The black right-pointing triangle ▶ has no Windows Alt code, so copy it or type 25B6 then Alt+X in Word. It is the universal play symbol on media controls, and it also marks a collapsed section that expands when clicked.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Black Right-Pointing Triangle" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 25B6, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 25b6, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | ▶ · \25b6 (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Windows
- Open Character Map: Win+R, type charmap, press Enter.
- Search or scroll for Black Right-Pointing Triangle (U+25B6).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Black Right-Pointing Triangle" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 25B6.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to ▶.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ► (U+25BA) | Black right-pointing pointer, a slightly different shape | A wider, flatter triangle. Common in older interfaces and DOS-era text. |
| ‣ (U+2023) | Triangular bullet, a punctuation character | For list markers, where it is sized to sit alongside text. |
| ▶️ with colour | The same code point with an emoji presentation selector | Adding U+FE0F forces the colour emoji form. Without it you get the plain glyph. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the right-pointing triangle?
It is U+25B6, decimal 9654. There is no Windows Alt code for it.
Why does it sometimes appear in colour?
A variation selector after the character requests the emoji form. U+25B6 followed by U+FE0F renders as a coloured play button, and the bare character renders as plain text.
What is the difference between ▶ and ►?
They are separate code points with slightly different proportions. U+25B6 is the taller triangle used as a play symbol, and U+25BA is a flatter pointer inherited from older character sets.
Why is a triangle the play symbol?
It came from the tape-transport controls on reel-to-reel machines, where the arrow showed the direction the tape would travel. The convention outlived the hardware.
Can I use it to mark an expandable section?
Yes, and browsers do exactly that for the details element. Rotate it to point down when the section is open, which is the standard disclosure pattern.