Use a built-in picker
On Windows, Win + . opens the emoji panel with emoji and symbols. In Word, Insert → Symbol lets you select a character by its code. Inspect the result if you need a particular text sequence.
a small shortcut, a few details ♡
Heart Alt Code The keypad, the code, the catch.
Alt+3 is the traditional numeric-keypad route to ♥ in applications that support that legacy input. It is not a universal Unicode shortcut. Use the right method for your keyboard and app, with a copyable fallback close by.
The traditional shortcut
Try Alt + 3 with a keypad
- Focus an editable field in an application that accepts legacy Alt-number input.
- Use a numeric keypad and turn Num Lock on if the keypad needs it.
- Hold Alt, press 3 on that keypad, then release Alt.
- Check whether the result is the filled heart suit ♥. If it is not, use a fallback below.
The top number row is not the traditional numeric keypad. A laptop’s embedded keypad or Fn mode depends on its hardware. This guide does not recommend changing registry settings or installing a keyboard utility.
or, one tap ♡
♥ · U+2665
Filled heart suit
Why “3” is not the Unicode value
The IBM graphical mapping associates position 03 with U+2665. That historical convention explains the familiar shortcut; it does not mean that every modern text field maps Alt+3 the same way. The Unicode identity is U+2665.
A different input method
Word uses hexadecimal + Alt+X
In Word for Windows, enter a hexadecimal value and press Alt + X. Select only the code first if another hexadecimal-looking character is next to it. Keep this separate from holding Alt while entering decimal digits on a keypad.
| Copy heart | Enter in Word | Then press | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
2665 | Alt + X | black heart suit | |
2661 | Alt + X | white heart suit | |
2764 | Alt + X | heavy black heart |
2665 is hexadecimal; its decimal value is 9829. That decimal number is useful in the HTML reference ♥, but should not be advertised as an Alt shortcut that works in every application.
No numeric keypad?
You still have simple options
Copy the exact character
Choose ♥ for the filled suit or ♡ for the outline suit. For 🖤, choose the separate black-heart emoji. These choices avoid relying on the same Alt-number behavior across every app.
On Mac or a phone, use the corresponding character or emoji keyboard instead of trying to translate a Windows Alt-number shortcut directly.
Choose a method for another device →If the result is not a heart
Check the cause before adding digits
Nothing appears
Check that the field is editable and that the keypad is generating numbers. A website may reserve a key combination or reject a character. Try a picker or paste rather than repeatedly adding leading zeros.
A different character appears
The application may interpret Alt-number input differently. Leading zeros, decimal values and Word’s hexadecimal conversion are separate conventions; they should not be mixed into one “universal” heart code.
A box appears
The character may be present while the chosen font lacks its glyph. Compare its code points and try a supporting font or a simpler character. A missing glyph does not by itself mean the code was typed incorrectly.
The heart is the wrong style
A filled suit, an outline suit and a colored-heart emoji are different choices. Copy a defined text/emoji presentation sequence where available, then check how the receiving app renders it.
Compare the exact versions →Questions, answered
Heart Alt Code FAQ
Is Alt+3 the Unicode code point for a heart?
No. The Unicode code point of ♥ is U+2665. The number 3 comes from a legacy graphical convention, and an application’s Alt-number handling can vary.
Can I use the number 3 above the letters?
The traditional Alt-number method uses a numeric keypad rather than the top number row. A laptop Fn overlay is model-specific; if yours does not provide a usable keypad, use a picker or copy the heart.
Should I type Alt+9829 or Alt+2665?
Do not treat either as a universal heart shortcut. 9829 is the decimal Unicode value; 2665 is hexadecimal. In Word, use 2665 followed by Alt+X, or choose the character from Insert Symbol.
Does Alt+3 make the outline heart ♡ or the black-heart emoji 🖤?
It is associated with the filled heart suit ♥, not those separate characters. Copy ♡ or 🖤 directly, or choose the appropriate Unicode character using a picker.
A little further
Keep exploring
How to Type a HeartFind heart input methods for Windows, Word, Mac, iPhone and Android. Compare keyboard pickers, Unicode codes and copyable HTML, and check your exact result.♥ Black Heart Suit♡ White Heart SuitCopy ♡ outline heart suit, check its Unicode and HTML values, and compare it with 🤍 white heart emoji. Try simple names, notes and outline-heart combinations.Heart Symbol vs EmojiCompare heart symbols and emoji, inspect complete code points, and understand text and emoji selectors. Find out why a heart changes appearance after pasting.
Sources & method
Input methods & character references
Platform steps follow the official references below. Exact results depend on the keyboard, application and font; these instructions are not a guarantee for every device. Character examples use the site’s shared Unicode data.