Make Your Own Shortcut for Any Symbol (Text Replacement Guide)

How-To Guides · 5 min read · Published October 25, 2026

Quick answer: pick a short code you would never type by accident, such as ;deg, and tell your device to replace it with the symbol (°). On iPhone go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement. On a Mac go to System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements. In Word use AutoCorrect, and in Google Docs use Tools → Preferences → Substitutions. After that, typing the code inserts the symbol, and you never need to look up an Alt code again.

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.

This is the best answer for symbols that have no Alt code at all, such as ✓, ≠ or →. It also helps on laptops without a numeric keypad, where Alt codes don't work.

Step 1: Choose triggers that won't backfire

The replacement fires every time you type the trigger, so it must never be a real word. Two patterns work well:

• Semicolon prefix: ;deg, ;tm, ;inf. A semicolon is almost never followed directly by a letter in normal writing.
• Doubled letters: ddeg, ttm. Use this if the semicolon is awkward on your phone keyboard.

Keep the same triggers on every device so your fingers learn them once.

Step 2: Set it up on your device

iPhone and iPad

1. Copy the symbol (for example from a symbol page on this site).
2. Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and tap +.
3. Paste the symbol into Phrase and type your trigger into Shortcut. Tap Save.

You can also get there while typing: touch and hold the globe or emoji key, then choose Keyboard Settings. Apple says your personal dictionary syncs to your other devices through iCloud when iCloud Drive sync is turned on (Settings → your name → iCloud).

Mac

1. Open System Settings → Keyboard and select Text Replacements.
2. Select +, type the trigger under Replace and paste the symbol under With.
3. Select Done.

Apple notes that text replacements are not available in every app. In an app that supports them, Edit → Substitutions → Text Replacement switches them on or off.

Microsoft Word, Outlook and other Office apps (Windows)

1. In Word, open File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options.
2. Type the trigger in Replace, paste the symbol in With, then select Add.

Microsoft says the AutoCorrect list is shared by the Office programs that support AutoCorrect, so one entry works in Word, Outlook and PowerPoint. Word already has a few: (c) becomes © and (tm) becomes ™. For other ways to add symbols in Word, see how to insert symbols in Word.

Google Docs

1. Open Tools → Preferences → Substitutions.
2. Type your trigger in the empty Replace box and the symbol in With, then select OK.

Docs already includes several substitutions, such as (c) → ©. Your entries belong to your Google account, so they work in Docs on any computer where you are signed in.

Android (Gboard)

1. Open Gboard's settings (the gear on the keyboard, or Settings → System → Keyboard).
2. Go to Dictionary → Personal dictionary, choose your language and tap +.
3. Paste the symbol as the word, and type your trigger in the shortcut field.

When you type the trigger, Gboard offers the symbol in the suggestion bar; tap it to insert. Menu names vary a little between Gboard versions and phone makers, and the shortcut belongs to Gboard only, so it won't work in another keyboard app. Samsung Keyboard has its own version, listed as text shortcuts in its settings.

Windows (outside Office)

Windows has no built-in, system-wide text replacement. Two practical options:

• Pinned clipboard items: press Win+V to open the clipboard history (turn it on the first time), copy your favourite symbols, and pin them. They stay in the list after a restart, and pasting one takes two keystrokes.
• The emoji and symbol panel: Win+. opens a panel with a Symbols tab that remembers what you used recently. See our emoji panel shortcut page.

Free third-party text expanders, such as the open-source AutoHotkey, can add true system-wide replacements if you need them. Install software only from its official website.

Step 3: A starter set

These symbols are the ones people most often look up and that are awkward to type. Copy each one from its page (click the symbol) and add the triggers you like:

For anything else, find the symbol on our symbols page and copy it into a new replacement.

Keep your shortcuts safe

• Apple: replacements travel with your Apple Account through iCloud, so a new iPhone or Mac gets them automatically once iCloud sync is on.
• Office: AutoCorrect entries are stored on the computer. Write your list down (or keep this page bookmarked) so you can recreate it on a new PC.
• Google Docs substitutions follow your Google account.

Sources

• Apple Support: Set up shorthand for frequently used text on iPhone
• Apple Support: Replace text and punctuation on Mac
• Microsoft Support: AutoCorrect options
• Google Docs Help: Autocorrect and substitutions in Google Docs

Frequently asked questions