You learned to type a symbol in Word with Alt+X, you try it in Excel, and nothing happens: the code just sits there in the cell. Excel does not have that command, but it offers other routes, including a function Word does not have. Here are the ones worth knowing, with examples to try in an empty workbook.
The UNICHAR function: one code, one symbol
UNICHAR returns the character for a Unicode code given in decimal. Type =UNICHAR(8364) and the cell shows €. =UNICHAR(169) gives ©, =UNICHAR(8594) a right arrow, and =UNICHAR(10003) a check mark ✓.
Mind the difference with Word: Alt+X expects a hexadecimal code, while UNICHAR expects a decimal number. The hexadecimal code 20AC for the euro sign becomes 8364. If you are working from a Unicode table, convert it first with =HEX2DEC("20AC").
The function combines with text: ="Price: "&A2&" "&UNICHAR(8364) adds the symbol to a value. In the other direction, =UNICODE("€") returns 8364, which helps when you need the code of a character from a file you received. There is also the CHAR function, but it is limited to codes 1 to 255 of the Windows code page. For anything beyond that, UNICHAR is the right choice.
Alt codes work inside a cell
Alt codes typed on the numeric keypad work in Excel as they do in the rest of Windows. Hold Alt, type 0176 on the keypad, release: the ° symbol appears in the cell you are editing. Alt+0169 gives © and Alt+0128 gives €. They need a numeric keypad, which rules out most laptops unless the keypad mode is switched on.
The Insert menu and the Windows+period panel
On the Insert tab, the Symbols group holds the Symbol button. The dialog offers a grid, a subset filter and a "Character code" field where you can type the hexadecimal value directly. For a rare symbol, it is the most visual way.
Faster: on Windows 11, Windows+period opens the emoji and symbol panel, which inserts into the active cell. It keeps a list of recently used characters, which covers most everyday needs.
AutoCorrect for the symbols you use often
Excel applies AutoCorrect to text typed into cells: (c) becomes © and (r) becomes ®. You add your own entries under File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options. An entry such as ;ok for ✓ or ;deg for ° saves opening a menu every time. Pick a prefix you never type in a normal cell, such as a semicolon.
AutoCorrect does not apply inside a formula. In a formula, use UNICHAR.
Keep numbers calculable with a custom format
If you type "21 °C" in a cell, Excel treats it as text and you can no longer add it up. The fix is to leave the number alone and add the symbol through the format. Select the cells, press Ctrl+1, choose Number, Custom, and enter 0.0 "°C" as the type. The cell displays 21.0 °C, but its value stays 21 and calculations keep working. The same idea applies to #,##0 "€" or 0 "km".
When the symbol shows up as a square
An empty square or a question mark means the cell's font does not contain the glyph. The code is right, the font is the problem. Switch the cell to Segoe UI Symbol or Arial Unicode MS, which cover most arrows, check marks and math signs.
Which method to pick
For a symbol built into a formula or a calculated column, UNICHAR is the only clean option. For a symbol you type every week, an AutoCorrect entry is the quickest. For a unit that goes with a number, the custom format keeps your calculations intact. And if you also work in a word processor, our article on symbols in Word covers Alt+X and custom shortcuts.
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