How to copy and paste symbols here
- Pick a category, or scroll through all the symbols.
- Tap a symbol once to copy it, then paste it wherever you like.
- Need several? Switch on collect mode. Each symbol you tap is added to a tray instead of being copied straight away.
- When the tray looks right, copy everything in one go. This is handy for a divider line, a row of rating stars or a set of symbols for a bio.
Text symbols by category
Here is what each group of symbols is good for. The tool above has the full grids.
| Category | A few examples | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Hearts | ♥ ♡ ❤ | Bios, love notes, cute names |
| Stars and sparkles | ★ ☆ ✦ | Ratings, names, aesthetic captions |
| Arrows | → ➜ ↓ | Lists, "link below" lines, directions |
| Check marks and crosses | ✓ ✔ ✗ | To-do lists, yes/no lists, pros and cons |
| Flowers | ✿ ❀ ❁ | Soft and aesthetic bios |
| Music | ♪ ♫ | Song lyrics posts, playlist names |
| Gaming name symbols | ꧁ ꧂ 亗 ツ | Nicknames in Free Fire, BGMI and more |
| Brackets and frames | 【 】 『 』 | Headings, tags, titles |
| Math and currency | ∞ ± ₹ € | Notes, prices, study posts |
| Weather and sky | ☀ ☁ ☾ | Captions, mood lines |
What are special characters, really?
Every symbol here is a Unicode character, exactly like the letter A. Unicode is the shared list of characters that phones and computers agree on, and it holds well over a hundred thousand of them. That is why you can paste ★ into Instagram, WhatsApp or a game: you are not sending a picture, just a character code. Your device then draws it with whatever fonts it has, so the same symbol can look slightly different on an iPhone, an Android phone and a Windows PC.
How to type symbols without copy and paste
Copying from this page is quickest for rare symbols, but your devices have keyboard symbols built in too:
- Windows emoji panel: press Win + . (full stop). Besides emoji, it has a symbols tab with arrows, currency, maths and more.
- Windows Alt codes: hold Alt and type a number on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on. In many Windows apps, Alt + 3 gives ♥, Alt + 26 gives →, Alt + 0176 gives ° and Alt + 0169 gives ©. The number keys along the top of the keyboard don't work for this, so laptops without a number pad usually can't use Alt codes.
- Mac: press Ctrl + Cmd + Space to open the Character Viewer, then search for a word like "arrow". Some symbols have shortcuts too: Option + G types © and Option + 8 types •.
- Android (Gboard): tap ?123, then =\< for a second page of symbols such as ✓, ©, ° and •. Long-press some keys to see extra versions.
- iPhone: tap 123, then #+=. Long-press keys for hidden extras; for example, holding the hyphen offers longer dashes and a bullet.
- Shortcuts on any phone: save a symbol you use often as a text shortcut. On iPhone this is in Settings under Keyboard, Text Replacement; on Gboard it is the personal dictionary. Then typing a short code like "hrt" can insert ♡.
Why some symbols turn into colourful emoji
Some characters have two looks: a plain text version and a colour emoji version. ☀, ✔ and ❤ are common examples. An invisible character called a variation selector, placed right after the symbol, tells the device which look to use. One asks for the emoji style and another asks for the plain text style. Many keyboards add the emoji selector automatically, and some apps and phones show the emoji look even without it.
If you want a symbol to stay plain and match your text, pick one that has no emoji form at all. ♡, ✦, ✧ and ✓ stay as text almost everywhere, while ⭐ and ✨ are always emoji.
Symbols for gaming names and bios
Gamers love ꧁ ꧂, 亗, ツ and ☬ because they frame a name neatly. Game fonts support far fewer characters than phones, though, so a symbol that looks fine in this tool can show up as a box in a lobby. The stylish name generator builds whole decorated names and checks the length for your game. For bios, combine one or two symbols with words, or mix in colour from the emoji combos page. Our guide to bio layouts with symbols and emojis has ready-made layouts.
Want small pictures and faces made of symbols? See text art. To mix symbols with fancy letters in one name, use the Name and Bio Builder.
Why a symbol shows as a box
An empty box (sometimes with a question mark or a code inside) means the device that is showing the text has no font with that character. It is common on older phones and inside games. The symbol is still there, and someone on a newer phone will see it correctly. If your audience is wide, stick to well-known symbols. Screen readers also read symbols aloud by their names, so use them as decoration, not in place of words.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy several symbols at once?
Turn on collect mode, tap each symbol you want so it goes into the tray, then copy the whole tray in one tap.
Are these symbols free to use?
Yes. They are standard Unicode characters that anyone can type, so you can use them in posts, names, documents and messages.
What is the difference between a symbol and an emoji?
Both are Unicode characters. Text symbols take the colour of your text and look like part of the font. Emoji are drawn in full colour by your phone's emoji set. A few characters can appear either way.
How do I type symbols on my keyboard?
On Windows, press Win + . for the emoji and symbols panel, or use Alt codes on a numeric keypad. On a Mac, press Ctrl + Cmd + Space. On phones, use the symbol pages of your keyboard or save shortcuts for symbols you use often.
Why did my symbol turn into a coloured emoji?
That symbol has an emoji version, and your device or app chose it. Pick a similar symbol that has no emoji form, such as ♡ instead of ❤, if you want it to stay plain.
Can I use symbols in my Instagram name?
Yes, the Name field accepts most symbols. Your username can't use them, though. The Instagram fonts page explains which fields accept what.
What are the most popular aesthetic symbols?
Soft, light symbols such as ✧, ✦, ♡, ✿, ☾ and ⋆ are the usual picks for an aesthetic look. For cool symbols with more edge, gamers lean towards ꧁ ꧂, 亗 and ☬.