WhatsApp Message Formatter
Format WhatsApp messages with bold, italic, and strikethrough.
This is a formatted message.
You can use
monospace too.*text*→ Bold_text_→ Italic~text~→ Strikethrough```text```→ Monospace (code)Format professional WhatsApp messages with bold, italic, and more
WhatsApp supports a subset of markdown-style formatting that most users never discover. Bold text, italics, strikethrough, monospace, and bullet lists are all supported — but you have to type the right symbols around your text, which is tedious and error-prone on a phone keyboard. This tool lets you write your message, apply formatting with buttons, preview exactly how it will look in WhatsApp, and copy the result ready to paste.
WhatsApp text formatting codes
WhatsApp uses a simple syntax. Surround text with asterisks for *bold*, underscores for _italic_, tildes for ~strikethrough~, and backticks for `monospace`. For a bulleted list, start each line with a hyphen and a space. These codes work in individual chats, group chats, and WhatsApp Business messages. The preview in this tool renders the formatting so you can verify it looks correct before sending.
Why formatting matters in business messages
Unformatted WhatsApp messages look like a wall of text — easy to miss key information. Bold text draws attention to prices, dates, order IDs, and calls to action. Bullet lists make multi-step instructions scannable. Monospace is useful for transaction IDs, coupon codes, or technical references where exact characters matter. For WhatsApp Business accounts sending customer service updates, booking confirmations, or order notifications, formatted messages consistently achieve higher open rates and fewer follow-up questions.
Tips for effective WhatsApp formatting
Use bold sparingly — if everything is bold, nothing stands out. Put the most important piece of information first, since WhatsApp shows only the first line in notification previews. Avoid monospace for long paragraphs, as the fixed-width font is harder to read at length. When writing for customers, keep formatted messages under 200 words — long messages lose engagement even with good formatting.
Works for WhatsApp Business API templates
If you manage WhatsApp Business API message templates, this tool is useful for previewing how formatting will appear to customers before submitting templates for Meta's approval. Note that WhatsApp Business API has some additional restrictions on formatting in certain template categories; always review Meta's current template guidelines for your specific use case.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I make text bold in WhatsApp?
- Wrap the text with asterisks: *bold text*. The asterisks are not shown in the sent message — the text appears bold in WhatsApp on all platforms. This works in individual chats, group chats, and WhatsApp Status updates.
- How do I make text italic?
- Wrap the text with underscores: _italic text_. The underscores disappear and the text is displayed in italics. This works on all WhatsApp platforms including Web, Android, and iOS — including in captions for photos and videos.
- What is monospace (code) formatting?
- Wrap text in triple backticks: ```code here```. The text appears in a fixed-width monospace font, which is useful for sharing code snippets, tracking IDs, account numbers, or any structured data where spacing and alignment matter.
- Can I use multiple formats in one message?
- Yes, you can combine formatting within the same message. For example, *bold and _bold italic_* nests italic inside bold. You can also mix bold, italic, and strikethrough in a single message. Apply formats using this tool's buttons, then copy the result directly into WhatsApp.
- Do formatting symbols work on all WhatsApp versions?
- Yes. Bold (*), italic (_), strikethrough (~), and monospace (```) formatting are supported on WhatsApp for Android, iOS, and WhatsApp Web. All versions released since 2016 support these formats. Very old versions (before 2016) may display the raw symbols instead of the formatted text.