Wingdings and Webdings are icon fonts that ship with Windows and Word. They replace letters and numbers with symbols such as arrows, checkmarks, smiley faces, and geometric shapes. Many business users want to insert these symbols for bullet points, diagrams, or decorative elements but do not know the correct method. This article explains what Wingdings and Webdings are, how to insert them in Word, and how to avoid common formatting problems.
Key Takeaways: Inserting Wingdings and Webdings Symbols in Word
- Insert > Symbol > More Symbols > Font dropdown > Wingdings: Opens the symbol gallery where you can browse and insert any Wingdings or Webdings character.
- Character code field with Alt+X: Type the four-digit hex code for a symbol and press Alt+X to convert it instantly without using the menu.
- AutoCorrect with a custom shortcut: Assign a unique text string like (wing) to auto-replace with a specific symbol for repeated use.
What Are Wingdings and Webdings and How Do They Work in Word
Wingdings is a TrueType font released by Microsoft in 1992. Webdings followed in 1997. Both fonts map each keyboard letter, number, and punctuation mark to a pictographic symbol. For example, pressing the letter “a” in Wingdings produces a hand icon, not the letter a. The fonts are preinstalled on all Windows systems and are available in Word without any additional download.
Word treats Wingdings and Webdings like any other font. When you select text and apply the Wingdings or Webdings font, the typed characters become symbols. However, the most reliable method to insert a specific symbol is through the Symbol dialog, because you can see the full character set before inserting. The fonts contain between 192 and 256 symbols each, covering arrows, stars, checkmarks, mail icons, phone icons, and many more.
A common misconception is that Wingdings and Webdings are the same font. They are not. Wingdings has three variants: Wingdings, Wingdings 2, and Wingdings 3. Webdings has only one variant. The symbol sets overlap partially but contain many unique characters. For instance, the recycling symbol appears only in Webdings, while the scissors symbol is only in Wingdings.
How to Insert Wingdings and Webdings Symbols in Word
There are three methods to insert symbols from these fonts. Choose the method that fits your workflow. The Symbol dialog is best for one-time inserts. The character code method is fastest for users who remember the codes. AutoCorrect is ideal for symbols you use repeatedly in a document.
Method 1: Using the Symbol Dialog
- Open the Symbol dialog
In Word, go to the Insert tab. In the Symbols group, click Symbol and then select More Symbols at the bottom of the dropdown menu. The Symbol dialog appears. - Select the font
In the Symbol dialog, click the Font dropdown list. Scroll and select Wingdings, Wingdings 2, Wingdings 3, or Webdings. The grid below updates to show all symbols in that font. - Insert the symbol
Click any symbol to select it. The symbol appears enlarged in a preview box. Click the Insert button. The symbol is placed at the cursor position in your document. Close the dialog by clicking Close.
Method 2: Using Character Codes and Alt+X
Every symbol in Wingdings and Webdings has a four-digit hexadecimal character code. You can type this code and press Alt+X to convert it to the symbol. This method does not require opening any menu.
- Find the character code
Open the Symbol dialog as described in Method 1. Select the font and click a symbol. The Character code field at the bottom of the dialog shows the hex code, for example 0028 for the left-facing hand in Wingdings. - Type the code in the document
In your Word document, type the four-digit code exactly as shown, including leading zeros. For example, type 0028. - Press Alt+X
Immediately after typing the code, press the Alt+X key combination. Word replaces the code with the symbol. The font automatically changes to the matching Wingdings or Webdings font.
Method 3: Using AutoCorrect for Frequently Used Symbols
- Insert the symbol once
Use Method 1 or Method 2 to insert the symbol you want to reuse. Leave the symbol selected in the document. - Open the AutoCorrect dialog
Go to File > Options > Proofing. Click the AutoCorrect Options button. The AutoCorrect dialog opens. - Create the replacement rule
In the Replace field, type a short text string that you will type in the document, such as (wing). In the With field, the symbol you selected should already appear. If not, paste it. Click Add and then OK. Now whenever you type (wing) and press Space or Enter, Word replaces it with the symbol.
Common Mistakes When Using Wingdings and Webdings
The Symbol Appears as a Box or Question Mark
This happens when the font is not applied correctly or when you copy text to another program that does not have the font. To fix it, select the symbol in Word and check the font name in the Home tab. It must be set to Wingdings or Webdings. If you need to share the document with someone who does not have the font, convert the symbol to a picture. Right-click the symbol, choose Copy, then go to Home > Paste > Paste Special and choose Picture (Enhanced Metafile).
Cannot Find a Specific Symbol in the Grid
The Symbol dialog shows only a subset of characters at a time. Use the Subset dropdown if available, or scroll through all rows. If the symbol is not in Wingdings, try Wingdings 2, Wingdings 3, or Webdings. You can also use the Windows Character Map application. Press Windows+R, type charmap, and press Enter. In Character Map, select the font and browse all symbols. Copy the symbol and paste it into Word.
AutoCorrect Replaces Text You Want to Keep
If AutoCorrect replaces a normal word with a symbol, the replacement string you chose is too common. Delete the rule in File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. Create a new rule with a string that includes a unique prefix, such as @wing or #check.
Wingdings vs Webdings: Symbol Coverage and Use Cases
| Item | Wingdings | Webdings |
|---|---|---|
| Number of variants | 3 (Wingdings, Wingdings 2, Wingdings 3) | 1 |
| Release year | 1992 | 1997 |
| Common symbols | Hands, arrows, scissors, phone, envelope | Globe, lock, key, printer, recycle bin |
| Best use case | Bullet points, decorative lists, directional arrows | Interface icons, web-related symbols, status indicators |
| Unicode support | Private Use Area (PUA) codes | Private Use Area (PUA) codes |
Both fonts use the Unicode Private Use Area, meaning the same code point can represent different symbols in different fonts. This is why the font must be applied explicitly. For professional documents that will be printed or shared as PDF, consider using standard Unicode symbols instead of Wingdings or Webdings because Unicode symbols display correctly on any device without font installation.
Now you can insert any Wingdings or Webdings symbol using the Symbol dialog, character codes with Alt+X, or AutoCorrect rules. For symbols you use daily, assign a memorable AutoCorrect string to save time. If you need to share the document, convert symbols to pictures or use standard Unicode symbols to avoid display issues. The Alt+X shortcut is the fastest method once you learn the codes for your most-used symbols.