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In Word for Windows, type a character’s hexadecimal Unicode code at the cursor and press Alt+X—for example, 20AC becomes € and 221A becomes √. That shortcut is not supported in every Office app. For other apps or platforms, use the app’s symbol picker or copy the character from Windows Character Map.
Insert a Unicode character in Word for Windows with Alt+X
- Find the character’s hexadecimal Unicode code. In Word, go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, locate the character, and check the from field. It must say Unicode (hex).
- Click where you want the character to appear, type its hexadecimal code without the
U+prefix, and press Alt+X. For example, type20ACand press Alt+X to insert €. - If the code immediately follows another hexadecimal character, select only the code before pressing Alt+X. Otherwise Word may convert the wrong sequence.
Microsoft’s instruction is direct: “Press ALT+X to convert the code to the symbol.” Microsoft Support: Insert ASCII or Unicode character codes in Word.
Use the Symbol dialog when you do not know the code
In Word, place the cursor at the insertion point, select Insert > Symbol, then choose a visible character or open More Symbols to browse. The dialog can show a character’s code and code system, so it is also a way to look up a code before using Alt+X.
For a character that is not visible in the selected font, try another font. Fonts contain different sets of glyphs; Microsoft notes that, for example, Elephant lacks fraction characters that Verdana includes. Segoe UI Symbol is one font Microsoft identifies as having a large collection of Unicode symbols. Microsoft Support: Insert a symbol in Word.
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Know which kind of Alt code you have
Unicode hex and decimal Alt codes are different methods. Check the Symbol dialog’s from field before entering a code:
| Dialog code type | How to enter it | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Unicode (hex) | Type the hexadecimal code, then press Alt+X. | Do not include the U+ prefix. This method does not require a numeric keypad. |
| Symbol (decimal) or ASCII decimal | Use Alt plus the numeric keypad. | Microsoft’s instructions specify Num Lock and the keypad, not the number row; some codes need leading zeroes. |
Do not substitute one route for the other: Alt+X converts a Unicode hexadecimal value, while Alt plus keypad digits enters a decimal code. Microsoft Support: Insert ASCII or Unicode character codes in Word and Microsoft Support: Insert ASCII or Unicode character codes in Word.
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When Alt+X does not work in your Office app
Alt+X conversion is not universal across Office. Microsoft warns that some programs, including PowerPoint and InfoPath, cannot convert Unicode codes to characters. In Windows, use Character Map as a copy-and-paste workaround:
- Open Character Map in Windows.
- Choose a font and select the character or characters you need.
- Copy the selection, return to Office, and paste it where it belongs.
The Character Map navigation steps in Microsoft’s article cover Windows 10, 8, and 7; menus may differ in other Windows versions. The article’s app compatibility guidance names specific Office versions, so it does not establish support for every current build. Microsoft Support: Insert letters with accent marks.
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Insert symbols on a Mac
Microsoft’s Mac instructions are specifically for Office 2016 for Mac. For that edition, the documented menu paths are:
- Word: Insert > Advanced Symbol, then use the Symbols or Special Characters tab.
- Excel and PowerPoint: Insert > Symbol, then open the expanded Character Viewer.
- Outlook: Edit > Emoji & Symbols.
If those labels do not appear in your current app, use its symbol or character viewer menu; the cited steps should not be assumed to match every Mac Office release. Microsoft Support: Insert a symbol in Word for Mac.
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Enter mathematical symbols inside an equation
Equation editing is a separate context from ordinary text. In Word, PowerPoint, or OneNote for Windows, press Alt+= to insert an equation. In Excel, use Insert > Symbols > Equation. Within an equation, Microsoft documents typing a Unicode hexadecimal value without U+ and pressing Alt+X. You can also use Math AutoCorrect: type a command such as infty and press Space to insert ∞. Math AutoCorrect codes are case-sensitive and are documented for the listed Office apps on Windows and Mac. Microsoft Support: Linear format equations using UnicodeMath and LaTeX in Word.
Choose the right method for the job
- One character in Word for Windows: use Alt+X if you know its Unicode hex code.
- You need to find a character: browse the app’s Symbol interface and verify the code type before using a shortcut.
- The app does not convert codes: copy and paste from Windows Character Map.
- You type another language often: consider switching to that language’s keyboard layout rather than repeatedly inserting individual characters. For occasional international characters, Word also provides keyboard shortcuts.
- The symbol belongs in a formula: insert an equation and use equation-specific Unicode or Math AutoCorrect entry.
- The symbol appears missing or wrong: check whether the selected font contains the character.
Available menus and code-conversion support depend on the Office app, platform, and version; Microsoft’s instructions do not provide a complete compatibility matrix for every current edition.
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