SymbolHub

Cloud Symbol (☁)

The cloud symbol ☁ is Unicode U+2601, the cloud used for cloudy weather. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.

Unicode
U+2601
HTML
☁
Word
2601 Alt+X

How to type the cloud symbol (☁)

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

Windows

  1. In Word or Outlook, type 2601 and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
  2. Press Win + . to open the emoji panel, then search for “cloud”.

Mac

  1. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for cloud and double-click it.
  2. With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 2601.

Linux & ChromeOS

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2601, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.

iPhone & iPad

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

Android

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

Microsoft Word

  1. Type 2601, then press Alt + X.
  2. Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 2601 in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

  1. Insert → Special characters, then search for “cloud” or draw it in the box.

Excel & Google Sheets

  1. Enter =UNICHAR(9729) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

  1. Write ☁ or ☁ in your HTML.

What does ☁ mean?

☁ stands for cloudy or overcast weather in text forecasts and weather widgets. It has been in Unicode since the first version, in the Miscellaneous Symbols block alongside ☀ and ☂, so it displays on practically every device.

Beyond weather, the shape is a common shorthand for “the cloud” in the computing sense: online storage, sync and hosted services. In that role an icon font or SVG is usually better in an interface, but ☁ works in plain-text status messages and notes. Like the sun, it has an emoji form ☁️ with the U+FE0F selector, and ⛅ combines sun and cloud for partly cloudy days.

Cloud Symbol 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.

Unicode code pointU+2601
HTML decimal☁
HTML hex☁
CSS contentcontent: "\2601";
JavaScript"\u2601"
Python"\u2601"
Python (by name)"\N{CLOUD}"
Java / C#"\u2601"
UTF-8 bytesE2 98 81
UTF-162601
URL encoded%E2%98%81

☁ 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.

CharNameWhen to use it
Sun Behind Cloud
U+26C5		Sun behind cloud: partly cloudy.
Cloud
U+2601 U+FE0F		The emoji form of the same character, shown in colour.

Symbols similar to ☁

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

☁ character properties

Official Unicode name
CLOUD
Also known as
cloudy symbol, cloud sign
Code point
U+2601
Unicode block
Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
General category
Other symbol (So)
Added in
Unicode 1.1 (1993)
Plane
Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
Emoji
Has an emoji form: ☁️ (add U+FE0F)

Frequently asked questions

What does ☁ mean in a forecast?

Cloudy or overcast skies. For rain forecasters add ☂ or ☔, and for mixed sun and cloud they use ⛅.

Can I use ☁ for cloud storage?

Yes, it is widely understood that way in text, for example “Saved to ☁”.

Is there an alt code for the cloud symbol?

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 2601 then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.

How do I type the cloud symbol 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 “cloud” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.

What is the HTML code for the cloud symbol?

☁ has no named HTML entity. Use the numeric reference ☁ or ☁, or paste the character directly into a UTF-8 page.

What is the Unicode for the cloud symbol?

☁ is U+2601, officially named CLOUD, in the Miscellaneous Symbols block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).