To highlight text in WhatsApp, wrap the words in a symbol on each side: *bold*, _italic_ or ~strike~. WhatsApp has no coloured highlighter for messages, so bold, a quote line or monospace are the closest ways to make a word stand out.
Most people looking for this want one thing: a word or sentence that jumps off the screen. WhatsApp does that with simple text symbols you type before and after the words. There's no setting to switch on, and it works in chats, groups, picture captions and Status text.
Every WhatsApp format at a glance
Here's the full set, with exactly what to type. Keep the symbols touching your words, with no space just inside them.
| Style | Type this | Where it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | *your text* | Times, dates, the one thing people must read |
| Italic | _your text_ | A gentle emphasis or a title |
| Strikethrough | ~your text~ | Cancelled plans, changed details |
| Monospace | ```your text``` (three backticks each side) | Codes, reference numbers, anything to copy exactly |
| Inline code | `your text` (one backtick each side) | A short word or number inside a sentence |
| Quote | > at the start of a line | Replying to one point in a long message |
| Bulleted list | - or * at the start of each line | Packing lists, agendas |
| Numbered list | 1. at the start of each line | Steps in order |
You'll see the finished style as soon as you send the message. While you're still typing, the symbols show as plain characters, and that's normal.
Combine styles when you need to
You can usually stack two styles, such as bold and italic together, by wrapping the words in both sets of symbols. Type *_like this_* and send it. If one of the styles doesn't show, swap the order of the symbols or format the words one style at a time. I'd keep it to two styles at most, because three at once is hard to read on a small screen.
Select the text and pick a style instead
If you'd rather not remember symbols, your phone can add them for you.
On Android
- Type your message in the chat box.
- Press and hold the word or sentence you want to change, then drag the handles to select it.
- In the small menu that appears, tap the three dots to see the formatting options.
- Choose bold, italic, strikethrough or monospace.
On iPhone
- Type your message, then press and hold a word and select the text you want.
- Tap Format in the menu that pops up.
- Pick bold, italic, strikethrough or monospace.
If a menu name looks different on your phone, search the app's settings for the word format, or fall back on the symbols in the table, which work on every version. Menus move around between updates, and the symbols don't.
The honest answer on colour highlighting
I'd rather tell you this plainly: WhatsApp doesn't have a yellow marker or any coloured highlighter for messages. You can't select a word and turn the background green, however many tutorials make it sound possible. If a video claims otherwise, it's either showing an edited picture or an app you don't need.
What you can do is use the tools that stand out in a long chat:
- Bold for the one detail that matters most, such as a time or a place.
- A quote line to point at a specific sentence from earlier.
- Monospace for something people need to copy exactly, because it sits in its own grey-looking style.
- Strikethrough to show what has changed without deleting the old version.
If you want actual colour, edit a picture or screenshot first and send it as an image. That's the only reliable route. Some people also paste in fancy lettering from online text generators, and I cover how those work in my Instagram font generator guide. Be careful with them in WhatsApp, because decorative lettering can show up as empty boxes on older phones, so the person you're writing to may not see what you see.
Real examples you can copy
Here are a few original ones to show how the styles work in daily life. Change the details to suit you.
- A family group:
Dinner at *7pm*, not 6pm - A school-run chat:
~Wednesday~ Thursday pick-up is at the side gate - A neighbours' group:
Parcel reference: ```AB-4821``` - A work group:
*Agenda for Monday*followed by a short numbered list with1.before each point
Notice how each example highlights one thing, not five. When everything is bold, nothing is.
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Why my formatting isn't working
If the symbols stay on screen after you send, check these in order:
- Look for a stray space inside the symbols, such as
* text *. Remove it so the symbols touch the words. - Check that each symbol appears on both sides of the text. A missing one means nothing happens.
- Make sure the symbols are straight characters from your keyboard, not decorative ones copied from somewhere else.
- Update WhatsApp from your app store. Some newer styles, such as quotes and lists, only appear in recent versions.
- Try sending it again as a fresh message, in case you edited an older one.
Your keyboard can also get in the way. Some keyboards swap straight quote marks and symbols for fancy versions as you type. If that sounds like your phone, my explainer on WhatsApp keyboard settings on Android shows where to look.
Make your profile look as tidy as your messages
While you're sorting out how your chats look, it's worth glancing at your profile too. If you've ever wondered about the abbreviation people use for the picture on your account, here's what DP means in WhatsApp. A clear photo and a short, plain About line do more for how you come across than any amount of bold text.
A simple habit that works
Here's the rule I'd follow. Bold the one fact someone could miss, strike out what has changed, and put anything to be copied in monospace. Leave the rest as normal text. Your messages will look calm and organised, and people will read them to the end.
Group admins can get a lot of mileage from this. A short bold heading at the top of an announcement, followed by a tidy list, is much easier to scan than a wall of text. Once you've done it a few times, you won't need the table any more.
Frequently asked questions
Can I highlight text in colour in WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp doesn't have a coloured highlighter for messages. The closest options are bold, a quote line and monospace. For real colour, send an edited picture instead.
How do I make text bold in WhatsApp?
Put an asterisk on each side of the words, like *this*, or select the text and choose bold from the formatting menu on your phone.
How do I strike through text in WhatsApp?
Put a tilde on each side of the words, like ~this~, or select the text and choose strikethrough from the formatting menu.
Will the other person see my formatting?
Yes, as long as they use a recent version of WhatsApp. Bold, italic, strikethrough and monospace show for them just as they do for you.
