How to Insert Symbols in Google Docs: Special Characters and Emoji

How-To Guides · 3 min read · Published October 25, 2026

Quick answer: in Google Docs, go to Insert → Symbols → Special characters. Search by name (for example "arrow"), type the Unicode value (2713 for ✓), or draw the symbol in the box, then click it to insert. For symbols you use often, add an automatic substitution under Tools → Preferences.

Quick reference: every method

Every Alt code below is verified against the real Windows code pages — where none exists we say so, rather than list one that won’t work.

Method 1: Special characters

1. Click where the symbol should go.
2. Open Insert → Symbols → Special characters.
3. Find the character in one of three ways:
   • Categories: the two drop-down menus (for example Symbol → Arrows, Symbol → Math, Symbol → Currency).
   • Search: type a name or a Unicode value. Search "2260" and ≠ appears.
   • Draw: sketch the symbol in the box on the right and pick from the matches.
4. Click the character. The window stays open for more.

The same tool is in Google Slides. Google Sheets doesn't have it; see symbols in Google Sheets.

Method 2: automatic substitutions

Under Tools → Preferences → Substitutions, Docs replaces typed text with symbols as you type. The default list includes common ones such as (c) → ©. Look at the list in your account to see the rest. Add your own pairs, for example:

Start your codes with a character you rarely type, such as a colon, so normal words are never replaced. More ideas: text replacement shortcuts.

Method 3: keyboard methods that work in the browser

• Windows Alt codes (numeric keypad): Alt+0176 °, Alt+0177 ±, Alt+0128 €, Alt+0169 ©. Only codes up to 255 exist; see the Alt code list.
• Windows emoji panel: Win+. → Symbols tab (how it works).
• Mac: Option keys such as Option+G for © and Option+= for ≠, or Ctrl+Cmd+Space for the Character Viewer.

Word's Alt+X trick does not work in Google Docs.

Emoji

Type @emoji and press Enter, use Insert → Symbols → Emoji, or type a colon and a word, for example :cat, to search for an emoji right in the text. The colon search can be turned off under Tools → Preferences.

Equations, superscript and subscript

• Insert → Equation opens the equation bar. Type a backslash command and a space: \alpha → α, \pi → π, \infty → ∞, \leq → ≤. See LaTeX math symbols for more names.
• Superscript: Ctrl+. (Mac: Cmd+.). Subscript: Ctrl+, (Mac: Cmd+,).
• For a squared sign that keeps its look when pasted elsewhere, use the character ² instead (Alt+0178). See squared and cubed.

On phones and tablets

The Docs app has no Special characters tool. Touch and hold keys on the keyboard (hold $ for €, £ and ¥, hold - for the dashes), or copy a symbol from this site and paste it. See symbols on iPhone and Android.

If a symbol appears as an empty box in a downloaded PDF or Word file, the chosen font lacks it; read why symbols show as boxes. Related: symbols in Word.

Frequently asked questions