To draw an arrow on an Excel worksheet, go to Insert > Shapes, choose an arrow, then click and drag where you want it. To put an arrow character inside a cell instead, use Insert > Symbol or a UNICHAR formula. The right method depends on whether you need a movable drawing or text in a cell.
Choose between a drawn arrow and an arrow character
| What you need | Use | How it behaves |
|---|---|---|
| Point to, annotate, or connect items on the worksheet | A shape, line, or connector from Insert > Shapes | A drawing object you can select, move, resize, and format. |
| Show an arrow as part of a cell’s text | A symbol inserted in the cell, or a character returned by UNICHAR |
A text character whose appearance depends on the font; it is not a separate drawing object. |
Microsoft documents adding shapes in Excel and inserting symbols as static characters. Interface details can vary by Excel platform and version.
Draw an arrow on the worksheet
- Open Insert > Shapes.
- Choose the arrow shape you want from the gallery.
- Click and drag on the worksheet to set the arrow’s position and length.
- Release the mouse button to place it. Select the shape afterward if you want to move, resize, or format it.
For a simple annotation, choose an arrow shape directly. For an arrow that needs to connect objects, pick a line or connector in the Shapes gallery and drag from its starting point to its endpoint.
Add or change arrowheads on a line
- Select the line or connector.
- Open Shape Format > Shape Outline > Arrows.
- Choose an arrow style. Select More Arrows for additional customization options.
This adjusts the line’s arrowhead; it is different from inserting an arrow glyph into a cell.
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Insert an arrow character in a cell
- Select the cell where the character should appear.
- Choose Insert > Symbol.
- Select an arrow character from the list, or choose More Symbols to browse additional characters.
- Insert the selected symbol and close the dialog.
The characters available depend on the selected font. If you cannot find the arrow you need, try browsing with Segoe UI Symbol, which Microsoft identifies as a common symbol set.
Return an arrow character with UNICHAR
If you know the Unicode number for the arrow character you want, use UNICHAR(number) in a formula. The function returns the Unicode character associated with the number; for example, replace number with the code point you have verified for the intended arrow.
Microsoft’s function documentation defines how UNICHAR works but does not identify a particular arrow code point. Confirm the character you need rather than assuming a code value, and remember that its rendered appearance can depend on the font.
Keyboard shortcut note
In Excel for Windows, Alt+N opens the Insert tab. It is a way into the ribbon, not a universal shortcut that inserts an arrow directly. For a reliable arrow workflow, use the Shapes or Symbol commands described above.
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Microsoft references
- Microsoft Support: Add shapes
- Microsoft Support: Draw or delete a line or connector
- Microsoft Support: Insert a symbol
- Microsoft Support: UNICHAR function
- Microsoft Support: Keyboard shortcuts in Excel
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