Tab button and bullets not working properly

Hello Kendall,

My name is EngineTyme, an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user like you and I would be glad to help you.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with the tab button and bullets in Word on your Mac. Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

1. Check your AutoCorrect settings: Click on the Word menu, select Preferences, and then click on AutoCorrect. Make sure that the Tabs and backspace set left indent option is checked under the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
2. Reset your preferences: Quit all Microsoft Office applications, and then go to ~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft and move the com.microsoft.Word.plist file to the desktop. Restart Word and see if the issue is resolved.
3. Try a different template: If the issue persists, try using a different template to see if the problem is specific to the current template you’re using.
4. Update your software: Make sure that you have the latest version of Microsoft Office installed on your Mac. You can check for updates by clicking on the Help menu and selecting Check for Updates.

“Give back to the Community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below. “

Please let me know if you have any questions or concern.

Best regards, EngineTyme.

Well, your versions are current. Also, your Preferences are as they should be [which is the default]. However, I cannot reproduce the issue on Ventura using the same version of Word. Neither have I seen any similar reports, even from those who have adopted Sonoma.

Perhaps the description in your message doesn't include all steps you're taking... In order for the automatic formatting to go into effect there must be more than the (1) typed on the line, even if it's just a <space> or press of the Tab key. IOW, (1)return won't invoke the numbering. Is it possible this could be the problem?

Thank you for this. I'm attaching a screenshot to show my autocorrect settings in Word.

What I mean by "behaving normally" is that, for as long as I can remember, Word automatically begins outlines when I use a number or bullet. To get the next line down and in, I would just hit return and then tab. So, if I'm using numbers, it would be (1) and then, by pressing return and tab, the line below and indented would automatically go to (a). In bullets it would be (-) followed by some other sort of bullet indented (normally a black dot). Tab has always been the button that achieved this formatting. But now, after a bullet or number, if I hit tab, the cursor returns to the previous line or goes somewhere else entirely. It does not advance the outline format as it always has.

I am working on a new iMac running Sonoma 14.2.1. I'm using Microsoft Word for Mac, Version 16.80. Both are brand new. I installed everything two days ago. From the moment I opened a new Word document, tabbing to create outlines was disabled. I've never had to set this feature up, but perhaps now it's something you opt into. From what I can tell, I've done that. But any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks!

Just in case you missed it based on misdirection: The Tabs and backspace set left indent preference has nothing to do with Bullets & Numbering unless they are applied by way of the tools in the Paragraph group on the Home tab or from the Format menu.

Automatic imposition of Lists as well as Promoting/Demoting within them are controlled by the 2 respective preferences at the top of the AutoFormat As You Type page.

If that doesn't help please provide specific Version Numbers of both Office & macOS before ripping anything out. Also, indicate the type of License for Office.

• Office info - Word> About Microsoft Word
• macOS info - > About This Mac

It would be quite useful if you would provide an accurate detailed description of what you mean by "... not behaving as it normally does". What is your definition of normally? Exactly what steps are you taking? What occurs as a result of those steps?

Thank you for the reply. I had already tried the first option several times. The box was checked and unchecking and rechecking it didn't do anything, even after closing out and restarting.

I'm trying your second option now. Where do I enter ~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft?

I just installed the newest version on a new computer yesterday. These are post-setup issues. Any other direction would be great. Thank you!