WhatsApp Text Formatting — Bold, Italic, Strikethrough & More (2026)
2026-05-07 · whatsapp,formatting,bold,italic,tips
WhatsApp supports 6 text formatting styles. Here's the complete cheat sheet — with the codes, examples, and a free tool that does the formatting visually without any symbols.
💡 Easier way: Use the WAUtility Message Formatter — highlight text, click Bold/Italic. No symbols to remember.
WhatsApp Formatting Cheat Sheet
| Style | How to Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | *text* | text |
| Italic | _text_ | text |
| Strikethrough | ~text~ | |
| Monospace | `text` | text |
| Bold Italic | *_text_* | text |
| Quote | >text | text |
Common Mistakes & Fixes
- Formatting not working? No space between the symbol and first/last letter. ✅ *hello* ❌ * hello *
- Works on my phone but not theirs? Other person may be on an old WhatsApp version (requires 2.12.17+).
- Can I combine bold and italic? Yes: *_text_* gives bold italic.
Business Message Examples
✍️ Format Messages Visually — No Symbols
Highlight text → click Bold/Italic/Strike → copy formatted message.