How to Type Arrow Symbols (→ ← ↑ ↓) on Keyboard

Arrow symbols show up in documents, diagrams, and chat all the time, but most keyboards have no dedicated arrow keys that type them as characters. Here is every reliable way to get →, ←, ↑, ↓ and their double-line cousins on any device.

Quick answer

The fastest method on any Windows PC with a numeric keypad is the classic Alt code: hold Alt, type the number on the numpad, then release Alt. On Mac, there is no built-in Option shortcut for arrows, so use the Character Viewer or copy and paste from this page.

Windows: Alt codes

1. Make sure Num Lock is on.
2. Place your cursor where you want the arrow.
3. Hold Alt and type the code on the numeric keypad, not the top-row numbers.
4. Release Alt. The arrow appears.

• Alt+26 → right arrow (→)
• Alt+27 → left arrow (←)
• Alt+24 → up arrow (↑)
• Alt+25 → down arrow (↓)

These are CP437 codes (no leading zero) and work in most Windows apps, including Notepad, WordPad, and browsers, because Windows maps them through the legacy OEM code page.

Windows emoji and symbol panel

Press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ; to open the emoji panel, click the Omega (Ω) symbols tab, and search or browse for arrow shapes. This works in any app that accepts text input, including laptops without a numpad.

Mac: Character Viewer

Mac has no standard Option-key combo for arrows (Option+Right Arrow and similar move text cursors instead). Use the Character Viewer:

1. Press Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer.
2. Type “arrow” in the search box.
3. Double-click the symbol you want to insert it.

You can also copy any arrow from this page and paste it with Command+V.

iPhone and iPad

iOS has no arrow key on the default keyboard. The easiest options:

• Copy an arrow from a note, message, or this page, then paste it where you need it.
• Add the Emoji keyboard and search for arrow emoji like ➡️ ⬅️ ⬆️ ⬇️, which render as colorful icons rather than plain text characters.
• Use a third-party keyboard with symbol support if you need arrows often.

Android

Same approach as iPhone: copy and paste is most reliable. You can also open the emoji panel and search “arrow” for emoji arrows like ➡️.

Microsoft Word

Word supports several methods, in order of convenience:

AutoCorrect typed shortcuts

Word’s AutoCorrect converts certain character sequences automatically as you type:

• --> becomes →
• <-- becomes ←
• ==> becomes ⇒
• <== becomes ⇐
• <=> becomes ⇔

These are default AutoCorrect entries. You can check them, or add your own, under File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.

Alt+X Unicode method

This is the most precise method in Word:

1. Type the Unicode hex code: 2192 for →, 2190 for ←, 2191 for ↑, 2193 for ↓, 21D2 for ⇒, 21D0 for ⇐.
2. Immediately press Alt+X.
3. Word converts the hex code into the arrow character.

This works because Word recognizes the hex code immediately before the cursor and swaps it for the matching Unicode character.

Insert Symbol dialog

Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, choose the (normal text) font and the Arrows subset, or type the character code (2192, etc.) directly into the Character code box at the bottom.

Google Docs

1. Click Insert > Special characters.
2. Select the category drop-down and choose Arrows, or draw the shape in the sketchpad on the right.
3. Click the arrow to insert it at your cursor.

The Alt+X trick does not work in Google Docs, so copy and paste is the backup method.

Excel and Google Sheets

Spreadsheets need formulas since there is no built-in arrow key:

• =UNICHAR(8594) returns → in both Excel and Google Sheets (8594 is the decimal Unicode code point for the right arrow).
• =UNICHAR(8592), =UNICHAR(8593), =UNICHAR(8595) give left, up, and down arrows.

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

For web pages, use named or numeric HTML entities:

In CSS content properties or JavaScript strings, use the actual Unicode character directly (copy and paste) or the escape sequence, for example content: "\2192" in CSS or "\u2192" in JavaScript.

Troubleshooting

Alt codes do nothing. Your keyboard likely lacks a numeric keypad, or Num Lock is off. Laptops without a numpad usually have an Fn-based virtual numpad (often on the J, K, L keys). Check your laptop’s manual, or use the Windows emoji panel instead.

Alt+X in Word inserts the wrong character. Make sure there’s no extra space or text between the hex code and your cursor before pressing Alt+X. Word reads backward from the cursor and needs a clean hex sequence.

The arrow shows as a box or question mark. The font you’re using doesn’t include that glyph. Switch to a common Unicode-complete font like Arial, Calibri, or Segoe UI.

Copy-pasted arrow looks different in another app. Some apps render arrows using their own emoji set (colorful) versus plain Unicode text (monochrome). This is a rendering choice by the app, not an error in the character itself.

Frequently asked questions