How to Make a Heart on a Keyboard

This article contains instructions for typing a heart on a keyboard using several methods that work on Windows, Macs, or both.

How to Type a Heart on a Windows Keyboard

The heart symbol ❤️ is a commonly used emoji character, but most keyboards don’t have a designated key. Fortunately, you can type emoji from your keyboard on Windows and Macs if you know the right keyboard shortcuts.

1. Open a web page or file (Word, PowerPoint, Notepad, etc.) and click to position the cursor in the text field where the heart will appear.

2. Hold down the Windows button on your keyboard and then press the . (Period). This sequence will bring up a small emoji keyboard.

3. Click the Symbols category in the bottom right corner (the heart icon).

4. Click the Heart Symbol you’d like to type and it will appear in the text box.

   If you can’t find a particular emoji, click the search icon and type the name of the emoji you’re looking for.

How to Type a Heart on a Mac Keyboard

Here's how it works on a Mac:

1. Open a web page or file (Word, PowerPoint, Notepad, etc.) and click to position the cursor in the text field where the heart should appear.

2. Press Cmd+Ctrl+Space on your keyboard at the same time. An emoji keyboard will appear.

3. Click the Symbols category in the bottom row. It’s located between the Objects (lightbulb) and Flags categories.

4. Click the heart you'd like to type and it will appear in the text box.

5. To manually search for a heart emoji, type heart in the search bar at the top of the category window.

What Is the Alt Code for a Heart?

You can type out a heart symbol instantly on Windows if you know the alt code. For example, holding down Alt+3 on your keyboard’s number pad will produce a simple heart. However, there are many other codes you can use to make different heart emojis.

Things work a little differently on Macs, as the Apple keyboard uses option keys to insert symbols. However, you’ll have to change your keyboard settings to use the Unicode Hex Input method to do this.

It’s much easier to use Cmd+Ctrl+Space and bring up the emoji keyboard, as Unicode is a complicated, somewhat limited method.

How Do You Make a Heart Without a Number Pad?

Unfortunately, alt codes on Windows only work with the numeric keypad. You can't use the numbers across the top of your keyboard. 

Most Windows laptop keyboards don’t have a number pad, so the easiest way to type a heart would be to use the emoji keyboard steps, as outlined above. However, it’s still possible to use a number pad on your computer, even if your keyboard doesn’t have one.

1. Hold down the Windows key+Ctrl+O to open the Windows 10 on-screen keyboard.

2. Click Options.

3. Check Turn on numeric key pad.

4. Click the NumLock button to bring up the number pad.

Alternatives include downloading a Numpad emulator or using an external keyboard with a Numpad built-in.

How Do You Get the White Heart Emoji on Your Keyboard?

The White Heart emoji 🤍 is commonly used online to discuss someone passing away. To get it, you can enter Alt+9825 on Windows or find it in the Windows or Mac emoji keyboards.