How to Insert Symbols and Special Characters in Word
To insert symbols or special characters in Word, choose Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Select the font and character range, then insert the symbol as text that you can resize and recolor.
This guide covers the desktop version of Word for Windows. Menu names and positions can differ between versions.
Insert a symbol
- Place the cursor where the symbol belongs and open Insert.
- Choose Symbol → More Symbols.
- Select the character and choose Insert. Close the dialog after inserting the characters you need.
Find a symbol that is not visible
Changing the Font changes the available character set. When a Subset option appears, narrow the list to a useful range such as mathematical or currency symbols. Similar-looking symbols can have different character codes and font dependencies.
Wingdings, Wingdings 2, and Wingdings 3 contain many picture-like symbols. They are font-based characters, so changing fonts or opening the file in an environment without the font can affect their appearance. Check the result rather than treating them as embedded pictures.
Change size or color and share the document
Select the inserted symbol and use Home to adjust its font size or color. If it does not align with surrounding text, inspect both its font and size. To preserve the appearance when sharing, check font embedding restrictions or inspect the result of exporting the document to PDF.
How to Save a Word Document as a PDF
Learn how to export a Word document as a PDF and choose page, quality, and markup settings. Check the saved file for font and layout changes.
How to Embed Fonts in a Word Document
Choose font embedding options for reading or editing and understand font permission restrictions. Compare an editable Word file with a PDF for sharing.
How to Convert Footnotes and Endnotes in Word
Choose between converting every footnote or endnote and converting individual notes. Check the reference links and note locations after conversion.
How to Stop Word from Creating Backup Files
Turn automatic .wbk backup copies off or on in Word. Understand why existing backups remain and how this setting differs from AutoRecover and AutoSave.
How to Set First-Line and Hanging Indents in Word
Compare first-line, hanging, and whole-paragraph indentation. Set precise values in the Paragraph dialog, adjust ruler markers, and remove an indent.
How to Insert Symbols and Special Characters in Word
Find and insert special characters using font and subset choices. Understand Wingdings symbols and check how they appear when the document is shared.
How to Copy Formatting in Word with Format Painter
Use Format Painter for text or paragraph formatting and apply it to multiple selections. Learn the current shortcuts and how formatting differs from styles.
Word AutoRecover Interval and Backup Settings Explained
Distinguish AutoSave, AutoRecover, and .wbk backups. Change recovery intervals, enable backup copies, and find unsaved documents or earlier versions.
How to Add, Use, and Delete Bookmarks in Word
Name document locations with bookmarks, jump to them, and display or remove the markers. Learn how to use a bookmark as the destination of an internal link.
How to Create and Update a Table of Contents in Word
Build an automatic table of contents from heading styles, update its entries, and choose heading levels. Troubleshoot missing headings and edits overwritten by updates.