How to type a check mark on Windows
Windows has no alt code for the check mark ✓, so no Alt + number combination will produce it. The reliable ways to type a check mark on Windows are 2713 then Alt + X in Word, the emoji panel (Win + .) for ✔️, Character Map, or copying ✓ once and pinning it.
Quick answer
In Word or Outlook: type 2713, then press Alt + X → ✓. Elsewhere: Win + . and search “check”.
Step by step
Open Character Map
Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. It ships with every version of Windows.
Switch to Advanced view
Tick “Advanced view” at the bottom so the search box appears, and set the font to Segoe UI Symbol.
Search for the tick
Type “check mark” into “Search for” and click Search. ✓ and the heavier ✔ appear in the grid.
Select, copy, paste
Double-click ✓, click Copy, then paste it into any app with Ctrl + V.
Why ✓ has no alt code
Windows alt codes can only reach the 256 characters in code page 437 and Windows-1252. The check mark (U+2713) arrived later with the Dingbats block, so it sits outside both tables. Many websites suggest Alt + 251, but that produces √, the square root sign. It looks like a tick in some fonts, yet spreadsheets, search engines and screen readers treat it as maths.
The emoji panel route
Press Win + . (or Win + ;), type “check” and pick ✔️, ✅ or ☑️. These are the emoji versions, so they appear in colour and may look out of place in a formal document. For a plain black tick that matches your text, copy ✓ from our check mark symbol page instead.
Word, Outlook and Excel
Alt + X is a Word feature, and it also works in Outlook because Outlook uses the Word editor. In Excel, enter =UNICHAR(10003) in a cell. The check mark in Word and check mark in Excel guides cover ticks inside checklists, conditional ticks and the Wingdings 2 method.
Build your own shortcut
Windows has no built-in, system-wide text replacement, but two tricks come close. In Word, add an AutoCorrect entry (File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options) that turns a code such as :tick into ✓. Outside Word, copy ✓ once, press Win + V to open clipboard history and pin it; it stays available after restarts. Browse the other tick and cross symbols if you also need ✗ or ☐.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an alt code for a check mark?
No. ✓ is outside the character sets that Windows alt codes can reach, so no Alt + number combination types it.
Can I use Alt + 251 as a tick?
It gives √, the square root sign. It resembles a tick but means something different to search, sorting and screen readers, so use a real ✓.
How can I keep ✓ one keystroke away?
Copy it once, press Win + V to open clipboard history, and pin it. It then stays in the list until you unpin it.