Right arrow → symbol in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Office-Watch.comLast updated: 29 May 2023

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Insert the Right arrow → into Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Outlook. Both in Office for Windows and Office for Mac. The official Unicode name is ‘Rightward Arrow” → but it can be called ‘Right pointing’ ‘Right facing’ or just ‘Right Arrow’.

Want more arrows or pointers? Check out all 200+ Arrow or Hand pointing symbols and more in a searchable list.

Right arrow → symbol is used in maths to mean a value approaches another value. Commonly in formula like x → 0 or x → ∞ (infinity).

It can also be used as the symbol in a bulleted list for Word or PowerPoint, see below.

It’ll occasionally appear in other text. Talking Heads first single was called “Love → Building on Fire” to the confusion of the few radio DJ’s who played it. It’s usually spoken as “Love goes to Building on Fire”.

There are also right pointing hand options, see All the right pointing hand symbols in Word and Office

How Rightward arrow → looks in different fonts.

Here’s some examples of how Rightward arrow → looks in common Office fonts.

Rightward arrow → codes

These are the important code numbers or values you’ll need to enter the Rightward arrow or →

Decimal: 8594 Hex: 2192

Web:  &rarr; or &#8594; or &#x2192;

(web codes aren’t used in Microsoft Office, we’ve included them for the sake of completeness.)

Right Arrow and AutoCorrect

Word has a long-standing AutoCorrect entries to make another type of right arrow.

Typing a hyphen and Greater Than ( -> ) then Enter can start a bulleted list with a right-arrow as the bullet. However, its Wingdings font, character 232 which is thicker.

Two hyphens, Greater Than ( –> ) also inserts the Wingdings right arrow 224 instead of the regular right arrow → in the current font.

If you like, change the Autocorrect entry at File | Options | Proofing | AutoCorrect

Alternatively use the standard Word Alt + X symbol shortcut 2192 + Alt + X

Once in a document you can copy it to AutoCorrect and make your own shortcut.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Insert | Symbols | Symbol and look for the Rightward arrow symbol.

Windows

In Windows there are several shortcuts to enter the Rightward arrow → character into any program, but they use a numeric keypad, not the number row above the letters.

Alt + 8594

Windows Character Map

The Windows Character Map accessory in all Windows releases

Character Map has a search feature, something missing from the Insert | Symbol in Office.

MacOS and Office for Mac inserting characters

On a Mac, to enter the Rightward arrow → symbol:

Command + Control + Spacebar shortcut to open the Character Viewer.
Choose ‘Arrows’ from left-side list.
There are more right pointing arrows than any sane person could ever need! The first one is the standard ‘Rightwards Arrow’.