Clockwise Open Circle Arrow Symbol
↻ is a clockwise open-circle arrow used to suggest refresh, looping, or motion in a clockwise direction.
U+21BB
The symbol ↻ (U+21BB) is a clockwise open circle arrow. It’s commonly used in interfaces and diagrams to indicate repeating action or clockwise movement. Use it when you want a clear “go around again” visual cue.
Clockwise Open Circle Arrow Symbol Meaning
↻ (U+21BB) is the “clockwise open circle arrow.” Visually, it points in a looping motion around a circle, and the direction reads as clockwise. Because of this, the symbol is often used to represent refresh/retry behavior, cycling through items, or turning something clockwise in a diagram. In UI and documentation, it can also label controls like “repeat,” “loop,” or “rotate clockwise.” Compared with a filled arrow, the open-circle style can feel lighter and more informational, making it useful for status hints, help text, and design accents where you want to avoid implying a stronger “undo” action.
Common uses
- •Labeling a “refresh” or “reload” action in UI mockups
- •Indicating looping or repeat behavior in workflows and timers
- •Marking clockwise rotation in diagrams and instructions
- •Suggesting cycling through options (e.g., next/previous in a loop)
- •Decorating status badges like “retrying” or “reconnecting”
Examples
↻ Clockwise Open Circle Arrow
- ↻Retrying… ↻
- ↻Rotate knob ↻ (clockwise)
- ↻Loop playback: ↻
- ↻Refreshing session ↻
- ↻Cycle mode enabled ↻
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+21BB | |
| HTML Entity | ↻ | |
| HTML Code | ↻ | |
| CSS | \21BB | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 8635 | |
| Decimal | 8635 |
How to type Clockwise Open Circle Arrow Symbol (↻)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 8635 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 21BB then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 21BB. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 21bb, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ↻ with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What does ↻ usually mean?
↻ commonly indicates a clockwise loop: refresh/retry behavior, repeating action, or clockwise rotation in a diagram.
How can I copy ↻ for use in design or code?
Copy the character directly from this page. It is Unicode U+21BB and can also be referenced with the HTML entity ↻ or CSS/JS escapes.
Is ↻ the same as a “refresh” icon?
Often, yes in UI contexts: ↻ is frequently used as a lightweight refresh/redo-style cue, especially when the action involves looping or cycling.
When should I choose ↻ instead of a curved refresh arrow?
Choose ↻ when you want the clockwise open-circle style specifically, or when you need a direction/loop hint that feels informational rather than strongly action-oriented.