How to Type Special Characters on Windows

Windows gives you more ways to type special characters than most people realise. Whether you need a copyright symbol ©, an em dash —, a Greek letter α, or a full emoji, there is a method that fits your workflow. This guide covers every approach available on Windows 10 and Windows 11, from classic Alt codes to the modern emoji picker.

Method 1: Alt Codes (Numeric Keypad)

Alt codes are the oldest Windows method for inserting special characters. You hold Alt, type a number on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.

Standard Alt Codes (1–255)

These codes map to the legacy Windows-1252 (Latin) character set. They only work with the numeric keypad, not the number row.

Steps to use an Alt code:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on (press the Num Lock key if the indicator light is off).
2. Click the spot in your document where you want to insert the character.
3. Hold down the Alt key.
4. Type the full number on the numeric keypad (e.g., 0169 for ©).
5. Release Alt — the character appears.

Tip: You must use the numeric keypad, not the number keys along the top of the keyboard. On laptops without a dedicated keypad, you may need to enable the embedded keypad (usually Fn + F11 or similar, depending on the model).

Alt + Unicode Hex Codes (Windows 10/11 Only)

Windows 10 and 11 include a registry setting that lets you enter any Unicode character using its hexadecimal code point while holding Alt. For example, Alt + 2665 inserts ♥ (U+2665).

Enabling hex input (one-time registry change):

1. Open Registry Editor (Win + R, type regedit, press Enter).
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Input Method
3. Right-click in the right pane → New → String Value.
4. Name it EnableHexNumpad and set the value to 1.
5. Restart Windows for the change to take effect.

After enabling, hold Alt, type + on the numpad, then type the hex code point. For example, Alt + + + 2665 inserts ♥.

Method 2: Windows Character Map

Character Map (charmap.exe) is a built-in Windows application that lets you browse and copy any character from any installed font.

Opening Character Map:

• Press Win + R, type charmap, press Enter.
• Or search "Character Map" in the Start menu.

Using Character Map:

1. Open the app. You see a grid of all characters in the currently selected font.
2. Use the Font dropdown at the top to switch fonts. For Unicode coverage, try Segoe UI or Arial Unicode MS.
3. Check the Advanced view checkbox to unlock more options.
4. In advanced view, set Character set to Unicode to browse the full range.
5. Use the Group by dropdown to navigate by Unicode subrange (e.g., "Mathematical Operators", "Arrows").
6. Click a character to see its code point in the status bar (e.g., U+00A9: COPYRIGHT SIGN).
7. Double-click the character to add it to the Characters to copy field.
8. Click Copy, then paste into your document with Ctrl + V.

Tip: For frequently used characters, note the keystroke shown in the status bar. Many symbols have built-in shortcuts in specific applications.

Method 3: Windows Emoji Picker (Win + .)

Windows 10 (version 1903+) and Windows 11 include a built-in emoji and symbol picker accessible with a keyboard shortcut.

Opening the picker:

Press Win + . (Windows key + period) or Win + ; (Windows key + semicolon).

Using the picker:

1. The picker opens near your cursor or at the bottom of the screen.
2. Use the tabs at the top to switch between Emoji, GIFs, Kaomoji, and Symbols.
3. The Symbols tab includes special characters organised into categories:
4. Currency symbols (€ £ ¥ ₹ ...)
5. Latin characters (ñ ü é ...)
6. Arrows (→ ← ↑ ↓ ...)
7. Mathematical symbols (∞ √ ∑ π ...)
8. Punctuation (— … " " ...)
9. Click any character to insert it directly into the focused text field.
10. Use the search box at the top to search by name (e.g., type "copyright" to find ©).

Note: The picker works in most applications — browser address bars, text editors, Notepad, Word, Outlook, Teams — wherever text focus is active.

Method 4: AutoCorrect and Text Shortcuts

Both Microsoft Word and Windows itself support automatic text replacement, letting you type a short sequence that is replaced by a special character.

Microsoft Word AutoCorrect

Word replaces certain typed sequences automatically:

You can also create custom entries:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options.
2. In the Replace field, type your shortcut (e.g., ::euro).
3. In the With field, paste the character you want (e.g., €).
4. Click Add then OK.

Windows Text Replacement (All Apps)

Windows does not have a system-wide text replacement feature built in, but you can achieve this with third-party tools (see Method 6 below).

Method 5: Alt+X in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word has a unique shortcut that converts a Unicode code point (hex) to the actual character and back.

To insert a character using Alt+X:

1. Type the hexadecimal code point for the character (e.g., 00A9 for ©).
2. Immediately press Alt + X.
3. Word replaces the hex code with the character.

To find the code point of an existing character:

1. Place the cursor immediately after the character.
2. Press Alt + X.
3. Word replaces the character with its hex code point.

This works only in Microsoft Word (not Outlook compose windows or other apps).

Method 6: Third-Party Tools

For power users who regularly insert special characters, dedicated tools offer faster workflows.

AutoHotkey (Free, Open Source)

AutoHotkey lets you map any key combination to any character or string. It runs in the background and works in every application.

Example AutoHotkey script:

; Place in a .ahk file and run it
::-->>::→       ; Type --> then Space to get →
::em-dash::—    ; Type em-dash then Space to get —
::euro::€       ; Type euro then Space to get €
^!c::©          ; Ctrl+Alt+C to get ©

PhraseExpress (Free for Personal Use)

PhraseExpress is a text expander that supports system-wide abbreviations, clipboard snippets, and Unicode characters. It is particularly useful for frequently typed phrases containing special characters.

TypeIt (Web-Based)

If you only occasionally need special characters, TypeIt.org is a browser-based tool where you can type using on-screen keyboards for dozens of languages and then copy the result.

Method 7: Input Method Editor (IME) for CJK Characters

For Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters, Windows includes Input Method Editors that convert phonetic input to the correct script.

Enabling an IME:

1. Go to Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region.
2. Click Add a language.
3. Select the language (e.g., Chinese Simplified, Japanese, Korean).
4. Windows downloads and installs the IME automatically.
5. Switch between input languages with Win + Space or the language bar in the taskbar.

Quick Reference: Which Method to Use

With these seven methods, you can insert virtually any Unicode character on Windows — from everyday punctuation to obscure mathematical symbols, arrows, and emoji.