How to Insert Symbols in Microsoft Word (5 Ways)

The easiest way to insert a symbol in Microsoft Word is Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, where you can pick any character and click Insert. If you know the character’s Unicode code, it’s even faster to type the code (for example 00B0) and press Alt + X to turn it into °.

Word gives you five ways to add symbols, and each one suits a different situation. The instructions below are for Word for Microsoft 365 and recent desktop versions on Windows; notes for Word on a Mac are near the end.

Method 1: Insert > Symbol

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. On the Insert tab, click Symbol (at the far right of the ribbon). A small gallery of recently used symbols appears. Click one to insert it.
3. If the symbol you need is not there, click More Symbols.
4. In the dialog, leave Font set to (normal text) so the symbol matches your document. Use the Subset list to jump to a group such as Arrows, Mathematical Operators or Currency Symbols.
5. Select the character and click Insert. The dialog stays open, so you can insert several characters before clicking Close.

Two parts of this dialog are worth knowing:

• Character code: with “from” set to Unicode (hex), type a code such as 2713 to jump straight to ✓.
• Special Characters tab: a short list of typographic characters, including the em dash, en dash, copyright and trademark signs, section and paragraph marks, the ellipsis and the nonbreaking space, each with the keyboard shortcut Word assigns to it.

Avoid picking symbols from the Wingdings, Webdings or Symbol fonts unless you have to. Those fonts draw pictures in place of ordinary letters, so the character may turn into a plain letter if the font changes or the text is pasted into another program. The same symbol from a Unicode font such as Segoe UI Symbol stays correct everywhere.

Method 2: Type the Unicode code and press Alt+X

Every Unicode character has a hexadecimal code point. In Word for Windows, type that code and press Alt + X: Word replaces the code with the character. It uses the ordinary number keys, so it works on laptops with no numeric keypad, and it covers every Unicode character, not just the few hundred reachable with Alt codes.

The trick also works in reverse. Put the cursor right after a character and press Alt + X to reveal its code; press it again to switch back. That is a quick way to identify a mystery character in a document. To look up any code, paste the character into our Unicode lookup or use the Unicode converter.

One catch: if the code touches other letters or digits that look like hex (0–9 and A–F), Word may read them as part of the code. Type a space first, or add the U+ prefix (for example U+2713), then press Alt + X.

Method 3: Let AutoCorrect do it

Word’s AutoCorrect converts some character sequences into symbols as you type, with no setup. By default these include:

The replacement happens when you type a space or punctuation after the sequence. If you actually wanted the plain text (for example “(c)” as a list label), press Ctrl + Z immediately and Word undoes the correction.

Word’s AutoFormat feature also replaces two hyphens between words with a dash as you type. You can check these options, and see the full list of built-in entries, under File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. Your version may include additional arrow and emoticon entries.

Create your own AutoCorrect symbol shortcuts

1. Insert the symbol once and select it.
2. Open File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. The selected symbol appears in the With box.
3. In the Replace box, type a short code you would never type by accident, such as ;check or ;deg.
4. Click Add, then OK.

You can also start this from Insert > Symbol > More Symbols: select a character and click the AutoCorrect button, or click Shortcut Key to assign a key combination to it.

Method 4: Alt codes

If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, the classic Windows Alt codes work in Word as they do elsewhere: turn on Num Lock, hold Alt, type the code on the keypad, and release Alt. The leading zero matters, and the top-row number keys will not work.

Only a few hundred characters have Alt codes. Search the Alt code finder to see whether the one you need is among them; if not, use Alt+X.

Method 5: Copy and paste

Find the character on SymbolHero, click its copy button, and paste into Word with Ctrl + V. If the pasted symbol picks up an odd font or size, paste with Keep Text Only (right-click, then the paste option with an A) so it adopts your document’s formatting.

Symbols in Word equations

For formulas, use Insert > Equation. Inside an equation, Word’s Math AutoCorrect turns names typed after a backslash into symbols, such as alpha into α, infty into ∞ and rightarrow into →, after you press the space bar. The Equation tab also has a large Symbols gallery. If you want those backslash codes to work in normal text too, turn on Use Math AutoCorrect rules outside of math regions in the Math AutoCorrect tab of AutoCorrect Options.

Word for Mac

Word for Mac has Insert > Advanced Symbol, which works like the Windows dialog. The Alt+X code trick is not available on the Mac, and Alt codes are a Windows-only feature. Instead, use macOS Option shortcuts such as Option + Shift + 8 for ° or Option + G for ©, or the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space). AutoCorrect works on the Mac as well.

Troubleshooting

• Alt+X changes the wrong text. Word read neighboring characters as part of the code. Add a space before the code or use the U+ prefix.
• The symbol shows as a box. The current font does not contain it. Change the font for that character, or pick the symbol under (normal text) so Word can substitute a font that has it.
• AutoCorrect doesn’t convert (c). The entry may have been removed or AutoCorrect turned off. Check File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.
• A symbol changes after sending the document. It was probably inserted from a symbol font like Wingdings. Replace it with the Unicode version.
• Alt codes type nothing. Num Lock is off, or you used the top-row numbers.

Related symbols

• Copyright Symbol (©), Registered Trademark Symbol (®) and Trademark Symbol (™)
• Check Mark (✓) and more check marks and boxes
• Degree Symbol (°) and math symbols
• Em Dash (—), En Dash (–) and other punctuation

Frequently asked questions

How do I insert a check mark in Word?

Type 2713 and press Alt + X, or find ✓ under Insert > Symbol > More Symbols with the Dingbats subset selected.

How do I stop Word from turning (c) into ©?

Press Ctrl + Z right after it changes, or delete the (c) entry in AutoCorrect Options.

Does Alt+X work in Excel or PowerPoint?

It is designed for Word and is not available in Excel. In Excel, use Insert > Symbol or a formula such as =UNICHAR(10003).

Where is Insert Symbol in Word?

On the Insert tab, at the right end of the ribbon, in the Symbols group.