Common computer fonts such as Times New Roman contain many symbols. However, room only exists for a few of them on a keyboard, and the rest have to be typed using keyboard shortcuts or using a utility such as the Windows Character Map. The heart is one such symbol. Although many people simulate a heart by typing a less than sign followed by the number 3 (<3), both Windows and Mac OS include a real heart symbol that is sure to impress your friends.
Typing a Heart Symbol in Windows
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Step 1
Press and hold the "Alt" key.
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Step 2
Press the "3" key on the numeric keypad. Note that the number row at the top of the keyboard cannot be used to type the heart symbol. If you have a notebook computer without a numeric keypad, look for a "Fn" key in the lower-right corner of the keyboard and a key with a blue "3" on it. Hold the "Fn" and blue "3" keys if your keyboard has no numeric keypad.
Step 3
Release all keys. A heart appears at the location of the typing cursor.
Typing a Heart Symbol on a Mac
Step 1
Press the "Command," "Option" and "T" keys simultaneously while in most programs that can edit text. Alternatively, click the "Edit" menu at the top of the window, then click "Special Characters."
Step 2
Click the "Miscellaneous" category on the left side of the window. Alternatively, type "heart" in the search box at the bottom of the window.
Step 3
Click the heart symbol, then click the "Insert" button at the bottom of the window. A heart appears at the location of the typing cursor.