Copy and Paste Symbols: Search Every Symbol & Special Character
Last updated: August 2026
Symbols are special characters and marks people use in place of words — for emphasis, decoration, status, or meaning. Some common symbols include:
♥ ★ ✓ ☺ ♪ → ∞ €
You can use them in documents, social media bios, usernames, captions, business cards, designs, and keyboard shortcuts. In this guide, you'll learn how to type symbols on Windows, Mac, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, iPhone, Android, Chromebook, HTML, and more. You can also copy and paste the symbols below if you need them quickly.
Quick Answer
The fastest way to type a common symbol like ♥ or → is a classic Alt code — hold Alt and type a number from 1–31 on the numeric keypad (Alt+3 for ♥, Alt+26 for →). For symbols without an Alt code, like ★ or ✓, type the Unicode code (e.g., 2605) in Word and press Alt+X, or just copy and paste it from the list below.
Symbols Copy and Paste
Click any symbol below to copy it. You can also search for words like symbol generator, keyboard symbols shortcut, fonts and symbols, or symbol translator.
Filter: All | Common | Classic | Arrows | Math & Currency
Showing 23 of 23 symbols
Common
| Symbol | Name | Unicode |
|---|---|---|
| ♥ | Heart | U+2665 |
| ★ | Star | U+2605 |
| ✓ | Check Mark | U+2713 |
| ✔ | Heavy Check Mark | U+2714 |
| ✗ | Cross Mark | U+2717 |
| ☑ | Checked Box | U+2611 |
Classic
| Symbol | Name | Unicode |
|---|---|---|
| ☺ | Smiley Face | U+263A |
| ♦ | Diamond Suit | U+2666 |
| ♣ | Club Suit | U+2663 |
| ♠ | Spade Suit | U+2660 |
| ♪ | Musical Note | U+266A |
| ♫ | Musical Notes | U+266B |
Arrows
| Symbol | Name | Unicode |
|---|---|---|
| → | Right Arrow | U+2192 |
| ← | Left Arrow | U+2190 |
| ↑ | Up Arrow | U+2191 |
| ↓ | Down Arrow | U+2193 |
| ↔ | Left-Right Arrow | U+2194 |
Math & Currency
| Symbol | Name | Unicode |
|---|---|---|
| ± | Plus-Minus Sign | U+00B1 |
| ∞ | Infinity | U+221E |
| √ | Square Root | U+221A |
| ÷ | Division Sign | U+00F7 |
| × | Multiplication Sign | U+00D7 |
| € | Euro Sign | U+20AC |
Tip: If a symbol appears as a box, your device or font may not support it. Try a simpler symbol like ♥, ★, or ✓ instead.
Popular symbols: ♥ ★ ✓ ✔ ☑ ✗ ☺ ♦ ♣ ♠ ♪ ♫ → ← ↑ ↓ ± ∞
Quick Reference: Common Symbols
| Symbol | Name | Unicode |
|---|---|---|
| ♥ | Heart | U+2665 |
| ★ | Star | U+2605 |
| ✓ | Check Mark | U+2713 |
| ✔ | Heavy Check Mark | U+2714 |
| ✗ | Cross Mark | U+2717 |
| ☑ | Checked Box | U+2611 |
| ☺ | Smiley Face | U+263A |
| ♦ | Diamond Suit | U+2666 |
| ♣ | Club Suit | U+2663 |
| ♠ | Spade Suit | U+2660 |
| ♪ | Musical Note | U+266A |
| ♫ | Musical Notes | U+266B |
| → | Right Arrow | U+2192 |
| ← | Left Arrow | U+2190 |
| ↑ | Up Arrow | U+2191 |
| ↓ | Down Arrow | U+2193 |
| ↔ | Left-Right Arrow | U+2194 |
| ± | Plus-Minus Sign | U+00B1 |
| ∞ | Infinity | U+221E |
| √ | Square Root | U+221A |
The Fastest Way to Type a Symbol
| What you want | Best method |
|---|---|
| A common symbol (♥, ★, ✓) | Copy-paste, or the Alt code if it has one |
| A classic keyboard symbol (☺ ♦ ♣ ♠ ♪ ♫) | Alt code on the numeric keypad (Alt+1 to Alt+14) |
| An arrow (→ ← ↑ ↓ ↔) | Alt code (Alt+24 to Alt+29) |
| A math symbol (± ∞ √) | Word Unicode (code + Alt+X) or copy-paste |
| A currency symbol (€ £ ¥) | Alt code where available, otherwise copy-paste |
| Any symbol on your phone | The Symbols section of your emoji keyboard, or copy-paste |
| A symbol in HTML/CSS code | A decimal entity or Unicode escape code |
| A decorative/stylized version for bios | A symbol font generator, or copy-paste |
Method 1: Type Symbols on Windows Using Alt Code
Windows has built-in Alt codes for a classic set of symbols — the same ones that have shipped with every PC keyboard since the earliest versions of DOS. It only works with the numeric keypad, not the number row above your letters.
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type the code on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt — the symbol appears.
| Code | Symbol | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Alt+1 | ☺ | Smiley Face |
| Alt+2 | ☻ | Black Smiley Face |
| Alt+3 | ♥ | Heart |
| Alt+4 | ♦ | Diamond Suit |
| Alt+5 | ♣ | Club Suit |
| Alt+6 | ♠ | Spade Suit |
| Alt+7 | • | Bullet |
| Alt+8 | ◘ | Inverse Bullet |
| Alt+9 | ○ | Circle |
| Alt+10 | ◙ | Inverse Circle |
| Alt+11 | ♂ | Male Sign |
| Alt+12 | ♀ | Female Sign |
| Alt+13 | ♪ | Musical Note |
| Alt+14 | ♫ | Musical Notes |
| Alt+15 | ☼ | Sun |
| Alt+16 | ► | Right Pointer |
| Alt+17 | ◄ | Left Pointer |
| Alt+18 | ↕ | Up-Down Arrow |
| Alt+19 | ‼ | Double Exclamation |
| Alt+20 | ¶ | Pilcrow |
| Alt+21 | § | Section Sign |
| Alt+22 | ▬ | Black Rectangle |
| Alt+23 | ↨ | Up-Down Arrow with Base |
| Alt+24 | ↑ | Up Arrow |
| Alt+25 | ↓ | Down Arrow |
| Alt+26 | → | Right Arrow |
| Alt+27 | ← | Left Arrow |
| Alt+28 | ∟ | Right Angle |
| Alt+29 | ↔ | Left-Right Arrow |
| Alt+30 | ▲ | Up Triangle |
| Alt+31 | ▼ | Down Triangle |
Symbols outside this list — like ★, ✓, or ∞ — don't have a simple Alt code. Use the Word Unicode method or copy-paste for those instead.
Method 2: Type Symbols in Microsoft Word Using Unicode
Word can convert a Unicode code into a symbol on the fly. For example, to insert ★, type 2605, then immediately press Alt+X. Word replaces the code with the ★ symbol.
| Symbol | Name | Type this in Word | Then press |
|---|---|---|---|
| ♥ | Heart | 2665 | Alt+X |
| ★ | Star | 2605 | Alt+X |
| ✓ | Check Mark | 2713 | Alt+X |
| ✔ | Heavy Check Mark | 2714 | Alt+X |
| ✗ | Cross Mark | 2717 | Alt+X |
| ☑ | Checked Box | 2611 | Alt+X |
| → | Right Arrow | 2192 | Alt+X |
| ← | Left Arrow | 2190 | Alt+X |
| ↑ | Up Arrow | 2191 | Alt+X |
| ↓ | Down Arrow | 2193 | Alt+X |
| ↔ | Left-Right Arrow | 2194 | Alt+X |
| ± | Plus-Minus Sign | 00B1 | Alt+X |
| ∞ | Infinity | 221E | Alt+X |
| √ | Square Root | 221A | Alt+X |
| ÷ | Division Sign | 00F7 | Alt+X |
| × | Multiplication Sign | 00D7 | Alt+X |
| € | Euro Sign | 20AC | Alt+X |
Method 3: Insert Symbols in Word Using the Symbol Menu
- Click Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
- Choose a font with broad symbol coverage, like Segoe UI Symbol or Segoe UI Emoji.
- Browse by subset (Arrows, Mathematical Operators, Miscellaneous Symbols) or search by name.
- Select the symbol, then click Insert.
Method 4: Type Symbols on Windows (General)
- Copy and paste — grab any symbol from the table above and paste it wherever you need it.
- Character Map — press Start, type "Character Map," open it, search by name (e.g., "heart"), select the symbol, then copy.
- Windows emoji panel — press Win+. or Win+;, open the Symbols tab (Ω icon), and search or browse by category.
Method 5: Type Symbols on Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer.
- Search for the symbol name (e.g., "heart," "arrow," "infinity").
- Double-click the symbol to insert it.
- Star a symbol to favorite it for quick access next time.
Method 6: Type Symbols in Excel
- Copy and paste the symbol directly into a cell.
- Insert Symbol menu — Insert → Symbol → search or scroll to find it.
- Formula example — append a symbol to a cell's contents:
=A1&" ✓"turns "Task Complete" in cell A1 into "Task Complete ✓".
Method 7: Type Symbols in PowerPoint
- Copy and paste into any text box — useful for callouts, badges, or slide headers.
- Insert Symbol — Insert → Symbols → Symbol, then search or scroll.
- Emoji panel — Win+. on Windows or Control+Command+Space on Mac.
Method 8: Type Symbols in Google Docs
- Click Insert → Special characters.
- Search by name, or draw the symbol's rough shape in the drawing box to find a match.
- Click the symbol to insert it at your cursor.
Some emoji-style symbols are easier to insert via copy-paste or your device's emoji keyboard.
Method 9: Type Symbols in Google Sheets
Sheets doesn't have Docs' full special-character menu, so copy-paste is the most reliable method. This also works well for a quick status dashboard:
Website Launch ✓
Design Review ✗
Budget Approval ✓
Method 10: Type Symbols on iPhone and iPad
- Open the emoji keyboard by tapping the globe or emoji icon.
- Scroll to the Symbols category (a heart/infinity-style icon).
- Browse or use the search bar to find hearts, arrows, math signs, and more.
- Tap the symbol to insert it.
Method 11: Type Symbols on Android
- Open the emoji keyboard in Gboard (or your keyboard app).
- Look for the Symbols tab, usually alongside the emoji categories.
- Browse or search, then tap a symbol to insert it.
Method 12: Type Symbols on Chromebook
- Copy and paste the symbol from this page.
- Right-click emoji picker — right-click any text field and choose the emoji/symbol option.
- Unicode input — press Ctrl+Shift+U, type the code (e.g., 2665), then press Enter. This produces ♥.
Method 13: Type Symbols in HTML
| Symbol | Name | HTML Code |
|---|---|---|
| ♥ | Heart | ♥ |
| ★ | Star | ★ |
| ✓ | Check Mark | ✓ |
| ✔ | Heavy Check Mark | ✔ |
| ✗ | Cross Mark | ✗ |
| → | Right Arrow | → or → |
| ← | Left Arrow | ← or ← |
| ↑ | Up Arrow | ↑ or ↑ |
| ↓ | Down Arrow | ↓ or ↓ |
| ± | Plus-Minus Sign | ± or ± |
| ∞ | Infinity | ∞ or ∞ |
| € | Euro Sign | € or € |
Example: <p>Task Complete ✓</p> renders as: Task Complete ✓
Method 14: Type Symbols in CSS
.badge::after {
content: "✓";
}
Or with an escape code instead of the literal glyph:
.badge::after {
content: "\2713";
}
| Symbol | CSS Unicode |
|---|---|
| ♥ | \2665 |
| ★ | \2605 |
| ✓ | \2713 |
| → | \2192 |
| ± | \00B1 |
| ∞ | \221E |
Symbols: Names and Meanings
| Symbol | Meaning / Use |
|---|---|
| ♥ | Love, favorites, likes |
| ★ | Rating, highlight, favorite |
| ✓ | Confirmation, correct, done |
| ✔ | Strong confirmation, task complete |
| ✗ | Wrong, cancelled, incorrect |
| ☑ | Completed checklist item |
| ☺ | Happiness, friendliness |
| ♦ | Card suit — diamonds |
| ♣ | Card suit — clubs |
| ♠ | Card suit — spades |
| ♪ | Single musical note |
| ♫ | Multiple musical notes |
| → | Direction, "next," points to |
| ↔ | Two-way relationship, versus |
| ∞ | Endless, infinite, forever |
Text-Style Symbols vs. Emoji-Style Symbols
Text-style symbols ♥, ★, ✓, and → render as plain, single-color characters that match your surrounding font — best for documents, spreadsheets, and print.
Emoji-style symbols ❤️, ⭐, ✅, and ➡️ render as full-color emoji on supporting apps and devices — best for social media, chats, and casual bios.
Why ♥ Sometimes Appears as ❤️
Many symbols have two versions: a plain text-style glyph (♥) and a colorful emoji-style version (❤️). The emoji version is created by adding an invisible variation selector after the base character, and whether you see the plain symbol or the full-color emoji depends on the app or device you're using.
Symbols in Documents
Reports, resumes, and letters usually use the plain text-style symbols for a clean, professional look.
Q3 Goals: Revenue ✓ Hiring ✗ Expansion ✓
Accessibility note: don't rely on a symbol alone to convey meaning — pair ✓ and ✗ with text (like "Complete" or "Not started") so screen readers can announce it clearly.
Symbols in Social Media Bios & Usernames
Bios and usernames often mix a few symbols for personality and visual breaks.
✿ traveler ♪ dreamer ★ creator
Symbols in Business Cards & Designs
Symbols work well as compact visual markers next to contact details or section labels.
→ Portfolio: yourname.com
Symbols as Keyboard Shortcuts & Status Indicators
Teams often use symbols as quick visual status markers in trackers, spreadsheets, or chat.
🟢 On track
✓ Shipped
✗ Blocked
Why Some Symbols Show as Boxes
A box (or a "tofu" placeholder) means the font on your device doesn't include that character — this happens most often with rarer or newer symbols.
How to fix it: - Use a simpler, more common symbol instead of a rare one. - Change the font to one with broad symbol support, like Segoe UI Symbol or Noto Sans Symbols. - Update your OS or browser to the latest version. - Avoid rare symbols in contexts where universal support matters, like email signatures. - Convert text to outlines before printing if a design program is losing the glyph.
Why Alt Codes Are Not Working
- Num Lock is off. Turn it on before you start typing the code.
- You're using the number row instead of the numeric keypad. Alt codes only work with the keypad, not the numbers above your letters.
- Your laptop has no numeric keypad. Use the Fn+keypad overlay if your laptop has one, or switch to copy-paste.
- That symbol has no simple Alt code. ★, ✓, and ∞ need the Word Unicode method or copy-paste instead.
- You're in an app that overrides Alt shortcuts. Some browsers and Excel reassign Alt combinations — try Word or a plain text editor instead.
Best Symbol to Use
| Purpose | Recommended symbol |
|---|---|
| Marking something complete or correct | ✓ or ✔ |
| Marking something wrong or cancelled | ✗ |
| Favoriting or rating | ★ |
| Showing love or likes | ♥ |
| Indicating direction or "next" | → |
| Comparing two things | ↔ |
| A math approximation | ± |
| Currency in euros | € |
| Decorative use in bios | ☺, ♪, or ♫ |
FAQs About Symbols
What is the ♥ symbol called?
It's called the heart symbol, and it's used to represent love, favorites, or likes.
How do I type symbols on Windows?
Use a numeric-keypad Alt code for classic symbols like ♥ or →, or type a Unicode code in Word followed by Alt+X for symbols without one.
How do I type symbols on Mac?
Press Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, then search by name and double-click to insert.
How do I type symbols in Microsoft Word?
Type the symbol's Unicode code, then immediately press Alt+X, and Word converts it into the symbol.
How do I type symbols on iPhone?
Open your emoji keyboard and scroll to the Symbols category, or copy and paste from a page like this one.
What's the Unicode or HTML code for a symbol?
Every symbol has a Unicode code point (like U+2665 for ♥) and a matching HTML code (like ♥) — check the Quick Reference table above for the full list.
What's the difference between ♥ and ❤️?
♥ is the plain text-style version, while ❤️ is the full-color emoji-style version created with an added variation selector.
Can I use these symbols on Instagram or TikTok?
Yes — text-style symbols like ♥, ★, and ✓ are standard Unicode characters, so they display fine in bios, captions, and usernames on both platforms.
How do I make a heart symbol on my keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and type 3 on the numeric keypad; on Mac, search "heart" in Character Viewer; or copy-paste it directly.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for arrow symbols?
Yes — on Windows, Alt+24 through Alt+29 cover ↑ ↓ → ← ↨ ↔ using the numeric keypad.
What does the ★ symbol mean in a text?
It usually signals a rating, a favorite, or something the sender wants to highlight.
How do I find a symbol I don't know the name of?
Try Word or Google Docs' symbol search with a guessed keyword, or browse a categorized symbol page like this one.
Is there a website where I can search any symbol?
Yes — a copy-and-paste symbol page like this one lets you browse by category or search by name and copy the result instantly.
Related Symbol Guides
You might also find these guides useful:
- TM Symbols — how to type ™, ®, and © across every platform
- Sun Symbols — sun and brightness glyphs for weather notes and aesthetic text
- Dot Symbols — bullet points, middle dots, and decorative dot marks
- Phone Symbols — phone and contact icons for resumes and business cards
Conclusion
For the classic set — ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ ♪ ♫ and the arrow keys — a numeric-keypad Alt code is the fastest route on Windows, while Mac users can search Character Viewer for almost anything. For symbols without a dedicated shortcut, like ★, ✓, or ∞, the 2605-style code + Alt+X trick in Word works well, and copy-pasting straight from the top of this page is always the fastest fallback on any device.
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