The upwards arrow ↑ is the plain text arrow. Type 2191 then Alt+X in Word. It marks an increase in a data table, exponentiation in Knuth's arrow notation, and the Shift key on some keyboard diagrams. A separate emoji version exists at U+2B06.
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 "Upwards Arrow" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 2191, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 2191, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | ↑ · \2191 (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 Upwards Arrow (U+2191).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Upwards Arrow" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 2191.
- 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+2B06) | Upwards black arrow, usually shown as an emoji | For a coloured arrow. It will not match the surrounding text. |
| ⇧ (U+21E7) | Upwards white arrow, the Shift key symbol | The conventional glyph for Shift in Mac keyboard shortcuts. |
| ^ (U+005E) | Caret | For exponentiation in spreadsheets and as a regular-expression anchor. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the up arrow?
It is U+2191, decimal 8593. There is no Windows Alt code for it.
What is the Shift key symbol?
It is the hollow up arrow at U+21E7, not the plain arrow. Mac documentation uses it in shortcut notation alongside ⌘ and ⌥.
What does ↑ mean in a table?
A rise against the previous period. Pairing it with a colour is common, though colour alone should never carry the meaning for accessibility reasons.
What is Knuth's arrow notation?
A way of writing very large numbers where one arrow means exponentiation, two mean repeated exponentiation, and so on. It grows far faster than ordinary powers.
How do I type it in Word?
Type 2191 and press Alt+X. The Symbol dialog also lists arrows under the Arrows subset.