Clockwise Arrow (↻)

Q: What is the HTML code for the clockwise arrow?

Use the named entity &orarr; or the numeric reference ↻ (hex ↻). All three display ↻ in every browser.

The clockwise arrow ↻ is Unicode U+21BB, the circular arrow for refresh and repeat. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.

Unicode: U+21BB
HTML: &orarr;
Word: 21BB Alt+X

How to type the clockwise arrow (↻)

The quickest way is to press Copy above and paste. To type ↻ yourself, use the method for your device below.

Windows

In Word or Outlook, type 21BB and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. Tick “Advanced view”, search for Clockwise Open Circle Arrow, then Select and Copy. Character Map is built into every version of Windows.

Mac

Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for clockwise open circle arrow and double-click it.
With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 21BB.

Linux & ChromeOS

Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 21bb, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.

iPhone & iPad

Copy ↻ from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as ;cloc. The shortcut then turns into the symbol as you type, in every app.

Android

Copy ↻ here, then open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary and add it with a shortcut.

Microsoft Word

Type 21BB, then press Alt + X.
Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 21BB in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

Insert → Special characters, then search for “clockwise open circle arrow” or draw it in the box.

Excel & Google Sheets

Enter =UNICHAR(8635) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

Write &orarr; or ↻ in your HTML.

What does ↻ mean?

The clockwise arrow ↻ (CLOCKWISE OPEN CIRCLE ARROW) stands for refresh, reload or repeat, and for rotating an object clockwise in image editors. Its anticlockwise partner ↺ often means undo or rotate left. For a coloured icon use the emoji 🔄. In HTML, ↻ is &orarr;.

Common uses

Buttons: ↻ Refresh, ↻ Try again
Image tools: rotate 90° ↻
Playlists: repeat ↻

Clockwise Arrow codes for HTML, CSS and programming

Every code below produces ↻. Use the HTML entity in web pages, the CSS escape in content, and the escape sequence in source code.

Codes for ↻
Unicode code point	`U+21BB`
HTML entity (named)	`&orarr;`
HTML decimal	`↻`
HTML hex	`↻`
CSS content	`content: "\21BB";`
JavaScript	`"\u21BB"`
Python	`"\u21BB"`
Python (by name)	`"\N{CLOCKWISE OPEN CIRCLE ARROW}"`
Java / C#	`"\u21BB"`
UTF-8 bytes	`E2 86 BB`
UTF-16	`21BB`
URL encoded	`%E2%86%BB`

↻ vs look-alike characters

These characters look similar to ↻ but have a different meaning and code. Pasting the wrong one can break search, sorting and screen readers.

Char	Name	When to use it
	Clockwise Gapped Circle Arrow `U+27F3`	Clockwise gapped circle arrow (U+27F3), a similar refresh arrow.
	Anticlockwise Open Circle Arrow `U+21BA`	Anticlockwise open circle arrow.
	Anticlockwise Downwards and Upwards Open Circle Arrows `U+1F504`	Counterclockwise arrows button emoji.

Symbols similar to ↻

Click to copy, or open a symbol for its codes. See the full arrow symbols collection.

↻ character properties

Official Unicode name: CLOCKWISE OPEN CIRCLE ARROW
Also known as: refresh symbol, reload arrow, clockwise open circle arrow
Code point: U+21BB
Unicode block: Arrows (U+2190–U+21FF)
General category: Other symbol (So)
Added in: Unicode 1.1 (1993)
Plane: Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
Emoji: No, it is a text symbol

Frequently asked questions

What is the refresh symbol?

The clockwise arrow ↻ (U+21BB) or the similar ⟳ are the usual text refresh symbols. 🔄 is the emoji version.

Is there an alt code for the clockwise arrow?

No. ↻ is outside the Windows-1252 and code page 437 character sets, so no Alt + number code produces it. Copy it from this page, type 21BB then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.

How do I type the clockwise arrow on a Mac?

There is no single Option shortcut for ↻ on the US layout. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “clockwise open circle arrow” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.

What is the HTML code for the clockwise arrow?

Use the named entity ↻ or the numeric reference ↻ (hex ↻). All three display ↻ in every browser.

What is the Unicode for the clockwise arrow?

↻ is U+21BB, officially named CLOCKWISE OPEN CIRCLE ARROW, in the Arrows block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).