How to Insert a Tick Symbol in Word, Excel and Google Docs

Tick Symbol in Word Shortcut: 2713 then Alt+X

This is the best shortcut key for a tick mark symbol in Word on Windows. The tick symbol Word inserts this way is a real Unicode character, so it stays a tick even if you change the font or send the file to someone else.

1. Click where you want the tick.
2. Type 2713.
3. Press Alt+X. The number changes into ✓.

Use the same steps with other codes:

Tip: if the code is typed straight after a letter or number (for example "Done2713"), Word may read the extra characters as part of the code. Put a space first, or select only the four digits before pressing Alt+X. This shortcut works in Word for Windows; on a Mac, use Character Viewer or the Wingdings method below.

Insert a Tick Mark Symbol in Word with Wingdings

Method A: Wingdings 2 and capital P

1. In the font box on the Home tab, choose Wingdings 2.
2. Press Shift+P to type a capital P. It shows as a bold ✔-style tick.
3. Switch the font back to your normal font and keep typing.

Method B: Wingdings and ü

1. Choose the font Wingdings.
2. Hold Alt and type 0252 on the numeric keypad (Num Lock on). This types the letter ü, which Wingdings shows as a tick.
3. For a cross, use Alt+0251 instead, which types û and shows as an X.

Important: these Wingdings ticks are really the letters P, ü and û dressed in a special font. If you copy them into a chat, an email or a website, they will turn back into plain letters. For anything you will share outside Office, use the Unicode method (2713 then Alt+X) instead.

How to Insert a Tick Symbol in Word from the Symbol Menu

If you prefer clicking to typing codes, the Symbol dialog works in every version of Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

1. Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols.
2. In the Font list, choose Segoe UI Symbol.
3. At the bottom, set from to Unicode (hex) and type 2713 in the Character code box.
4. Click Insert, then Close.

Once inserted, the tick appears in the Recently used symbols row, so next time it is just two clicks away. The same dialog has a Shortcut Key button in Word, where you can give the tick a key combination of your own choice, and an AutoCorrect button, where you can set a word like (tick) to change into ✓ automatically.

Box with Tick Symbol in Word (☑) and Checklists

For a filled form or a printed checklist, you want a tick inside a box.

• Printed list: type 2611 then Alt+X to get ☑. Type 2612 then Alt+X for a box with an X.
• Clickable checkbox: turn on the Developer tab (File > Options > Customize Ribbon, tick Developer). Then go to Developer > Check Box Content Control. Clicking the box in the document ticks and unticks it.
• Tick bullets: on the Home tab, open the arrow next to Bullets, choose Define New Bullet > Symbol, and pick a tick. Every new line in the list now starts with ✓.

Tick Mark Symbol in Excel: Formula, Shortcut and Checkbox

Excel gives you a few extra ways to add a right symbol in Excel, including formulas that put ticks in automatically.

1. UNICHAR formula (Excel 2013 and newer)

1. Click a cell.
2. Type =UNICHAR(10003) and press Enter to get ✓. Use =UNICHAR(10004) for ✔ and =UNICHAR(10007) for ✗.

2. Wingdings shortcut in a cell

The fastest tick symbol in Excel shortcut is this font trick:

1. Select the cells and change their font to Wingdings 2.
2. Type a capital P for a tick.

Or set the font to Wingdings and use Alt+0252 for a tick, or the formula =CHAR(252). Remember these cells only show ticks while the font stays Wingdings.

3. Automatic tick and cross symbol in Excel

To mark pass and fail in a marks sheet, where B2 holds the score:

=IF(B2>=35,UNICHAR(10003),UNICHAR(10007))

Scores of 35 or more show ✓; anything lower shows ✗. Copy the formula down the column for the whole class.

4. Real checkboxes

In newer Microsoft 365 versions of Excel, go to Insert > Checkbox to put a clickable box in the selected cells. In older versions, use Developer > Insert > Check Box (Form Control).

Tick Mark in Google Docs, Google Sheets and PowerPoint

Google Docs

1. Click Insert > Special characters.
2. Type "check mark" in the search box.
3. Click the tick you want. It is placed at the cursor.

For a to-do list, use the checklist option on the toolbar (or Format > Bullets and numbering > Checklist).

Google Sheets

• For a clickable box: select cells, then Insert > Checkbox.
• For a tick character: type =UNICHAR(10003), or paste ✓ from this page.

PowerPoint

1. Click inside a text box.
2. Go to Insert > Symbol.
3. Choose Segoe UI Symbol and code 2713 (Unicode hex), or choose Wingdings and character code 252.
4. Click Insert.

For tick bullets on a slide, use Home > Bullets > Bullets and Numbering > Customize and pick the tick.

Check Mark Symbol on Keyboard: Phone and Mac

No normal keyboard has a tick key, and the tick has no standard Alt code. Here is what works on other devices:

• Mac: press Control+Command+Space, search "check", and double-click ✓ or ✔.
• Windows (any app): press Windows+. and search "check" in the emoji panel.
• Word or Excel app on a phone: open your keyboard's emoji panel and search "check" for ✔️ or ✅, or copy ✓ from this page and paste it.

To learn more about what each tick means and which one looks best, read the main tick symbol page. For X marks in every style, see the cross symbol page, and for other codes you can type with the Alt key, see our Alt codes list. More marking signs live in the math symbols section.