How to Type Arrow Symbols (→ ← ↑ ↓) on Any Keyboard

Arrow symbols are among the most useful characters you can have at your fingertips — whether you are writing technical documentation, creating flowcharts in plain text, annotating a presentation, building a website, or simply pointing to something in a message. This guide covers every arrow symbol available, every way to type them on any device, and when to use each one.

---

The Complete List of Arrow Symbols

Before diving into methods, here is a comprehensive reference of every major arrow symbol available in Unicode:

Basic Directional Arrows

Symbol	Name	Unicode
→	Rightwards arrow	U+2192
←	Leftwards arrow	U+2190
↑	Upwards arrow	U+2191
↓	Downwards arrow	U+2193
↔	Left right arrow	U+2194
↕	Up down arrow	U+2195
↖	North west arrow	U+2196
↗	North east arrow	U+2197
↘	South east arrow	U+2198
↙	South west arrow	U+2199

Double and Heavy Arrows

Symbol	Name	Unicode
⇒	Rightwards double arrow	U+21D2
⇐	Leftwards double arrow	U+21D0
⇑	Upwards double arrow	U+21D1
⇓	Downwards double arrow	U+21D3
⇔	Left right double arrow	U+21D4
➡	Black rightwards arrow	U+27A1
⬅	Black leftwards arrow	U+2B05
⬆	Black upwards arrow	U+2B06
⬇	Black downwards arrow	U+2B07

Dashed and Curved Arrows

Symbol	Name	Unicode
⇢	Rightwards dashed arrow	U+21E2
⇠	Leftwards dashed arrow	U+21E0
↩	Leftwards arrow with hook	U+21A9
↪	Rightwards arrow with hook	U+21AA
↻	Clockwise open circle arrow	U+21BB
↺	Anticlockwise open circle arrow	U+21BA
➤	Black rightwards arrowhead	U+27A4
↝	Rightwards squiggly arrow	U+219D

Technical and Mathematical Arrows

Symbol	Name	Unicode
⟶	Long rightwards arrow	U+27F6
⟵	Long leftwards arrow	U+27F5
⟷	Long left right arrow	U+27F7
⟹	Long rightwards double arrow	U+27F9
↦	Rightwards arrow from bar	U+21A6
⇒	Implies (logic)	U+21D2
⇏	Does not imply	U+21CF

---

How to Type Arrow Symbols on Windows

Method 1: Alt Codes (Numpad)

Make sure Num Lock is on, hold Alt, type the code on the numeric keypad, then release Alt:

Symbol	Alt Code
→	Alt + 26
←	Alt + 27
↑	Alt + 24
↓	Alt + 25
↔	Alt + 29
►	Alt + 16
◄	Alt + 17
▲	Alt + 30
▼	Alt + 31

For extended arrow symbols using four-digit codes:

Symbol	Alt Code
↖	Alt + 8598
↗	Alt + 8599
↘	Alt + 8600
↙	Alt + 8601
⇒	Alt + 8658
⇐	Alt + 8656
⇔	Alt + 8660
↩	Alt + 8617
↪	Alt + 8618

Method 2: Unicode Input (Microsoft Word)

Type the Unicode code point then press Alt + X to convert:

Symbol	Type This	Then Press
→	2192	Alt + X
←	2190	Alt + X
↑	2191	Alt + X
↓	2193	Alt + X
↔	2194	Alt + X
⇒	21D2	Alt + X
⇐	21D0	Alt + X
⇔	21D4	Alt + X
↩	21A9	Alt + X
↺	21BA	Alt + X

Method 3: Copy and Paste

Copy any arrow symbol directly from the tables in this article and paste it anywhere — every modern app, browser, and text editor supports Unicode arrows.

→ ← ↑ ↓ ↔ ↕ ⇒ ⇐ ⇑ ⇓ ⇔ ➡ ⬅ ⬆ ⬇

Method 4: Character Map

1. Open Start and search “Character Map”
2. Search for “arrow” in the search box
3. Browse the extensive list of arrow variants
4. Select your symbol, click Select, then Copy
5. Paste into your document

Method 5: Windows Emoji Panel

1. Press Windows key + . (period)
2. Go to the Symbols tab
3. Click the arrows category icon
4. Browse and click to insert

---

How to Type Arrow Symbols on Mac

Method 1: Option Key Shortcuts

Mac has built-in shortcuts for several common arrows:

Symbol	Shortcut
→	Option + Shift + ]
←	Option + [ (on some layouts)
↑	No direct shortcut — use Character Viewer
↓	No direct shortcut — use Character Viewer

Mac’s Option key shortcuts for arrows are limited compared to its accent shortcuts. The Character Viewer is the most reliable method for the full range of arrow symbols on Mac.

Method 2: Character Viewer (Most Reliable)

1. Press Control + Command + Space
2. Search for “arrow” or a specific type like “rightwards arrow”
3. Double-click any arrow symbol to insert it
4. Click the expand button (top right of the viewer) to see the full Unicode character library including hundreds of arrow variants organized by category

Method 3: Unicode Hex Input

1. Enable Unicode Hex Input under System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources
2. Hold Option and type the Unicode code point:
   • 2192 → →
   • 2190 → ←
   • 2191 → ↑
   • 2193 → ↓
   • 21D2 → ⇒
   • 21D4 → ⇔

Method 4: Text Replacement Shortcuts

For arrows you use frequently, create text replacement shortcuts:

1. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements
2. Click +
3. In Replace, type something like ->>
4. In With, paste →
5. Repeat for other arrows you use regularly

Suggested shortcut mappings:

• --> → →
• <-- → ←
• ==> → ⇒
• <=> → ⇔

---

How to Type Arrow Symbols on iPhone and Android

iPhone (iOS)

Emoji Keyboard:

1. Open the emoji keyboard (tap the smiley face icon)
2. Tap the symbols category
3. Scroll to find arrow emojis: ➡ ⬅ ⬆ ⬇ and others
4. Tap to insert

Text Replacement: For Unicode arrows not in the emoji keyboard:

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement
2. Tap +
3. In Phrase, paste the arrow symbol (e.g., →)
4. In Shortcut, type something like -->
5. Tap Save

Suggested shortcuts for iPhone:

• --> → →
• <-- → ←
• ^^ → ↑
• vv → ↓
• ==> → ⇒

Android (Gboard)

Symbols Panel:

1. Tap ?123 to open the numbers keyboard
2. Tap =< to open the extended symbols panel
3. Look for arrow symbols in the symbols rows — basic arrows are often included

Emoji Keyboard:

1. Open the emoji keyboard
2. Search for “arrow”
3. Tap to insert

Personal Dictionary: For arrows you use frequently:

1. Go to Gboard Settings > Dictionary > Personal Dictionary
2. Add each arrow with a memorable shortcut:
   • Add → with shortcut -->
   • Add ← with shortcut <--
   • Add ⇒ with shortcut ==>
3. Gboard will suggest the arrow whenever you type the shortcut

---

How to Type Arrow Symbols in Microsoft Word

Method 1: Alt + X (Fastest)

Type the Unicode code point then press Alt + X:

• 2192 + Alt + X → →
• 2190 + Alt + X → ←
• 2191 + Alt + X → ↑
• 2193 + Alt + X → ↓
• 21D2 + Alt + X → ⇒

Method 2: AutoCorrect (Automatic — No Lookup Needed)

Word has built-in AutoCorrect entries that automatically convert typed sequences into arrow symbols:

Type This	Word Produces
-->	→
<--	←
<->	↔
==>	⇒
<==	⇐
<=>	⇔

These work automatically as you type — no extra keypress needed. If they are not working, check that AutoCorrect is enabled:

1. Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options
2. Click the AutoCorrect tab
3. Make sure “Replace text as you type” is checked

Method 3: Add Custom AutoCorrect Entries

For arrows not included in Word’s default AutoCorrect list:

1. Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options
2. In Replace, type your chosen shortcut (e.g., ^^^)
3. In With, paste the arrow symbol (e.g., ↑)
4. Click Add, then OK

Method 4: Insert > Symbol

1. Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols
2. Set Subset to Arrows
3. Browse the extensive collection and click Insert

Method 5: Equation Editor

For mathematical arrow notation:

1. Go to Insert > Equation
2. In the equation editor, type LaTeX-style commands:
   • \rightarrow → →
   • \leftarrow → ←
   • \Rightarrow → ⇒
   • \Leftrightarrow → ⇔
   • \uparrow → ↑
   • \downarrow → ↓

---

How to Type Arrow Symbols in Google Docs

Method 1: Insert > Special Characters

1. Go to Insert > Special Characters
2. Change the category dropdown to Symbol and subcategory to Arrows
3. Browse hundreds of arrow variants
4. Click any arrow to insert it

Or search directly:

1. Type “rightwards arrow” or “arrow” in the search box
2. Click to insert

Method 2: Substitutions

1. Go to Tools > Preferences > Substitutions
2. Add arrow shortcuts:
   • Replace --> with →
   • Replace <-- with ←
   • Replace ==> with ⇒
   • Replace <=> with ⇔
3. Click OK

Method 3: Equation Editor

1. Go to Insert > Equation
2. Type LaTeX commands — same as Word’s equation editor
3. \rightarrow, \leftarrow, \Rightarrow, etc.

---

Arrow Symbols in HTML and CSS

For web developers, here are the HTML entities and Unicode values for the most commonly used arrow symbols:

Basic Arrows

Symbol	Named Entity	Hex Entity	Decimal Entity
→	→	→	→
←	←	←	←
↑	↑	↑	↑
↓	↓	↓	↓
↔	↔	↔	↔
↕	↕	↕	↕

Double Arrows

Symbol	Named Entity	Hex Entity	Decimal Entity
⇒	⇒	⇒	⇒
⇐	⇐	⇐	⇐
⇑	⇑	⇑	⇑
⇓	⇓	⇓	⇓
⇔	⇔	⇔	⇔

CSS example — breadcrumb separator:

css

.breadcrumb-item::after {
  content: "\2192";
  margin: 0 8px;
  color: #999;
}

CSS example — animated arrow button:

css

.btn::after {
  content: " \2192";
  transition: transform 0.2s ease;
}
.btn:hover::after {
  transform: translateX(4px);
}

Best practice: Use named HTML entities (→, ←) for the four basic directional arrows — they are universally supported and highly readable in source code. For less common arrows, use hex numeric entities.

---

Arrow Symbols in LaTeX

For academic papers and technical documents:

latex

% Basic arrows
\rightarrow  or  \to        →
\leftarrow   or  \gets      ←
\uparrow                    ↑
\downarrow                  ↓
\leftrightarrow             ↔
\updownarrow                ↕

% Double arrows
\Rightarrow                 ⇒
\Leftarrow                  ⇐
\Uparrow                    ⇑
\Downarrow                  ⇓
\Leftrightarrow             ⇔

% Long arrows
\longrightarrow             ⟶
\longleftarrow              ⟵
\Longrightarrow             ⟹

% Arrows with labels (common in math)
\xrightarrow{label}         →  with text above
\xleftarrow{label}          ←  with text above

% Diagonal arrows (requires amsmath)
\nearrow    ↗
\searrow    ↘
\swarrow    ↙
\nwarrow    ↖

---

ASCII Arrow Alternatives

In plain text environments where Unicode arrows may not render correctly — certain coding environments, old email clients, plain text files, command line interfaces — ASCII combinations are the standard workaround:

ASCII Arrow	Meaning	Example Use
->	Right / points to	key -> value
<-	Left / assignment	x <- 5 (R language)
-->	Right (longer)	A --> B
<--	Left (longer)	B <-- A
=>	Implies / maps to	if x then => y
<=>	If and only if	A <=> B
^	Up / above	see ^ above
v or V	Down / below	see v below
<>	Bidirectional	A <> B
>>	Much greater / forward	fast >> slow
<<	Much less / backward	slow << fast

---

Arrow Symbols by Use Case

In Technical Writing and Documentation

• → — Steps in a sequence: Click File → Save → OK
• ⇒ — Logical implication or result: Error ⇒ Check connection
• ↓ — Collapsing or drilling down: Expand ↓ for more details
• ↑ — Referencing something above in a document

In Mathematics and Logic

• → — Implies, maps to, function notation: f: X → Y
• ⇒ — Logical implication: P ⇒ Q
• ⇔ — Logical equivalence (if and only if): P ⇔ Q
• ↦ — Maps to (specific element): x ↦ x²
• ↗ ↘ — Increasing or decreasing (in analysis)

In Flowcharts and Diagrams

• → — Process flow direction
• ↓ — Top-to-bottom flow
• ⇒ — Decision outcome or strong direction
• ↩ — Loop back or return

In User Interfaces and Navigation

• → — Next, continue, proceed
• ← — Back, previous, return
• ↑ ↓ — Scroll up, scroll down
• ⬆ ⬇ — Bold navigation indicators
• ➡ — Call to action, click here

In Chat and Social Media

• → — Pointing to something: → this is the one
• ↑ — Agreeing with the post above
• ↓ — Pointing to a link or comment below
• ⇒ — Therefore, so: rain ⇒ bring umbrella

---

Quick Reference: Arrow Symbol Cheat Sheet

Symbol	Windows Alt	Word (Alt+X)	Mac (Unicode)	HTML Entity
→	Alt + 26	2192 + Alt+X	Option + 2192	→
←	Alt + 27	2190 + Alt+X	Option + 2190	←
↑	Alt + 24	2191 + Alt+X	Option + 2191	↑
↓	Alt + 25	2193 + Alt+X	Option + 2193	↓
↔	Alt + 29	2194 + Alt+X	Option + 2194	↔
⇒	Alt + 8658	21D2 + Alt+X	Option + 21D2	⇒
⇐	Alt + 8656	21D0 + Alt+X	Option + 21D0	⇐
⇔	Alt + 8660	21D4 + Alt+X	Option + 21D4	⇔
↩	Alt + 8617	21A9 + Alt+X	Option + 21A9	↩
↺	Alt + 8634	21BA + Alt+X	Option + 21BA	↺

---

Final Thoughts

Arrow symbols cover an enormous range of needs — from the humble → used in navigation menus and step-by-step instructions, to the ⇔ of logical equivalence in academic writing, to the ↩ that represents a return or undo action in user interfaces. For everyday use, Word’s built-in AutoCorrect (typing --> to get →) and the Windows Emoji Panel cover most cases without memorizing any codes. Mac users get the best experience through the Character Viewer which organizes hundreds of arrows by category. For web development, the named HTML entities →, ←, ↑, and ↓ are clean, universally supported, and readable in source code. And when Unicode is not an option, the ASCII alternatives ->, <-, =>, and <=> remain universally understood in technical and informal writing alike.