The angle symbol is ∠. Windows has no code for it in the standard character set, so the quickest reliable route is Word: type 2220, then press Alt+X. On a Mac, open the Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space and search for “angle.” In every other app, copy the glyph below and paste it.
Quick reference: every way to type ∠
| Method | Input | Works in |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Alt code | 2220 then Alt+X in Word (decimal) | Unicode-aware apps only (Word, WordPad); no code exists in the standard CP1252 set |
| Word / Outlook / OneNote | Type 2220 (hex), then Alt+X | Word, Outlook, OneNote |
| Mac | Character Viewer (Ctrl+Cmd+Space), search “angle” | Most Mac apps |
| Chromebook / Linux | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 2220 (hex) | ChromeOS, most Linux |
| Excel & Google Sheets | =UNICHAR(8736) | Excel, Google Sheets |
| HTML (named) | ∠ | Web pages |
| HTML (numeric) | ∠ or ∠ | Web pages |
| CSS | \2220 | Stylesheets |
| LaTeX | \angle | Math typesetting |
| Unicode code point | U+2220 | Universal reference |
Windows
Windows never assigned ∠ a code in the Windows-1252 set, so the familiar leading-zero Alt code does not exist for this glyph. You have two working routes.
Decimal Alt code (Word and WordPad)
- Make sure Num Lock is on. This method needs the numeric keypad, not the top-row number keys.
- Hold Alt and type 8736 on the keypad.
- Release Alt. The ∠ appears.
This decimal code only fires in Unicode-aware programs such as Word and WordPad. In many text fields and older editors it produces nothing, so treat it as a Word trick rather than a universal one. A laptop without a keypad cannot use it at all.
Character Map (any Windows app)
- Press Start, type “Character Map,” and open it.
- Tick “Advanced view,” then type
2220oranglein the search box. - Select ∠, click Select, then Copy.
- Paste it wherever you need it.
Because you are pasting, this works in every Windows program. You can also open the emoji and symbol panel with Win + . , click the Ω symbols tab, and look under the math symbols group.
Mac
Mac has no Alt codes and no Option shortcut for ∠. The Character Viewer is the native route.
- Put the cursor where you want the symbol.
- Press Ctrl+Cmd+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type “angle” in the search field.
- Double-click ∠ to insert it. It sits under Math Symbols if you prefer to browse.
Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Alt+X (Word, Outlook, OneNote)
Type 2220, then press Alt+X. The four characters flip to ∠. Press Alt+X again right after to toggle back if you inserted it by mistake. This is the fastest method on Windows and needs no keypad.
Insert Symbol (all Office apps)
- Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
- Set “from” to Unicode (hex).
- Type
2220in the character code box. The subset is Mathematical Operators. - Click Insert.
Alt+X does not work in PowerPoint or Excel, so this Insert Symbol dialog is the route in PowerPoint. If you use ∠ often in Word, open the same dialog, select the symbol, click AutoCorrect, and map it to a shortcut like \angle.
Excel and Google Sheets
In Excel, type =UNICHAR(8736) and the cell returns ∠. To keep it as fixed text rather than a formula, copy the cell and use Paste Special → Values. The Insert → Symbol dialog also works, with character code 2220 in hex.
Google Sheets has no Insert Symbol menu. Use the same =UNICHAR(8736) formula, or paste the glyph from the button above. If you want to enter it with an operating-system input method inside a cell, press F2 first to open edit mode.
Google Docs
- Open Insert → Special characters.
- Type “angle” in the search box, or draw the shape in the sketch pad on the right.
- Click ∠ to drop it into the document.
Docs has no Alt+X and no keypad code, so this menu is the reliable native route.
iPhone and Android
No mobile keyboard has an ∠ key, and there is no code to type. Copy the symbol from the top of this page, then paste it where you need it.
To reuse it without copying every time, set a text replacement. On iPhone, go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, tap +, put ∠ in the Phrase field and something like “angsym” in the Shortcut field.
On Android with Gboard, open Settings → the Google keyboard → Dictionary → Personal dictionary and add ∠ with a shortcut word. Typing the shortcut then offers ∠ as a suggestion.
Chromebook
ChromeOS has no Alt codes, and a USB numpad will not change that, because the feature is Windows software. Use the Unicode shortcut instead.
- Place the cursor where you want ∠.
- Hold Ctrl+Shift+U. An underlined u appears.
- Type
2220, the hex code, with no U+ prefix. - Press Enter or Space to confirm.
You can also press Launcher+Shift+Space (or the Quick Insert key on newer models) to open the symbol picker. Some web text fields intercept Ctrl+Shift+U; if nothing appears, paste the glyph instead.
Notion, Slack, Discord, and Canva
None of these apps has a shortcut for ∠. Paste it.
Copy from the button above, then drop it into the message, page, or text box. Slack and Discord auto-convert :emoji: shortcodes, but ∠ is a plain text character, not an emoji, so there is no colon code for it.
For a symbol you type often, lean on a device-level text replacement (the mobile steps above, or macOS System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements). In Canva, add or click a text box first, then paste; the glyph inherits the current font, so choose one that includes it.
HTML, CSS, and LaTeX
On a web page, use the named entity ∠, or the numeric references ∠ (decimal) and ∠ (hex). All three render ∠.
In CSS generated content, use the escape \2220, for example content: "\2220";. In LaTeX, the command is \angle, as in $\angle ABC$. Math mode sets the spacing around it automatically.
When the angle symbol won’t show up
If ∠ appears as a hollow box (□) or a question mark, the current font does not include the glyph. Switch to a font with broad math coverage: Segoe UI Symbol, Cambria Math, Arial, or Times New Roman all carry it. Decorative and display fonts are the usual offenders.
If 2220 then Alt+X in Word does nothing, you are either in an app that is not Unicode-aware for that method, or you used the top-row numbers. It needs the numeric keypad and a program like Word. Use Character Map or copy and paste instead.
Watch what you are actually typing. The angle symbol ∠ is not the less-than sign <, and it is not the right angle symbol (∟), which has a flat base marking exactly 90°. Angle brackets ⟨ ⟩ are different again and are used for inner products, not geometry angles.
Where the angle symbol is used
In geometry, ∠ names an angle by its vertex and two points: ∠ABC is the angle at vertex B formed by rays BA and BC. You will see it in proofs, trigonometry problems, and physics diagrams, often next to the parallel lines symbol (∥) and congruence marks.
Read aloud, ∠ABC is simply “angle ABC. “
Frequently asked questions
Why does 2220 then Alt+X in Word do nothing in some apps?
The decimal Alt code only works in Unicode-aware programs such as Word and WordPad, and you must type it on the numeric keypad. In older versions of Notepad, browser address bars, and many chat apps it produces nothing. Use Character Map or copy and paste in those places.
What is the difference between ∠ and the less-than sign?
The less-than sign < is a comparison operator that also serves as an angle bracket in code. The angle symbol ∠ is a geometry glyph that names an angle at a vertex. They look similar at small sizes but mean different things, and screen readers announce them differently.
Is ∠ the same as the measured angle symbol ∡?
No. The measured angle ∡ (U+2221) is drawn with a small arc, and the spherical angle ∢ (U+2222) is another variant. Plain ∠ (U+2220) is the general angle used in most classroom geometry. Choose the one your notation calls for.
Why does the angle symbol turn into a box in my PDF or on a website?
The displayed font does not include the glyph, or the PDF did not embed a font that does. Set the text in a font with math coverage such as Cambria Math or Segoe UI Symbol, and embed fonts when you export the file.
How do I type ∠ on a laptop with no number pad?
Skip the Alt code, which needs a real numeric keypad. In Word, type 2220 and press Alt+X. Anywhere else, open Character Map on Windows or the Character Viewer on Mac, or copy the glyph from the top of this page.
Does ∠ need a special math font?
No. Common system fonts including Arial, Times New Roman, and Segoe UI Symbol all contain it. Only decorative or heavily stylized fonts tend to leave it out, and in those cases it falls back to a box or a substitute character.
Related guides
Geometry rarely uses the angle mark alone. These related math guides cover symbols that show up beside it:
- Does not divide symbol (∤): a staple of number-theory notation.
- Power of symbol (xⁿ): for raising a base to an exponent.
- Negative exponents: the reciprocal form and how to format it cleanly.
To find any character by name, open the Alt Codes Finder. The math symbols section lists every guide in this set, and the full Alt code list works as a master reference.