Arrow Symbols Copy and Paste

How to type arrow symbols on Windows

The four directions have short ALT codes left over from the original PC character set: hold ALT and type 27 for ←, 24 for ↑, 26 for → and 25 for ↓ on the numeric keypad. For anything else, use the full decimal code listed beside each arrow, for example ALT 8594 for → and ALT 8658 for ⇒.

In Microsoft Word, type the hexadecimal code point and press ALT + X: 2192 becomes →, 21D2 becomes ⇒ and 21BB becomes ↻. Word also autocorrects a few arrows as you type.

• Typing --> and pressing space gives → in Word and Outlook, <-- gives ←, ==> gives ⇒ and <== gives ⇐.
• Windows key + full stop opens the emoji panel; the Ω tab holds the text arrows and the arrows tab holds the coloured ones.
• ALT codes need the numeric keypad with Num Lock on. On a laptop, use the copy buttons above instead.

How to type arrow symbols on a Mac

macOS has no default Option shortcut for arrows, so the Character Viewer is the quickest route: press CTRL + CMD + SPACE, search for arrow, and double click the one you want. The viewer groups them under Arrows in the left sidebar, and anything you drag into Favourites stays one click away.

If you use one arrow constantly, set up a text replacement instead. Open System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Text Replacements, add -> as the shortcut and → as the replacement, and it will expand in Mail, Notes, Pages and most other apps, including on your iPhone if iCloud sync is on.

Arrows in HTML, CSS and LaTeX

HTML has friendly named entities for the common ones: &larr; &uarr; &rarr; &darr; &harr; for the single arrows, and &lArr; &uArr; &rArr; &dArr; &hArr; for the doubles. Numeric entities cover the rest, for example &#8618; for ↪. With a UTF-8 page you can simply paste the character into the markup.

In CSS, put the code point in a content string: .more::after { content: " \2192"; }. This is the neat way to add a chevron to a link without an extra image, and pairing it with aria-hidden or a pseudo-element keeps it out of the accessible name.

LaTeX uses \rightarrow (or \to), \leftarrow, \uparrow, \downarrow, \leftrightarrow, \Rightarrow, \Leftrightarrow, \mapsto, \hookrightarrow, \rightleftharpoons for chemistry, and \longrightarrow when you need extra length.

Arrows in Google Docs, Sheets, Excel and PowerPoint

Google Docs: Insert > Special characters, then type arrow in the search box or draw the shape you want in the panel on the right. Docs will also substitute automatically if you add a rule under Tools > Preferences > Substitutions, which is handy for turning -> into →.

Google Sheets and Excel: =UNICHAR(8594) prints → in a cell, and =UNICODE("→") gives you the number back. Both apps also accept a pasted arrow inside a custom number format, so a cell can show 12% ▲ without turning the value into text. Excel's conditional formatting icon sets draw their own up and down arrows from the value itself.

PowerPoint and Slides: an arrow character scales with the text and stays editable, unlike a drawn shape, which makes it a good choice inside bullet lists and chart labels.

Choosing the right arrow

Direction is only half the decision. Weight, style and meaning matter just as much, particularly in technical writing.

One warning about the coloured arrows: ⬅ ⬆ ➡ ⬇ have emoji presentation by default in many apps, so they may appear as flat colour graphics that ignore your font and text colour. When you want an arrow that matches the surrounding text, use → (U+2192) or ➜ instead.

• → is the general purpose arrow, and in maths it means a function mapping or a limit.
• ⇒ means implies, ⇔ means if and only if, and ↦ means maps to a specific value.
• ⇌ and ⇋ are the chemical equilibrium arrows, not decorative doubles.
• ↻ and 🔄 both say refresh, but only the second one is coloured.
• ▸ and ❯ work better than → for breadcrumbs, since they are narrower and read as separators.
• Screen readers may announce an arrow as its Unicode name or skip it entirely, so never let an arrow be the only thing carrying meaning in a sentence.