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In desktop Word, place the cursor where the character belongs, then choose Insert > Symbol. Select a visible symbol or choose More Symbols to browse by font and character set; double-click the character to insert it. Use Word’s equation tools for structured mathematical expressions, and use a character code when you already know the symbol’s code.
Insert a symbol from Word’s menu
- Click in the document where you want the symbol.
- Choose Insert > Symbol.
- Select a symbol shown in the menu, or choose More Symbols to open the larger character list.
- If needed, change the font or subset to find the character. Microsoft notes that fonts contain different sets of characters; Segoe UI Symbol includes a large Unicode collection, but the chosen font still needs the desired glyph.
- Double-click the character, then close the dialog.
These instructions apply to the desktop Word versions listed on Microsoft’s Insert a symbol in Word support page, including Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2016–2024. A symbol inserted this way is a character in the document, not an interactive control. To make it larger or smaller, select it and change the font size. If you need to insert the same symbol often, Word’s AutoCorrect settings can be configured for it.
Insert special characters, accented letters, and fractions
Special characters
For marks such as an em dash or section sign, choose Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Special Characters, select the character, and insert it. Some entries have keyboard shortcuts; Microsoft documents Alt+Ctrl+C for the copyright symbol as one example. See Microsoft’s symbol-insertion instructions for the list available in your version.
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If you type in another language regularly, switching to its keyboard layout may be more convenient than opening the symbol dialog for every letter. For occasional use, Word also supports documented shortcuts. Microsoft gives Ctrl+Shift+~ followed by a for ã, and Ctrl+Shift+: followed by u for ü. Shortcuts can depend on keyboard layout and platform, so check the instructions for your Word version if a combination does not work.
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Fractions
Word may automatically convert some common typed fractions, including 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4, into fraction glyphs. Other fractions may remain as typed. To insert a single-character fraction that is available in the selected font, open More Symbols and look in Number Forms. If that subset or fraction is unavailable, try another font. Microsoft notes that only a limited set of common fractions has a single substitute glyph. For an unusual fraction such as 8/9, approximate the layout by formatting the numerator as superscript and the denominator as subscript.
Insert a symbol with its character code
Code entry is useful when you know the character code. In Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, select a character and inspect the Character code and From fields. The value in From identifies which keyboard method applies: Unicode hexadecimal or Symbol decimal. Microsoft explains both methods in Insert ASCII or Unicode character.
Unicode hexadecimal: Alt+X
Type the hexadecimal code at the insertion point and press Alt+X. For example, Microsoft lists 221A followed by Alt+X for √ and 0024 followed by Alt+X for $. If the code comes immediately after other text, select only the code before pressing Alt+X; otherwise Word may convert adjacent characters too. If the resulting mark is wrong or missing, verify the code and choose a font that contains the glyph.
Symbol decimal: Alt plus the numeric keypad
Hold Alt and enter the decimal code using the numeric keypad, not the number row. Microsoft says to enter four digits, adding leading zeroes when needed, and to use Num Lock if your keyboard requires it. Its examples include Alt+0169 for © and Alt+0128 for €. If your laptop has no numeric keypad, use the symbol menu instead.
Use equation tools for mathematical notation
Desktop Word
For an expression with arranged operators, variables, or other math notation, use an equation rather than inserting each mark as an ordinary character. Choose Insert > Equation > Insert New Equation, then open the Equation Symbols menu. Word groups its symbols into sets such as Basic Math, Greek Letters, Letter-Like Symbols, Operators, Arrows, Negated Relations, Scripts, and Geometry. Microsoft’s equation instructions for Word describe this workflow.
Word for the web
In Word for the web, choose Insert > Equation. The Equation Tools panel provides Symbols and Structures; selections appear in the panel’s editing window, and Insert on page places the constructed equation in the document. This web workflow differs from desktop Word. See Microsoft’s Word for the web equation guidance.
Which insertion method should you use?
| What you need | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One symbol you can browse for | Insert > Symbol | Shows available characters without requiring a code. |
| A character whose code you know | Alt+X for Unicode hex, or Alt plus the numeric keypad for Symbol decimal | Direct entry is efficient when you have confirmed the code type. |
| A special mark listed by Word | More Symbols > Special Characters | Provides a dedicated list and may show a shortcut. |
| A mathematical expression with structure | Insert > Equation | Equation tools handle symbols and structures as an expression. |
Platform notes and fixes for missing symbols
Windows desktop
The general symbol-menu and character-code instructions above are documented for the Windows desktop editions listed on Microsoft’s support pages. The exact glyphs visible still depend on the selected font.
Mac
Microsoft’s cited Mac instructions document Insert > Advanced Symbol, with Symbols and Special Characters tabs, for Office 2016 for Mac. Those labels are specific to that documented version; the instructions do not establish the current menu labels in every Mac release. See Microsoft’s Office 2016 for Mac symbol guidance.
Word for the web and mobile
The documented web instructions here cover the equation panel; they do not establish that the full desktop symbol dialog is available in Word for the web. The cited Microsoft material does not provide a complete current symbol-insertion workflow for Word mobile, so menu steps for mobile are not specified here.
Quick Recap
- The wrong character appears after Alt+X: Check that you entered the right hexadecimal code and selected only the code before pressing the shortcut if it follows other text.
- A box or blank appears instead of the character: Try a font that includes the glyph; fonts do not all contain the same characters.
- Alt plus a decimal code does nothing: Enter the code on the numeric keypad, use the required leading zeroes, and check Num Lock. If there is no keypad, insert the character through the symbol menu.
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