About the Special Characters
This page collects symbols that are hard to type on a keyboard, sorted by category. Tap a symbol and it’s copied to your clipboard, ready to paste into a message, Instagram bio, document or game nickname.
Tap several symbols in a row and they are joined in the Collected box, so you can copy a combination like “★☆★” or “【NEW】” in one go. Your 24 most recent symbols are saved in this browser for next time.
How to use
- Pick a category at the top (Popular, Hearts, Arrows…). Tap All to see every symbol on one page.
- Tap a symbol to copy it, then paste it with Ctrl+V (⌘V on Mac, or long-press → Paste on a phone).
- To build a combination, tap several symbols and press Copy next to the Collected box. You can also type into the box.
- Symbols you use are added to Recently used automatically.
Typing symbols on Windows and Mac
On Windows 10/11, press Win + . (period) to open the emoji and symbol panel. Many symbols also have Alt codes: hold Alt and type the number on the numeric keypad.
| Symbol | Windows (Alt code) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| © | Alt+0169 | Option+G |
| ® | Alt+0174 | Option+R |
| ™ | Alt+0153 | Option+2 |
| ° | Alt+0176 | Shift+Option+8 |
| • | Alt+0149 | Option+8 |
| — | Alt+0151 | Shift+Option+− |
| € | Alt+0128 | Shift+Option+2 |
On a Mac, Control + Command + Space opens the Character Viewer with every symbol.
Why does a symbol show up as a box (□)?
If the reader’s device has no font containing that character, it appears as an empty box or a question mark. Classic symbols such as ♥, ★ and → display almost everywhere, but newer or decorative characters may break on older phones. For important messages, stick to the symbols in the Popular category.
FAQ
Copying doesn't work.
Some browsers block automatic copying. In that case, select the symbols in the Collected box with a long press and copy them manually.
Can I use these symbols in usernames?
It depends on the platform. Most allow basic symbols like hearts and stars, but box-drawing or combining characters are often rejected.
Where are the emoji (😀)?
Picture emoji have their own searchable emoji tool. This page collects symbols that behave like text characters, plus text-based kaomoji.