I have an existing list. It goes like this.

2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3

Hopefully you get the pattern.

I have already enabled the option in the File-Options-Proofing-AutoCorrect...- "automatic numbered lists" and "automatic bulleted lists" and all that.

BUT IT WILL NOT ENTER A NEW NUMBER WHEN I HIT ENTER!

this doesn't happen always, just in some places, in the same document.

this is an outrageous waste of my time to try for, literally, over an hour to fix this.

i can't share the file with you, so don't ask. just someone, for the love of productivity, tell me what is SO wrong with word that i have to fix.