Office for Mac Issues

How to Display Arabic Numerals in Microsoft Word Numbered Lists on Mac

Ayan Masood Oct 13, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to display Arabic numerals instead of English numerals in numbered lists within Arabic documents on Mac.

How to Display Arabic Numerals in Microsoft Word Numbered Lists on Mac

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Formatting a numbered list in an Arabic document on Mac.
Observed behavior: Word for Mac displays English numerals in the numbered list, even when the keyboard layout and editing language are correctly set to Arabic.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac's system language and keyboard layouts include Arabic, and check that you have selected the Right-to-Left text direction in your document.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Select the Arabic Numbering Format

Modify the numbered list options to explicitly force Arabic numerals instead of relying on the system keyboard layout.

In Microsoft Word for Mac, the default numbering style may override the current keyboard layout, causing English numerals to appear in Arabic text. Selecting the specific Arabic numbering format resolves this display issue.

Select your list

Highlight the numbered list in your Word document where the English numerals are appearing.

Open Numbering options

Navigate to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon and click the drop-down arrow next to the 'Numbering' icon.

Choose the Arabic format

Select 'Define New Number Format' or browse the numbering library, then choose the specific Arabic numeral style and apply it to your list.

Manually Select the Arabic Numbering Format

Preferred Workaround: This method is the most reliable way to ensure Arabic numbering stays consistent when sharing the document with other users.

Solution 2

Change Mac Operating System Language

Switch your Mac's primary language to Arabic, which can sometimes prompt Word to default to native numerals.

Seamless Arabic Formatting

Use WPS Writer for Accurate Right-to-Left Document Formatting

WPS Office provides robust support for Arabic localization, Right-to-Left (RTL) text direction, and native Arabic numbering formats without the display quirks found in other software. It's fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents on your Mac.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open your existing Arabic Word document.
2. Enable Right-to-Left formatting: Ensure your text direction is set to RTL on the Home tab for accurate Arabic text rendering.
3. Apply Arabic numbering: Highlight your list, click the Numbering drop-down on the Home tab, and directly select the Arabic numeral format.

Native support for Arabic numerals and RTL text directionFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsLightweight, fast, and free to use on MacFamiliar interface with no learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word for Mac show English numbers when typing in Arabic?

This is a known localization behavior in Word for Mac where the default numbering style overrides the keyboard layout. Explicitly selecting the Arabic number format from the Home tab usually fixes it.

Can I set Arabic numerals as the default for all new Word documents?

You can create a custom list style with Arabic numerals and save it to your Normal.dotm template, or modify the default numbering settings in Word preferences for complex scripts.

Does changing the Mac region format affect Word numbering?

Yes, changing the region settings in macOS System Settings to an Arabic-speaking country can sometimes prompt Microsoft Word to use Arabic numerals by default.

What if the Arabic numbering option is missing in the dropdown?

You may need to enable Right-to-Left language features in Word preferences, or use the 'Define New Number Format' option to manually construct the Arabic numbering style.

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