North West Arrow Symbol
The ↖ symbol (north west arrow) indicates movement or direction toward the upper-left.
U+2196
The ↖ character is the North West Arrow. It’s commonly used to show an upward-left direction in text. You can copy it directly or use its Unicode/HTML/CSS escapes in code.
North West Arrow Symbol Meaning
↖ is a “north west” (upper-left) arrow. Visually, it combines an upward arrow and a leftward arrow, making it useful when you want to indicate direction in plain text. It often appears in UI labels, instructions, and quick status notes where a full icon isn’t necessary. In writing, it can also serve as a compact marker for headings, navigation cues, or items that move toward the top-left of a layout. Because it’s a standard Unicode character (U+2196), it works reliably across modern fonts and systems when supported.
Common uses
- •Directional cues in instructions (e.g., “move ↖ to reach the entrance”).
- •UI and menu navigation hints (back/previous style indicators toward the upper-left).
- •Annotating diagrams or wireframes in text (highlighting an upper-left point).
- •Tagging items in lists or spreadsheets with a quick visual direction marker.
- •Designing lightweight labels for games, apps, or maps using a simple arrow.
Examples
↖ North West Arrow Symbol
- ↖Press ↖ to return to the previous screen.
- ↖Follow the sign and go ↖ at the fork.
- ↖The marked corner is located ↖ of the center point.
- ↖Use the ↖ arrow key to move the character up-left.
- ↖Change the setting by selecting ↖ in the navigation panel.
Variations
Ready to copy
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+2196 | |
| HTML Entity | ↖ | |
| HTML Code | ↖ | |
| CSS | \2196 | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 8598 | |
| Decimal | 8598 |
How to type North West Arrow Symbol (↖)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 8598 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 2196 then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 2196. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 2196, 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 is the Unicode code point for ↖?
The Unicode code point for ↖ is U+2196.
How can I copy ↖ into HTML?
Use the HTML entity: ↖ or copy the character directly.
What does ↖ typically mean in text?
It most commonly indicates an upper-left direction (north west) in navigation, instructions, and UI cues.
What escape sequences can I use in code?
CSS escape: \\2196, JavaScript escape: \\u{2196}.