WhatsApp Gains New Text Formatting Options in Latest Update - MacRumors
Skip to Content

WhatsApp Gains New Text Formatting Options in Latest Update

WhatsApp has added new text formatting options to the chat platform, enabling users to message each other everything from grocery lists to step-by-step instructions in mid-conversation.

whatsapp formatting options
Following Wednesday's update, WhatsApp users can now use bulleted and numbered lists, block quotes, and inline code to communicate more effectively.

The new formatting options join the existing bold, italic, strikethrough, and monospaced formats that have been available to WhatsApp users for a while now.

How to Use New WhatsApp Text Formatting Options

  • Bulleted list: Start a new line with a - (dash) symbol, followed by a space.
  • Numbered list: Start a new line with 1 or 2 digits, followed by a period and a space.
  • Block quote: Start a new line with the > symbol, followed by a space.
  • Inline code: Wrap any code or text you want to highlight using the ` (backtick) symbol.

whatsapp

All of WhatsApp's text formatting options (Image: WhatsApp)

Last month, WhatsApp introduced a custom sticker creation tool for iPhone users running iOS 17 or later. In a future update, WhatsApp also plans to add passkey support, allowing iPhone users to sign in to the app with Face ID, Touch ID, or their device's passcode.

Popular Stories

Whatsapp Feature

WhatsApp Now Lets You Save a Contact's Username

Thursday August 13, 2026 2:10 am PDT by
Following its username feature rollout, WhatsApp is now letting users save a contact's username when they add their name and phone number. The username field is shown between the first and last name fields and the phone number section. You can add a new contact in WhatsApp by tapping the + button in the navigation bar of the Chats tab. According to WABetaInfo, when usernames become more widely ...
Surprise and Shine Live Coverage Article

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and More Expected

Wednesday September 9, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the foldable iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, new AirPods 5 earphones, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We...
apple surprise and shine event

Apple Event Today: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo Cheat Sheet

Tuesday September 8, 2026 10:24 am PDT by
Apple's biggest event of the year is almost here, and all eyes are on Cupertino. With the first foldable iPhone expected to headline Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, the rumor mill has been running full throttle, fuelled by the biggest single design change in the life of the iPhone. To get you up to speed, here's a quick reference...

Top Rated Comments

33 months ago
Just ficking give us an iPad app
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CB1234 Avatar
33 months ago
Wish iMessage would add more features - not gimmicky ones, but really useful ones like WhatsApp has. Lot of our clients prefer to use WhatsApp to communicate, instead of emails. WhatsApp is very very useful for business chats.

iMessage on other hand is not intuitive or business user friendly much...
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
33 months ago

Wish iMessage would add more features - not gimmicky ones, but really useful ones like WhatsApp has. Lot of our clients prefer to use WhatsApp to communicate, instead of emails. WhatsApp is very very useful for business chats.

iMessage on other hand is not intuitive or business user friendly much...
Sometimes in these threads it seems that a lot of people think that WhatsApp only gets used because some people aren't blessed with iMessage.
Well, as you pointed out WhatsApp is a very well put together app, simple and effective.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
33 months ago
Yep! Markdown formatting should be standard feature.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mazz0 Avatar
33 months ago

Wish iMessage would add more features - not gimmicky ones, but really useful ones like WhatsApp has. Lot of our clients prefer to use WhatsApp to communicate, instead of emails. WhatsApp is very very useful for business chats.

iMessage on other hand is not intuitive or business user friendly much...
Surely iMessage as a business tool is a non-starter anyway due to its single-platform nature? A business communications app for me has to be cross platform, if I can't message colleagues on Windows and Linux with it then it's no use.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
33 months ago

Sadly no spoiler tag, the thing it actually needs.
Yeah! Spoiler tag would clearly be used more broadly than basic formatting

/s
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)