCorrect Options.
- Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
- Uncheck Automatic numbered lists. Uncheck Automatic bulleted lists too if you don’t want automatic bullets.
- Click OK, then OK again.
This setting applies to all documents. You can still create numbered lists yourself with the Numbering button.
Method 2: Undo automatic numbering one time
- Press Ctrl + Z (Command + Z on a Mac) immediately after Word turns your line into a list. The number stays as plain text.
- Or click the small AutoCorrect Options lightning-bolt button that appears next to the list and choose Undo Automatic Numbering. Choose Stop Automatically Creating Numbered Lists to turn the feature off for good.
Method 3: Remove numbering from an existing list
- Select the numbered paragraphs.
- On the Home tab, click the Numbering button to turn it off, or click its arrow and choose None.
To end a list and keep typing normally, press Enter twice at the end of the list, or press Backspace on the empty numbered line.
Remove numbers from headings
If your headings show numbers like “1.1” or “Chapter 1,” they’re using a multilevel list linked to the heading styles.
- Click in a numbered heading.
- On the Home tab, click the Multilevel List button and choose None.
- If other headings keep their numbers, repeat for each heading level, or right-click the heading style in the Styles gallery, choose Modify > Format > Numbering, and select None.
If numbering keeps coming back
- The style includes numbering. Paragraph styles like “List Paragraph” or custom styles may have numbering built in. Change the paragraph to Normal style.
- “Format beginning of list item like the one before it” is on. Uncheck it on the same AutoFormat As You Type tab.
- Pasted text brings its own numbering. Paste with Keep Text Only (right-click > Paste Options).
- Numbers are a field. If numbers look gray when clicked, they may be fields like LISTNUM or SEQ. Select them and press Ctrl + Shift + F9 to convert them to plain text, then delete them.
Related: Remove bullet points in Word.
Related: Continue numbering in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Word start numbering when I type “1.”?
Word’s AutoFormat feature recognizes “1.” or “1)” followed by a space or tab as the start of a list. Turn off Automatic numbered lists to stop it.
Does this also affect Outlook?
Outlook has its own setting. In Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail > Editor Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type.
Can I restart numbering instead of removing it?
Yes. Right-click the number where you want to start over and choose Restart at 1, or Set Numbering Value for a different number.
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.