How to Create Word Keyboard Shortcut for Inserting Specific Symbol

Inserting the same symbol repeatedly in a Word document slows down your workflow. You might need the copyright sign, a degree mark, or a custom arrow every few paragraphs. Word has a built-in symbol library, but opening the dialog each time wastes time. This article shows you how to assign a keyboard shortcut to any symbol so you can insert it with two keystrokes.

How Word Stores Symbols and Keyboard Shortcuts

Word stores every symbol as a Unicode character. The Insert Symbol dialog lets you browse by category or font. Each symbol has a character code that Word uses internally. When you assign a shortcut, Word writes that mapping into your Normal.dotm template or the current document template. The shortcut is saved as a key-binding entry in the template file. You can reassign any key combination that is not reserved for core Word functions. Common reserved combos include Ctrl+B for bold and Ctrl+I for italic. Word warns you if a combo is already assigned to another command.

The shortcut applies to the InsertSymbol command with the specific character code. Word does not distinguish between different symbols that share the same character code in different fonts. If you assign a shortcut to a symbol from the Wingdings font, the shortcut will insert that character from whatever font is active at the insertion point.

Steps to Assign a Keyboard Shortcut to Any Symbol

These steps work in Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 2021, and Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The dialog layout is identical across these versions.

1. Open the Symbol dialog
   Click the Insert tab on the ribbon. In the Symbols group, click Symbol, then select More Symbols at the bottom of the dropdown.
2. Select the symbol you want
   In the Symbol dialog, choose a font from the Font dropdown if needed. Scroll through the grid or type the character code in the Character code field. Click the symbol to highlight it.
3. Open the Customize Keyboard dialog
   Click the Shortcut Key button at the bottom of the Symbol dialog. This opens the Customize Keyboard dialog with the symbol already selected in the Commands list.
4. Type your key combination
   Click inside the Press new shortcut key box. Press the keys you want to use, for example Alt+Ctrl+S. Word shows the keys you pressed. If the combination is already assigned to another command, Word displays that command below the box.
5. Choose where to save the shortcut
   In the Save changes in dropdown, select Normal.dotm to make the shortcut available in all documents. Select the current document name to restrict the shortcut to that file only.
6. Assign and close
   Click the Assign button. Word moves the combo to the Current keys list. Click Close to exit the Customize Keyboard dialog. Click Close again to exit the Symbol dialog.

Test Your New Shortcut

Press the key combination you assigned. Word inserts the symbol at the cursor position. If nothing happens, repeat the steps and verify that the combo appears in the Current keys list. If the combo is still marked as unassigned, click Assign again.

Common Mistakes and Things to Avoid

Key Combination Conflicts With Existing Shortcuts

Word will display the name of the currently assigned command if you pick a combo that is already in use. For example, Ctrl+P is assigned to Print. If you assign a symbol to Ctrl+P, Word will reassign it and the Print shortcut will stop working. Avoid single-letter combos with Ctrl or Ctrl+Shift that are used by Word, such as Ctrl+Z for Undo or Ctrl+Shift+E for Track Changes. Safe combos include Alt+Ctrl+letter, Alt+Shift+letter, or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+letter.

Shortcut Does Not Work in All Documents

If you selected the current document in the Save changes in dropdown, the shortcut only works in that file. Open the Symbol dialog again, select the same symbol, and change the save location to Normal.dotm. You must click Assign again to update the template.

Symbol Inserts From the Wrong Font

The shortcut inserts the character code, not the font. If the active font at the cursor does not contain that glyph, Word may display a box or a different character. Ensure the font you used in the Symbol dialog is installed and selected in the document before pressing the shortcut. For standard symbols like © or ™, most fonts include these characters. For symbols from decorative fonts like Wingdings or Webdings, you must switch to that font first or use a character style that enforces the font.

Shortcut Lost After Word Update or Profile Reset

If you reinstall Word or reset your user data, the Normal.dotm template is replaced. Your shortcuts are lost. Back up your Normal.dotm file from the folder %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates to a safe location. After a reset, copy the backup back to the same folder while Word is closed.

Symbol Shortcut Method Comparison: Customize Keyboard vs AutoCorrect vs Quick Parts

Item	Customize Keyboard	AutoCorrect	Quick Parts
Trigger method	Key combination	Typed text replaced on Enter or Space	Ribbon button or Alt+text
Speed	Fastest — two keys	Fast — type text then press Space	Moderate — multiple clicks or Alt navigation
Works across all documents	Yes if saved to Normal.dotm	Yes if added to default list	Yes if saved to Building Blocks template
Risk of accidental trigger	Low — must press exact combo	Medium — common text like “tm” triggers trademark symbol	Low — manual insertion only
Supports any symbol	Yes	Limited to symbols with existing Unicode entries	Yes

For symbols you insert more than five times per document, use the Customize Keyboard method. For symbols you insert rarely, use AutoCorrect or Quick Parts to avoid cluttering your shortcut list.

You can now assign a keyboard shortcut to any symbol in Word using the Customize Keyboard dialog. Start by opening Insert > Symbol > More Symbols and selecting your target symbol. Use Alt+Ctrl+letter combos to avoid conflicts with existing shortcuts. For symbols you use daily, this method saves several seconds per insertion and keeps your hands on the keyboard.