Document Editing Problems

How to Replace Text with a Wingdings Symbol in Word

Kushani Nimanthika Sep 30, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to bulk replace thousands of instances of specific text characters with a Wingdings symbol using the Find and Replace feature.

How to Replace Text with a Wingdings Symbol in Word

Product: Microsoft Word 2007
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing a large document where placeholder text, such as three dots (...), must be automatically replaced with a Wingdings black lozenge.
Observed behavior: The user has opened the Find and Replace dialog but does not know what command or text to enter in the 'Replace with' box to successfully output the Wingdings symbol.

Before you start

Ensure you have the exact Wingdings symbol inserted into your document at least once, as you will need to copy it to your clipboard for the replacement process.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Clipboard Content in Find and Replace

By copying the desired symbol to your clipboard and using the ^c code in the Replace tool, you can bypass formatting limitations and replace text with any special character.

The Find and Replace dialog box does not always correctly display or process special fonts like Wingdings. Using the clipboard substitution command (^c) allows you to bypass this restriction. The word processor will simply paste whatever is actively stored in your system clipboard over the target text.

Insert the Wingdings Symbol

Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon and click 'Symbol', then 'More Symbols'. Select 'Wingdings' from the font dropdown, find your desired symbol (like the black lozenge), and click 'Insert'. Alternatively, type '29EB' in the document and press 'Alt+X' to generate the symbol.

Copy the Symbol

Highlight the newly inserted Wingdings symbol in your document. Press 'Ctrl+C' or right-click and select 'Copy' to save the symbol to your system clipboard.

Open Find and Replace

Press 'Ctrl+H' on your keyboard, or go to the 'Home' tab and click 'Replace' in the Editing group to open the Find and Replace dialog.

Enter the Replacement Code

In the 'Find what' box, type the text you want to replace (for example, '...'). In the 'Replace with' box, type the clipboard command: '^c' (a caret symbol followed by a lowercase c).

Test and Replace All

Click 'Find Next' and then 'Replace' to test the substitution on the first few instances. If the Wingdings symbol appears correctly, click 'Replace All' to update the remaining thousands of instances instantly.

Use Clipboard Content in Find and Replace

Formatting Retained: Using the ^c method ensures that the replacement character retains the specific Wingdings font formatting, rather than defaulting back to the document's standard text font.

Efficient Document Editing

Easily Find and Replace Text with Symbols in WPS Office

WPS Writer fully supports advanced Find and Replace functions, including clipboard substitution. You can quickly insert Wingdings symbols and batch-replace text to format your documents efficiently.

1. Insert the Target Symbol: Open your document in WPS Writer. Go to the 'Insert' tab, click 'Symbol', and select your preferred Wingdings character.
2. Copy to Clipboard: Highlight the inserted symbol in your document and press 'Ctrl+C' to copy it.
3. Access Find and Replace: Press 'Ctrl+H' to launch the Replace dialog. Enter your target text (e.g., '...') in the 'Find' field.
4. Execute Replacement: Type '^c' in the 'Replace with' field and click 'Replace All' to swap the text with your copied symbol.

Free and lightweight word processorFull compatibility with Microsoft Word documents (.docx)Advanced Find and Replace tools with wildcard and clipboard supportBuilt-in rich symbol library including Wingdings and Webdings

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the symbol look like a regular letter in the Replace box?

The Find and Replace dialog often uses standard system fonts and may not display Wingdings characters correctly. Using the '^c' clipboard trick ensures the actual symbol and its Wingdings font formatting are correctly applied inside the document itself.

Can I replace text with a different font color or size?

Yes. In the Find and Replace dialog, click the 'More' button to expand options. Click inside the 'Replace with' box, click the 'Format' button at the bottom, and choose 'Font' to specify the exact font color, size, and styling for the replacement text.

What does ^c mean in Word or WPS Find and Replace?

The '^c' code is a special formatting command used in the 'Replace with' field. It instructs the word processor to insert whatever text, symbol, or image is currently stored in your computer's system clipboard.

Is the Alt+X shortcut supported for all Unicode symbols?

Yes, typing the hexadecimal Unicode value (like '29EB') followed by pressing 'Alt+X' will automatically convert the code into the corresponding symbol, provided the font you have currently selected supports that specific character.

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