How to Turn On and Turn Off Automatic List Numbering in Word for Mac

Microsoft Word offers automatic list numbering that begins a list when you type the number 1 followed by a period at the start of a blank line. This feature is not always necessary, so today’s tutorial shows how to turn on and turn off automatic list numbering in Word for Mac.

Don’t miss the Pro Tip at the end, which shows an alternative way to quickly turn off automatic list numbering from within the text.

Quick Links:

How to Turn On and Turn Off Automatic List Numbering in Word for Mac
Pro Tip: How to Turn Off Automatic List Numbering from within the Text in Word for Mac

This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 150 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

Are you on a PC? Please see “How to Turn On and Turn Off Automatic List Numbering in Microsoft Word.”

How to Turn On and Turn Off Automatic List Numbering

Select the Word menu.

Word Menu in Word for Mac 365 — Figure 1. Word menu

Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.

Preferences Option in the Word Menu in Word for Mac 365 — Figure 2. Preferences option

Select the AutoCorrect button in the Word Preferences dialog box.

AutoCorrect Button in the Word Preferences Dialog Box in Word for Mac 365 — Figure 3. AutoCorrect button

Select the AutoFormat As You Type tab in the AutoCorrect dialog box.

AutoFormat As You Type Tab in the AutoCorrect Dialog Box in Word for Mac 365 — Figure 4. AutoFormat As You Type tab

Check Automatic numbered lists to turn on automatic list numbering, or uncheck it to turn off automatic list numbering.

Automatic Numbered Lists Option in Word for Mac 365 — Figure 5. Automatic numbered lists option

Note that you can also check or uncheck Automatic bulleted lists.

Select the Close button.

AutoCorrect Dialog Box Close Button in Word for Mac 365 — Figure 6. Close button

Pro Tip: How to Turn Off Automatic List Numbering from within the Text

When you create the first entry in a list with automatic numbering turned on, you can quickly turn off the automatic numbering by selecting the AutoCorrect Options button and then selecting Stop Automatically Creating Numbered Lists from the drop-down menu.

Alternatively, you can select Control AutoFormat Options to open the AutoCorrect dialog box (see figure 4).

The AutoCorrect Options button will disappear once you create the second list entry.