How to Type Check Mark Symbol on Every Device

Here’s the ridiculous part: we all need check marks constantly. Todo lists, spreadsheets, forms, emails saying “yes, I did that thing.” Yet somehow, nobody teaches you how to actually type them. So here’s every single way to type a check mark, on every device you own.

The Check Mark Variations You Actually Want

Before we dive into methods, let’s clear this up. There are different check marks for different moods:

✓ (U+2713) – Basic check mark
✔ (U+2714) – Heavy check mark
☑ (U+2611) – Ballot box with check
✅ (U+2705) – White heavy check mark (the emoji one)
☒ (U+2612) – Ballot box with X
✗ (U+2717) – Ballot X (technically not a check, but useful)
✘ (U+2718) – Heavy ballot X

Most people want ✓ or ✅. The first looks professional, the second is friendly. Pick your fighter.

Windows: More Options Than You Need

Method 1: Alt Code (The Classic)

For ✓ (check mark):

Hold Alt
Type 251 on numeric keypad
Release Alt

For ✔ (heavy check mark):

Hold Alt
Type 10004
Release Alt

Critical detail: Must use numeric keypad, not top row numbers. No numeric keypad on your laptop? Keep reading.

Method 2: Windows + Period (The Modern Way)

Press Windows + . (period)
Click symbols tab (Ω icon)
Scroll or search for ✓
Click it

This is actually faster once you know where to look. Works everywhere in Windows 10/11.

Method 3: Character Map (The Old Reliable)

Windows key, type “character map”
Find check mark (usually in Symbols section)
Select, Copy
Paste where needed

Stone age method, but works on every Windows version since 95.

Method 4: Word/Office AutoCorrect

In Microsoft Office, just type:

(c) becomes ©
(r) becomes ®
(tm) becomes ™

But for check marks, set up your own:

File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
Replace: (check)
With: ✓
Now typing (check) anywhere in Office gives you ✓

Mac: Elegant as Always

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut

For ✓: Option + V

That’s it. Seriously. Mac users have been typing check marks in two keys while Windows users memorize Alt codes. Classic Apple.

Method 2: Character Viewer

Control + Command + Space
Type “check” in search
Double-click your chosen check mark

Or the menu bar way:

Edit menu → Emoji & Symbols
Search “check”
Double-click to insert

Method 3: Text Replacement

Set up permanent shortcut:

System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements
Click +
Replace: ;check
With: ✓

Now typing ;check anywhere on Mac becomes ✓. I use semicolon prefix for all my symbols to avoid accidents.

iPhone/iPad: Hidden in Plain Sight

Method 1: Emoji Keyboard

Switch to emoji keyboard
Search for “check”
Pick ✅ or ☑️

But this gives you emoji version, not clean text symbol.

Method 2: Text Replacement (System-Wide)

Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
Tap +
Phrase: ✓
Shortcut: chk
Save

Now typing “chk” anywhere becomes ✓. Syncs across all Apple devices if iCloud is on.

Method 3: Copy from Notes

Keep a note with commonly used symbols. Copy-paste as needed. Primitive but works.

Method 4: Third-Party Keyboards

Apps like Symbol Keyboard add symbol keys. But honestly, text replacement is faster.

Android: Depends on Your Keyboard

Method 1: Gboard (Google Keyboard)

Long-press the checkmark key (if visible)
Or switch to symbols (?123)
Then to secondary symbols (=<)
Look for ✓

Location varies by phone. Samsung puts it somewhere different than Pixel.

Method 2: Text Shortcuts

Settings → System → Languages & input
Virtual keyboard → Gboard → Dictionary
Personal dictionary → Add
Type ✓ for word, “chk” for shortcut

Method 3: Copy-Paste

Google “check mark symbol,” copy it, paste it. Not elegant, but universal.

Google Docs/Sheets: Built-In but Hidden

Method 1: Insert Menu

Insert → Special characters
Search: “check”
Click the one you want

Method 2: Automatic Substitution

Google Docs automatically converts:

(c) → ©
(tm) → ™
But not check marks (why, Google?)

Method 3: Custom Substitution

Tools → Preferences → Substitutions
Add your own:
- Replace: :check:
- With: ✓
Now :check: becomes ✓ automatically

Microsoft Word: Too Many Options

Method 1: Symbol Dialog

Insert → Symbol
Font: Normal text
Subset: Dingbats or Geometric Shapes
Find ✓, click Insert

Method 2: Alt+X Method

Type the Unicode, then Alt+X:

Type 2713 then Alt+X = ✓
Type 2714 then Alt+X = ✔
Type 2611 then Alt+X = ☑

Method 3: Wingdings

Type lowercase “a”
Select it
Change font to Wingdings
Becomes ✓

But now you have Wingdings in your document. Ugh.

Method 4: Bullet Points

Home → Bullets dropdown
Define New Bullet
Symbol → choose check mark
Now your bullets are check marks

Excel: Special Cases

Method 1: CHAR Function

In a cell, type: =CHAR(252)

Returns ✓. But it’s a formula, not static text.

Method 2: Format Cells Trick

Type “a” in cell
Format Cells → Font → Wingdings
“a” becomes ✓

Method 3: Conditional Formatting

Make cells show check marks automatically:

Select cells
Conditional Formatting → Icon Sets
Choose check marks/X marks set
Set rules (like >0 shows check)

This is actually brilliant for dashboards.

HTML/Web: Multiple Approaches

Method 1: HTML Entities

&#10003;  <!-- check mark -->
&#10004;  <!-- heavy check mark -->
&#9745;   <!-- ballot box with check -->

Method 2: Unicode Directly

✓
✔
☑

Method 3: CSS Content

.checkmark::before {
    content: "\2713";
}

Method 4: Font Awesome

<i class="fas fa-check"></i>

But requires loading Font Awesome library.

Slack/Discord/Teams: It’s Complicated

Slack

Type :white_check_mark: → ✅ Type :heavy_check_mark: → ✔️

Or just paste the Unicode symbol.

Discord

Same as Slack, emoji shortcodes work.

Microsoft Teams

Either:

Windows + . (period) for emoji picker
Copy-paste Unicode
Type (y) for thumbs up (not check, but close)

Email Clients: Each One Different

Gmail

No built-in method
Copy-paste works
Or use Unicode

Outlook

Insert → Symbol
Or Alt codes
Or AutoCorrect setup

Apple Mail

Option + V on Mac
Emoji keyboard on iOS
Character Viewer

The Universal Copy-Paste List

Can’t remember any of this? Copy these:

Check Marks:

✓ – Basic check
✔ – Heavy check
✅ – Emoji check
☑ – Box with check
☑️ – Box with check (emoji)

X Marks:

✗ – Basic X
✘ – Heavy X
❌ – Emoji X
☒ – Box with X

Related:

⍻ – Incomplete check
✓̸ – Check with slash
◯ – Empty circle
◉ – Filled circle

Save this somewhere. Copy when needed.

My Personal System

After years of typing check marks daily, here’s my setup:

On Mac:

Option + V for quick checks
Text replacement “;ch” → ✓ for consistency

On Windows:

Windows + . → Symbols tab
Pinned ✓ to clipboard manager

On Phone:

Text replacement “chk” → ✓
Syncs everywhere via iCloud

In documents:

Professional docs: ✓ (clean, simple)
Casual communication: ✅ (friendly)
Lists: ☐ ☑ (shows progress)
Never: Wingdings (please, no)

Common Problems and Solutions

“Alt codes don’t work”

You’re using laptop keyboard. Solutions:

Use Windows + . instead
Enable on-screen keyboard with numpad
Get external keyboard
Just copy-paste

“Check mark shows as square/question mark”

Font doesn’t support Unicode. Solutions:

Change to standard font (Arial, Times)
Update your software
Use different check mark variant
Install font with better Unicode support

“Check mark looks different on different devices”

That’s normal. ✅ on iPhone looks different than Windows. Unicode defines meaning, not exact appearance. Deal with it or use images.

“I need colored check marks”

Text symbols inherit color from surrounding text. Want green check?

In Word: Select check, change font color
In HTML: <span style="color: green">✓</span>
In apps: Usually can’t control color

Quick Decision Guide

Need check mark once? Copy-paste: ✓

Need it occasionally? Learn your OS shortcut:

Mac: Option + V
Windows: Win + .

Need it constantly? Set up text replacement

In specific app? Learn that app’s method

Building website? Use HTML entity: ✓

Making spreadsheet? Use conditional formatting

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to memorize all these methods. Pick one that works for your main device and stick with it. For most people, that’s:

Mac users: Option + V
Windows users: Windows + Period
Phone users: Text replacement
Everyone else: Copy-paste

The check mark has been in Unicode since 1993. There’s no excuse for typing “CHECK” or “[x]” anymore. We have the technology. Use it.

And please, whatever you do, don’t use Wingdings in professional documents. Your check mark shouldn’t require someone to install a special font. Keep it simple, keep it Unicode, keep it universal.