What is the Left arrow symbol/emoji is used for?

The left arrow symbol/emoji is one of the most generic and simple emojis. It shows a minimalistic arrow pointing left. Since it is a very simple emoji it can be used in almost any context; for example, to indicate a direction or an object that is on the left. Sometimes left arrow symbol/emoji can also mean the next thing, stop, or person in a group.

Typing the leftward arrow symbol/emoji (←)

This is a detailed guide with several methods you can use to type or insert the left arrow symbol/emoji text anywhere on your PC keyboard, like in Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint or somewhere in your browser like Google Docs.

Whether you are using Mac or Windows keyboard, you’ll learn all the easy methods to get this symbol/emoji including the left arrow shortcut and alt code.

Let’s get to work without wasting much time.

Quick Guide for typing the Leftward Arrow symbol/emoji (←)

To make a leftward arrow symbol/emoji anywhere on your PC or laptop keyboard (like in Microsoft Word or Excel), simply press down the alt key and type 27 using the numeric keypad on the left side of your keyboard.

For Mac users, to get the left arrow symbol/emoji, first press Control + Command + Spacebar to bring up the character viewer. Using the search bar near the top of the character viewer, search for ‘arrows’ and double click on the left arrow symbol/emoji to insert it into your work.

The table below contains everything you need to know to be able to type the left arrow symbol/emoji on both Mac and Windows.

Whether you are using Windows or Mac, the above information is enough for you to make the left arrow symbol/emoji into your Word/Excel document.

However, if you are not satisfied with this quick help, keep reading below as I will explain in detail, how to get the left arrow symbol/emoji or any other arrow symbol/emoji anywhere on your Mac or Windows PC like in MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint.

As you may already know, there are several dual-purpose keys on the keyboard for both Windows and Mac. That is to say that there are symbols/emojis readily available as second keys on the keyboard. Just by pressing two or more keys simultaneously, you can easily insert such symbols/emojis into your document. For example, pressing Shift + 1 keys give you the exclamation (!) mark.

However, other symbols/emojis aren’t printed on the keyboard as second keys. This makes it difficult to type. One of these symbols/emojis is the left arrow symbol/emoji text (←).

Typing becomes very difficult for you if you need to add some of these symbols/emojis regularly into your document. But it doesn’t have to be difficult. Especially now that you are reading this detailed step-by-step guide.

How to Make Leftward Arrow symbol/emoji?

Now, I will show you all the easy ways to type or insert left arrow symbol/emoji (←) anywhere on your Windows or Mac PC (such as Word or Excel, or PowerPoint).

Without any further delay, below are the methods explained in detail.

Method #1: Typing a left arrow symbol/emoji

Using Alt code Shortcut for left arrow symbol/emoji for windows

Windows has several shortcuts for symbols/emojis, some of which work only in Microsoft Word. However, there’s a Windows shortcut for the left arrow symbol/emoji that works across all applications. It is the alt code shortcut which is Alt+27.

Now, I’ll further explain the alt code shortcut for the left arrow symbol/emoji.

Method #2: Typing Left Arrow Symbol/emoji on Mac

Inserting Left Arrow Symbol/emoji on Mac

Using the character viewer on Mac, below are the steps to insert the left arrow symbol/emoji text on Mac:

• Click to place the insertion pointer where you want to add the symbol/emoji.
• Press Control + Command + Spacebar on your keyboard. This brings up the character viewer, which looks like the picture below:

• Using the search bar at the top of the character viewer, search for “arrows”. Alternatively, click on the expand icon in the top left corner that looks like the screenshot below.

After you click on this icon, the expanded view of the character viewer will look like the screenshot below.

• You should now see “arrows” in the left-hand menu, just under the “emoji” group. Browse through these arrows and double-click on the left arrow symbol/emoji or any other arrow symbol/emoji you wish to insert.

This is how you can easily insert the Left arrow symbol/emoji on Mac.

Method #3: Typing left arrow symbol/emoji

Left Arrow Symbol/emoji Alt Code (Windows)

The left arrow symbol/emoji alt code is 27.

Every symbol/emoji in Word has a unique code that you can use to insert the symbol/emoji into your document. This code is known as “alt code”.

Below are the steps to type this symbol/emoji on your keyboard by using the alt code mentioned above:

• Press the num lock key to enable the numeric keypad. Use Fn key + NumLk keys to turn on Num Lock on laptops without the numeric keypad.
• Press and hold the alt key and type 27 using the numeric keypad.
• After typing the alt code (i.e., 27), release the [Alt] key.

Once you’ll release the alt key, the left arrow symbol/emoji will appear in your document.

Method #4: Typing left arrow symbol/emoji

Using Insert Symbol Dialog

This approach isn’t as straightforward as the shortcut methods. But it’s fairly simple.

And once you get the symbol/emoji into your document, you can always copy and paste it again as and when you need it into your document. This method works on both Windows and Mac.

Below are the steps to insert the left arrow symbol/emoji /emoji in Word using the insert symbol/emoji dialog.

• Go to the Insert tab.

• On the insert tab, click the symbol/emoji button and choose more symbols…

These few clicks will bring up the symbol/emoji dialog box.

• Under the symbol tab, in the font drop-down list, type, and select wingdings. This should filter out all the windings’ symbol texts including the left arrow symbol/emoji.
• Select the symbol/emoji, and then click on the insert button.

• Alternatively, double-clicking on the left arrow symbol/emoji will also insert the symbol/emoji into your document.
• Click the close button.

This is how you may insert a left arrow symbol/emoji text in Word using the insert symbol/emoji dialog.

Method #5: Typing left arrow symbol/emoji

Word’s AutoCorrect for the Left Arrow Symbol/emoji Text

You can also type the left arrow symbol/emoji text using the autocorrect feature in Word.

It is a feature in MS Word designed for correcting spelling mistakes like thsi to this.

Using this autocorrect feature, you can assign a shortcode to the left arrow symbol/emoji (such as LTARR).

This way, whenever you type the text LTARR, Word will think that you actually wanted to type ← and will convert it into the left arrow symbol/emoji for you automatically.

• Click add, and then hit the OK button.

Now, word will automatically insert the left arrow symbol/emoji into your document whenever you type LTARR.

Things you should remember before using the autocorrect feature in Word

Below are some things to take into consideration when you are using the autocorrect method to insert the left arrow symbol/emoji.

• Autocorrect is case-sensitive. Meaning if you type ltarr (in lowercase), Word will not convert it into the left arrow symbol/emoji unless you type LTARR (in uppercase).
• If there is any text before or after the autocorrect text, Word will consider the autocorrect text as part of the text and hence will not convert it to the left arrow symbol/emoji. For example, GetLTARR (without space) will not get converted, but Get LTARR (with space) will get converted to Get →.

Method #6: Typing left arrow symbol/emoji

Copy and paste the Arrow symbol/emoji text

You can simply copy the left arrow symbol/emoji given below and paste it into your document.

←

My favorite method for inserting symbols is to copy and paste.

With this method, all you need to do is google the symbol/emoji you need to type, then copy it from one of the search results provided. Once you get the symbol/emoji into your document, you can always recopy and paste it as and when the need arises.

There is another way to copy this and any other symbol/emoji on Windows. It involves using the Windows character map.

Obey the steps below to copy and paste any symbol/emoji using the character map.

• Search for the character map app by clicking on the start button.
• The character map app will show up in the search results. Click on it to launch.

• After the character map window opens up, click to check the advance view checkbox to expand the window for more advanced options.

• On the advanced view section, type arrow or leftward arrow in the search box.
• The symbol/emoji you searched for (i.e., the leftward arrow) will now appear on the character map. Double click on it to select it. You’ll see that the symbol/emoji appears in the characters to copy text box. This allows you to select and copy several symbols/emojis at the same time.

• After selecting the symbol/emoji, you wish to copy, click on the copy button.
• Switch over to wherever you need the symbol/emoji, whether in MS Word, Excel, or PowerPoint and press Ctrl + V to paste.

This is how you may copy and paste the left arrow symbol/emoji using the character map on Windows.

Method #7: Typing left arrow symbol/emoji

HOW TO ADD LEFT ARROW SYMBOL/EMOJI IN HTML?

To add the left arrow symbol/emoji in HTML, you can use an HTML entity, an HTML code (decimal), and a Hex code. Use the shortcode section to copy the various shortcodes for the left arrow symbol. Here is the example:

<span>&#8592;</span>

HOW TO ADD LEFT ARROW SYMBOL/EMOJI IN CSS?

To add the left arrow symbol/emoji in CSS, you can use a CSS entity or CSS shortcode. Use the shortcode section to copy the CSS entity code for the left arrow symbol/emoji.

Here is the example:

span {
  content: "\2190";
}

Conclusion

As you can see, these are the various ways you can use to type the left arrow symbol/emoji text in Word/Excel with or without using the keyboard.

My favorite method is using the copy and paste method followed by the left arrow symbol/emoji /emoji shortcut in Word for both Windows and Mac. The alt code method also comes handy.

For any comments or questions about this left arrow symbol/emoji guide, please let me know in the comments section below.