Fix Alt+Left and Alt+Right Arrow Keys Inserting Symbols in Office
Question details
Users experience unexpected special symbols being typed into their documents instead of executing standard navigation commands when pressing the Alt+Left or Alt+Right arrow keyboard shortcuts.
- Product
- Word, Outlook, OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Using keyboard shortcuts for quick text or document navigation in Office applications.
- Observed behavior
- Windows incorrectly interprets the Alt + arrow key combinations as Alt codes (often due to Num Lock or numeric keypad usage), causing random characters or symbols to appear instead of moving the cursor.
Ensure your keyboard is functioning correctly by testing the Alt+Arrow keys in a plain text editor like Notepad to see if the symbol insertion happens outside of your main Office applications.
Disable Num Lock and Use Standard Arrow Keys
The most common cause of this issue is using the arrow keys located on the numeric keypad while Num Lock is active, which Windows interprets as an Alt code character command.
When Num Lock is turned on, the numeric keypad sends number inputs to the computer. Holding the Alt key while sending numbers triggers a Windows feature called 'Alt codes', which inserts special symbols.
To perform shortcut navigation without triggering Alt codes, you must either turn off Num Lock or use the dedicated navigation keys.
Find the 'Num Lock' or 'Num Lk' key on your keyboard, typically located above the numeric keypad on the right side.
Press the 'Num Lock' key to turn it off. The indicator light on your keyboard (if present) should turn off.
Instead of using the directional arrows printed on the numeric keypad numbers (2, 4, 6, 8), use the dedicated directional arrow keys usually located between the main typing area and the number pad.
Press Alt + Left or Alt + Right again in your Word document or Outlook email to verify that it now performs the intended navigation instead of typing a symbol.
Check for Keyboard Remapping Software Conflicts
Third-party software or keyboard driver utilities might be altering how the Alt key and arrow keys communicate with Windows and Office applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does pressing Alt and a number pad key type a symbol?
In Windows, holding the Alt key and typing a numeric sequence on the numeric keypad triggers an 'Alt code'. This is a built-in operating system feature used to insert special characters, accents, and symbols that are not physically present on a standard keyboard.
Can I permanently disable Alt codes in Windows?
There is no built-in Windows toggle to completely disable Alt codes. The most practical solution is to ensure you use the dedicated arrow keys rather than the numeric keypad arrows when utilizing Alt-based shortcuts.
How do I customize keyboard shortcuts in Office applications?
In most Office applications like Word, you can go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon, then click the 'Customize' button next to 'Keyboard shortcuts'. From there, you can assign, reassign, or remove specific key combinations for various commands.
