The check mark ✓ (U+2713) has no Windows Alt code and no Mac keyboard shortcut. The quickest way to type it is to copy it below, type 2713 then Alt + X in Microsoft Word, or use =UNICHAR(10003) in Excel and Google Sheets.
Check marks come in several Unicode versions, and there is also a popular Word trick that uses the Wingdings 2 font. That trick looks right on screen but does not produce a real check mark character. This guide explains every method and which one to use where.
Which check mark do you need?
| Character | Name | Code point | Decimal | HTML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ | Check mark | U+2713 | 10003 | ✓ |
| ✔ | Heavy check mark | U+2714 | 10004 | ✔ |
| ☑ | Ballot box with check | U+2611 | 9745 | ☑ |
| ☐ | Ballot box (empty) | U+2610 | 9744 | ☐ |
| ✅ | Check mark button emoji | U+2705 | 9989 | ✅ |
| ✗ | Ballot X | U+2717 | 10007 | ✗ |
✓ is the plain, text-style tick and the best default for documents and web pages. ✔ is bolder and can also display as an emoji on some systems. ✅ is always an emoji, with color that depends on the device. ☐ and ☑ are handy for printed checklists. All of these are in the check marks category.
Why there is no Alt code for ✓
Windows Alt codes only reach characters in two old 256-character tables: the DOS code page 437 (codes without a leading zero) and Windows-1252 (codes with a leading zero). Neither table contains a check mark, so no Alt code produces ✓. Lists online that give an Alt code for a check mark usually rely on a special font (see the Wingdings section below) or on a character that only looks similar. The √ square root symbol, which does have an Alt code, is a common stand-in, but it is a math symbol, not a check mark.
How to type a check mark on Windows
Emoji and symbol panel
Press Windows + . (or Windows + ;). Type “check” while the panel is open to search the emoji list, which gives you ✔️ and ✅. For the plain ✓, open the Symbols tab (Ω) and browse the lists, or use Character Map.
Character Map
Search Start for “Character Map”, choose a font with broad coverage such as Segoe UI Symbol, tick Advanced view, and search “check mark”. Select ✓, click Select, then Copy.
Copy and paste
Often the fastest option: copy ✓ from this page or from the symbol finder. Windows remembers it in clipboard history (Windows + V) if that feature is on.
How to type a check mark on a Mac
There is no Option-key shortcut for ✓. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, type “check” in the search field, and double-click ✓ or ✔. It is then saved in the Frequently Used section.
Option + V types √, the square root sign. It resembles a tick, but it is not one; screen readers announce it as “square root”.
For regular use, add a text replacement in System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements, for example cchk for ✓. It syncs to your iPhone through iCloud.
How to insert a check mark in Microsoft Word
Method 1: Unicode code and Alt+X (recommended)
Type 2713 and press Alt + X. Word replaces the code with ✓. Use 2714 for ✔ or 2611 for ☑. If the code comes right after other letters or numbers, select just the code before pressing Alt + X.
Method 2: Insert > Symbol
Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols. With the font set to Segoe UI Symbol, type 2713 into the Character code box and click Insert.
Method 3: The Wingdings 2 trick (a font trick, not a real ✓)
A widely shared shortcut is to switch the font to Wingdings 2 and press Shift + P. A check mark appears on screen, and Shift + O gives a cross. A similar version uses the original Wingdings font: hold Alt and type 0252, which normally types ü but is drawn as a check mark in Wingdings.
What you have actually typed is the letter P (or ü). Wingdings 2 simply draws that letter as a tick. This matters because:
- If you paste the text into an email, a web form, Google Docs or any app without that font, the reader sees “P” or “ü”.
- Screen readers announce it as the letter P.
- Searching the document for ✓ will not find it.
- Changing the font of the paragraph turns every check back into a P.
The Wingdings trick is fine for a printed form that stays in Word. For anything that will be copied, shared digitally, or converted to HTML, use the real Unicode ✓ from Method 1.
Clickable checkboxes and check mark bullets
For a checklist people fill in on screen, use a checkbox content control (Developer tab > Check Box Content Control). For a bulleted list with ticks, choose Home > Bullets > Define New Bullet > Symbol and pick ✓.
How to insert a check mark in Excel
- Formula:
=UNICHAR(10003)returns ✓ and=UNICHAR(10004)returns ✔. A status column could use=IF(B2="Done",UNICHAR(10003),""). - Insert > Symbol: choose Segoe UI Symbol and enter
2713as the character code. - Checkboxes: recent versions of Excel for Microsoft 365 have an Insert > Checkbox command that puts interactive checkboxes in cells. These store TRUE or FALSE rather than a ✓ character, which makes them easier to count with formulas.
The Wingdings 2 method also works in Excel cells, with the same limitation: the cell contains “P”, which affects sorting, filtering and formulas.
How to insert a check mark in Google Docs and Sheets
- Google Docs: Insert > Special characters, then search “check” or draw a tick in the drawing box. For a to-do list, use Format > Bullets & numbering > Checklist, which adds clickable boxes.
- Google Sheets:
=UNICHAR(10003)gives ✓. For interactive boxes, use Insert > Checkbox.
Check marks on iPhone and Android
Mobile keyboards have no ✓ key, but the emoji keyboard includes ✔️ and ✅ (search “check”). For the plain text ✓, create a text replacement on iPhone under Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, or copy it from this page. On Android, Gboard can also add personal dictionary shortcuts under its settings.
Check marks in HTML
Use ✓ or ✓ (hex ✓) for ✓, and ✔ for ✔. In CSS, content: "2713"; is a common way to style list items or completed tasks. If ✔ or ☑ renders as a color emoji where you wanted text, add the text presentation selector U+FE0E after it (✔︎), though not every platform honors it. Plain ✓ does not have this problem. Paste any tick into the Unicode lookup tool to see exactly which character and selectors it contains.
Why your check mark is not working
- It turned into a P or ü. The text was created with the Wingdings trick and the font changed. Replace it with a Unicode ✓.
- It shows as an empty box. The current font lacks the glyph. Switch to a font with symbol coverage, such as Segoe UI Symbol on Windows.
- It appears as a colorful emoji. You used ✔ or ✅, which can display as emoji. Use ✓ for a plain tick.
- An Alt code gave √. That is the square root sign. There is no Alt code for ✓.
- Alt+X did nothing. Alt+X works in Word (and some other Microsoft apps), not system-wide in Windows.
Related symbols
- ✔ Heavy check mark and ✅ Check mark button
- ☑ Checked box, ☐ Empty checkbox and ☒ Checkbox with X
- ✗ Ballot X, ✘ Heavy ballot X and ❌ Cross mark
- √ Square root, the most common lookalike
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Alt code for a check mark?
No. ✓ is not in either character table that Windows Alt codes use. Use Word’s 2713 + Alt + X, the emoji panel, or copy and paste.
How do I type a check mark in Word?
Type 2713 and press Alt + X. This inserts a real Unicode ✓ that survives copying and font changes.
Why does my check mark turn into a P?
It was typed as a capital P in the Wingdings 2 font. When the font changes or the text is pasted elsewhere, the letter P is shown instead.
What is the difference between ✓ and ✔?
✓ (U+2713) is a lighter text check mark. ✔ (U+2714) is heavier and may be shown as an emoji on phones and in some apps.