How to type ← on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+27.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 27 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The left arrow symbol ← appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "left arrow". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ←, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ← on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ← on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "left arrow" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ← on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ←, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ← in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;left in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ← anywhere.
How to type ← on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ← as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ← in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 2190 where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ←.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 2190 in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(8592) returns the symbol.
How to type ← in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "left arrow" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(8592).
← in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ← |
| HTML decimal | ← |
| HTML hex | ← |
CSS content | "\2190" |
| JavaScript | "\u2190" |
| Python | "\u2190" |
| LaTeX | \leftarrow |
| URL encoded | %E2%86%90 |
Because ← is a standard Unicode character (U+2190), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the left arrow symbol is used
It appears in UI buttons like "← Back" or "← Previous," in math and logic to show mappings or assignment (x ← 5), and in diagrams to indicate flow direction. It's often confused with the double-lined ⇐, which usually means "implies" in logic, or the plain hyphen-based "<-" used in code.
Frequently asked questions
What does the left arrow symbol mean? +
It generally means direction, return, or previous, depending on context. In UI design it points users back; in math it can show a value being assigned.
Is ← the same as the ASCII arrow made from <-? +
No. The ASCII version is two separate characters (a less-than sign and hyphen), while ← is a single dedicated Unicode symbol.
What is the Alt code for the left arrow symbol? +
The Alt code for ← is Alt+27. Hold Alt, type 27 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ← on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ←. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "left arrow", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the left arrow symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ← by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for ←? +
Use ← in HTML. The numeric form ← works too. In CSS use content: "\2190" and in JavaScript use "\u2190".