Arrows
How to type Left arrow (←)
Copy the character, or use the shortcut that matches your keyboard and app.
Windows
Hold Alt and type 27 on the numeric keypad.
Mac
Character Viewer → arrow
Microsoft Word
Type 2190 then Alt + X
Google Docs
Insert → Special characters → arrow
How to insert it
Copy
Click the keycap, then paste with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V.
Alt code
Num Lock on, hold Alt, type 27, release Alt.
Code
Use the Unicode, HTML, CSS, or JS value below in documents and stylesheets.
- Unicode
U+2190- HTML decimal
←- HTML hex
←- CSS
\2190- JavaScript
\u{2190}- Alt code
Alt + 27
Related
About the Left arrow
The Left arrow (←, U+2190) points left — for "back", "previous", and reverse direction.
Arrows do heavy lifting in documents: flowcharts, instructions, chat replies, and interface labels. Direction is the whole point, so each arrow has its own code — double-check you've grabbed the right one before pasting.
If you type ← regularly, stop copying it. On Windows, hold Alt and type 27 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer and find it instantly. In Word, type 2190 and press Alt+X. The full code list is in the reference table below.
In Unicode it lives in the Arrows block, so it behaves the same everywhere Unicode is supported — which today means virtually every device, app, and browser. Related symbols: Right arrow, Up arrow, Down arrow.
Left arrow quick reference
| Symbol | ← |
|---|---|
| Name | Left arrow |
| Unicode | U+2190 |
| Alt code | Alt + 27 |
| HTML decimal | ← |
| HTML hex | ← |
| HTML entity | ← |
| CSS | \2190 |
| JavaScript | \u2190 |
| URL encoded | %E2%86%90 |
Compatibility: Displays correctly on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac.
How to type ← on your phone
iPhone / iPad
iPhones have no Alt codes. The fastest way is to copy the symbol above and paste it where you need it. To reuse it often, save it as a text replacement: go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, tap +, paste the symbol into Phrase and give it a Shortcut.
Android
On Gboard, tap ?123 then =\< to open the symbols keyboard — many symbols hide under a long-press on related keys. Otherwise just copy the symbol above and paste it; it works in every app.