X in a Box Symbol ☒ – How to Type It on Your Keyboard (Windows & Mac)

The X in a Box symbol (☒) is used for things like:

• A ticked checkbox
• A ballot box with X
• Showing that an option is selected, wrong, or not allowed

In this guide, you’ll learn how to type or insert ☒ on:

• Windows (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other apps)
• Mac (using Unicode Hex Input and menus)
• Any app using copy and paste
• Extra options like emoji-style X in a box

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X in a Box – Quick Reference

1. Click to copy X in a Box symbols

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2. Main codes and shortcuts

Symbol	Common name	Best for…	Word (Windows)	Mac (Unicode Hex)	Unicode	HTML code
☒	Ballot Box With X	Checkboxes / forms	2612 then Alt+X	Option+2612	U+2612	☒, ☒
❎	Negative Squared Cross Mark	Emoji-style “X in box”	Copy & paste / emoji panel	Copy & paste	U+274E	❎, ❎

🔎 Important:

• The proper “X in a box” character is ☒ (Ballot Box with X, U+2612).
• Some people also use ❎ or ❌ as a visual X-in-a-box substitute, especially in chats and apps that support emoji.

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Method 1 – Type X in a Box in Word (Windows) using 2612 + Alt+X

The most reliable way to type ☒ in Microsoft Word on Windows is with the Alt+X shortcut.

Steps

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Type 2612 (this is the Unicode code for ☒).
3. Immediately press Alt + X.

Word will convert 2612 into ☒.

• If you press Alt+X again, Word converts it back to 2612.
• This works in Word and some other Microsoft Office apps that support Alt+X.

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Method 2 – Word-Only Alt Code (Alt + 9746) and Why It Shows ↕ Elsewhere

You might see Alt + 9746 listed online as the Alt code for ☒.

Here’s what actually happens:

• In Microsoft Word on Windows:
  • Alt + 9746 inserts ☒.
  • This works because Word has its own special handling and treats 9746 as a Unicode value (U+2612).
• In many other programs (Notepad, some browsers, older apps):
  • Alt + 9746 does not insert ☒.
  • It often gives a different symbol, such as ↕, because Windows is using an older “code page” system where Alt codes above 255 don’t map cleanly to Unicode.

So:

• Alt + 9746 is a Word-only trick, not a general Windows shortcut.

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Method 3 – Type X in a Box on Mac using Unicode Hex Input

On Mac, there’s no direct key for ☒, but you can type it using the Unicode Hex Input keyboard layout.

Step 1 – Enable Unicode Hex Input (do this once)

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
2. Go to Keyboard → Input Sources.
3. Click the + button to add a new input source.
4. Search for “Unicode Hex Input”.
5. Select it and click Add.

Now you can switch to Unicode Hex Input from the menu bar (keyboard icon) or with your usual input-switch shortcut.

Step 2 – Type ☒ with Option + 2612

1. Switch your input source to Unicode Hex Input.
2. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
3. Hold down the Option (⌥) key.
4. While holding Option, type 2612.
5. Release Option.

The ☒ symbol will appear.

To insert ❎ or other emoji-style versions, it’s usually easier to copy and paste or use the emoji viewer (Control + Command + Space).

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Method 4 – Insert X in a Box in Word (Windows & Mac) via Insert → Symbol

If you prefer menus instead of codes, you can insert ☒ from Word’s Symbol dialog.

Word on Windows

1. Open your document in Word.
2. Put the cursor where you want the symbol.
3. Go to the Insert tab.
4. Click Symbol → More Symbols….
5. In the Font box, choose a Unicode font such as Segoe UI Symbol or Arial Unicode MS.
6. In the Subset dropdown (if available), choose Miscellaneous Symbols.
7. Look for ☒ (its Unicode name is Ballot Box With X, code 2612).
8. Click it, then click Insert, then Close.

Word on Mac

1. Open Word and place the cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Go to the Insert menu.
3. Choose Symbol → Advanced Symbol.
4. Choose a font that supports ☒, such as Segoe UI Symbol or similar.
5. Find ☒ (Ballot Box With X) and click Insert.

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Method 5 – Insert X in a Box in Excel and PowerPoint

Excel and PowerPoint use the same symbol picker as Word, so the steps are similar.

Excel (Windows & Mac)

1. Click the cell where you want the symbol.
2. Go to the Insert tab.
3. Click Symbol.
4. Choose a font that supports ☒ (for example, Segoe UI Symbol).
5. Find and select ☒ (Ballot Box With X).
6. Click Insert, then Close.

You can then:

• Copy the cell and paste it elsewhere, or
• Use fill handle to quickly repeat the symbol down a list.

PowerPoint (Windows & Mac)

1. Click inside a text box where you want the symbol.
2. Go to Insert → Symbol.
3. Pick an appropriate font and choose ☒.
4. Click Insert, then Close.

This is handy for slides that show checklists, forms, or selected options.

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Method 6 – Copy and Paste X in a Box (Any Device)

For many people, the fastest method is just copy and paste.

1. From your widget or this page, select ☒ (or ❎ if you prefer the emoji style).
2. Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac).
3. Go to your document, spreadsheet, slide, or web field.
4. Press Ctrl + V or Command + V to paste.

This works on:

• Windows
• Mac
• Google Docs / Sheets
• Web forms, emails, and many other apps

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Method 7 – Use Character Map on Windows

Windows includes a tool called Character Map that lets you copy any symbol.

Steps

1. Click the Start button and search for Character Map. Open it.
2. In the Character Map window, check the Advanced view box.
3. In the Font dropdown, choose Segoe UI Symbol or another Unicode font.
4. In the Search for: box, type 2612 or ballot box and click Search (if supported).
5. Click the ☒ symbol in the grid.
6. Click Select, then click Copy.
7. Go back to your document and press Ctrl + V to paste.

This is useful when you forget the codes or want to explore similar symbols like ☑ (box with tick) and ☐ (empty box).

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Method 8 – Windows Emoji & Symbols Panel (Win + .)

In Windows 10 and 11, you can insert many symbols through the emoji/symbol panel.

Steps

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ;.
3. In the popup panel, click the Symbols tab (often a Ω icon).
4. Browse through the categories like Symbols or Math & punctuation.
5. Insert:
   • ☒ if available,
   • Or emoji-style characters like ❎ or ❌.

This is especially convenient in chat apps, email, and browsers.

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Method 9 – Create an AutoCorrect Shortcut in Word

If you use ☒ regularly, you can make Word automatically replace a short code with the symbol.

Steps

1. Insert ☒ once using any method above.
2. Highlight the symbol.
3. Go to File > Options.
4. Click Proofing on the left.
5. Click AutoCorrect Options….
6. In the Replace box, type something like xbox or xbx.
7. Make sure With shows ☒.
8. Click Add, then OK.

Now, whenever you type xbox followed by a space or punctuation, Word will automatically change it to ☒.

You can set a separate AutoCorrect entry for ❎ if you want an emoji-style version on demand.

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FAQs – X in a Box Symbol (☒)

1. Why does Alt + 9746 give me ↕ instead of ☒?

Because Alt + 9746 is only reliable inside Microsoft Word.

• Word maps 9746 to the Unicode character ☒ (U+2612).
• Many other programs use an older code page system where large Alt codes “wrap around” and end up at a different character (often ↕).

If you’re not in Word, use:

• Copy & paste,
• Insert → Symbol,
• Character Map, or
• The emoji/symbol panel instead.

2. What’s the safest universal method?

If you want something that works almost everywhere:

• Use copy and paste from your widget or from this page.
• Or use Insert → Symbol in Word/Excel/PowerPoint and similar apps.
• On Mac, Unicode Hex Input + Option+2612 is a good direct method.

3. Is ☒ the same as ❎ or ❌?

Not exactly:

• ☒ – Ballot box with X (classic “X in a box” symbol used in forms and documents).
• ❎ – Negative squared cross mark (emoji-style boxed X, usually colored).
• ❌ – Cross mark (just an X symbol, often used for “wrong” or “error”).

They look similar but have different Unicode codes and may look different depending on the font or device.

4. What’s the Unicode and HTML code for X in a Box?

• Unicode: U+2612 (Ballot Box With X)
• HTML (decimal): ☒
• HTML (hex): ☒

Use these if you’re styling the symbol in HTML or adding it to a website.

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Wrap Up

To quickly recap the best ways to type X in a Box (☒):

• In Word (Windows):
  • Type 2612, then press Alt+X (recommended).
  • Or use Alt + 9746 (Word-only).
• On Mac:
  • Enable Unicode Hex Input, then hold Option and type 2612.
• Anywhere:
  • Use your click-to-copy widget at the top of this page, or
  • Copy and paste ☒ (or ❎) directly.

Then back that up with:

• Insert → Symbol in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint,
• Character Map or the Windows emoji/symbols panel,
• And optional AutoCorrect shortcuts if you use the symbol often.