How to Make Sub-Bullets in PowerPoint

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Bullet points are commonly used in presentation slides for listing down information. Some bullet points require further division in the form of sub-bullets. Learn how to easily add sub bullets in PowerPoint for all your presentations with this guide.

How to Add Sub-bullets in PowerPoint

You can create PowerPoint sub-bullets for your presentations and PowerPoint templates by increasing the number of indents. Similarly, the indent can be reduced to return the text to its original position or to adjust the sub-bullets. To get started, select the text and add bullets from the Bullets menu from the Home tab.

Add bullets to PowerPoint slide

You can add the desired bullet type to the list, be it one type of bullet or a different ppt sub bullet for other points.

Selecting bullet style from Ribbon

Method 1: Adjust Indent from Ribbon Menu

Select the text to create sub-bullets and click the increase indent from the Increase List Level button.

Increase indent level from Ribbon

Method 2: Adjust the Indent using the Ruler

You can also adjust the indent from the Ruler by moving it across the slide to change specific lines of text. If you can’t see the ruler in PowerPoint, right-click on a slide and select Ruler.

Using ruler to increase indent level

Method 3: Hotkeys to Increase or Decrease Indent

You can move the selected text to the right using the Tab hotkey. To move the text to the left, use SHIFT+Tab hotkey.

Hotkeys to increase or decrease indent in PowerPoint

Creating Different Types of Sub-bullets

Using any of the methods mentioned above, you can create PowerPoint sub bullets by moving lines of text according to need.

Creating new sub-bullet style

You can create different types of sub-bullets by placing one or more lines of text according to a set hierarchy.

Example of sub-bullets

How to Change Sub-bullets to a Different Bullet Style

Select the text from the list and change a different style via the Bullets menu to change a bullet to a different style.

Change sub-bullet style

The example below shows hollow round sub-bullets beneath filled round bullets.

Changed sub bullet ppt

How to Add Sub-bullets in PowerPoint using Custom Styles

How to Create Sub-bullets using Symbols

Sub-bullets can be changed to symbols by customizing the bullet types. To do this, expand the Bullets menu and go to Bullets and Numbering.

Access bullets and numbering options

Click Customize from the Bullets and Numbering dialog box to select a symbol as a bullet type.

Customize bullets in PowerPoint

You can select a symbol from the vast array of options in PowerPoint to convert it as a bullet or sub-bullet to create your lists.

Select symbol as sub bullet ppt

In the example below, we used a single right-pointing angle quotation mark as a sub-bullet. You can use any type of symbol to suit your needs. This can also be an excellent method to convert bullets to visual aids, such as using a currency symbol, such as a $ sign, to discuss finance-related points or a technology-themed symbol for a technology-related presentation.

Custom styled sub bullets in PowerPoint slide

How to Create Sub-bullets Using Images

Like symbols, you can also use bullets or sub-bullets created from images. In such a case, you can convert any image into a bullet or sub-bullet to make your lists enjoyable. To do this, expand the Bullets menu and select the Bullets and Numbering option from the menu.

Customize bullets options in PowerPoint

From the dialog box that appears, select Picture to open the image options for creating bullets and sub-bullets.

Select picture as sub bullet ppt

You can select an image from your device, stock images, online pictures from Bing, Flickr, OneDrive, or icons in PowerPoint to find and choose a picture.

Insert picture as sub bullet

In the example below, we used images as sub-bullets for both lists.

Using pictures as sub bullets

Final Words

Sub-bullets in PowerPoint are important to segregate information in presentation slides. Besides standard bullets, you can use symbols and pictures as sub-bullets to make your slide designs eye-catching and easy to follow. Sub-bullets can be moved using an indent. Furthermore, bullets and sub-bullets can be customized from the Bullets menu in PowerPoint using symbols or pictures.

Microsoft PowerPoint, PowerPoint Tools
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