Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix the Nonbreaking Hyphen Shortcut Changed in Word 365

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to find the new keyboard shortcut for inserting a nonbreaking hyphen or restore the previous shortcut combination.

Product: Word 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to type a nonbreaking hyphen during document editing after a recent application update.
Observed behavior: The traditional Ctrl+Shift+- (Hyphen) shortcut no longer inserts a nonbreaking hyphen and has been changed by a recent update.

Before you start

Verify that your Microsoft Word 365 application is up to date, as Microsoft frequently updates default keyboard shortcuts to resolve conflicts across different features.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the New Default Shortcut

The fastest resolution is to adapt to the new default keyboard combination introduced in recent Word 365 updates.

Position your cursor

Click exactly where you want the nonbreaking hyphen to appear in your text.

Apply the new shortcut

Press Alt + Shift + - (Hyphen) simultaneously on your keyboard to insert the nonbreaking hyphen.

Solution 2

Restore the Classic Shortcut via Word Options

If you strongly prefer the old shortcut, you can manually remap it in Word's settings.

Solution 3

Insert via the Symbol Menu

If you forget the shortcut, you can insert the nonbreaking hyphen manually through the ribbon menu and check its currently assigned shortcut.

WPS Writer Solution

How to Easily Insert a Nonbreaking Hyphen in WPS Office

If sudden shortcut changes in other word processors disrupt your workflow, you can rely on WPS Writer. WPS Office provides a highly stable editing environment where inserting and managing special characters like nonbreaking hyphens is straightforward and customizable.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the document where you need to insert the nonbreaking hyphen.
2. Navigate to the Insert tab: Click on the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon menu, then click the 'Symbol' button.
3. Open Custom Symbols: Select 'Custom Symbol' from the drop-down menu, and switch to the 'Special Characters' tab in the dialog box.
4. Insert the nonbreaking hyphen: Highlight 'Nonbreaking Hyphen' from the list and click 'Insert' to add it directly to your document.

Stable default keyboard shortcuts that preserve your established workflowFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsFree, lightweight, and easy-to-navigate interfaceCustomizable shortcut options for all special characters

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the nonbreaking hyphen shortcut change in Word 365?

Microsoft periodically updates default keyboard shortcuts in Office 365 to standardize commands across different platforms, improve accessibility, or make room for new features, which led to the reassignment of the Ctrl+Shift+Hyphen shortcut.

What happens if I restore the old nonbreaking hyphen shortcut?

If you manually reassign Ctrl+Shift+Hyphen back to the nonbreaking hyphen, you will overwrite the current shortcut for 'Subscript'. You will need to assign a new, custom shortcut for Subscript if you frequently use that formatting option.

Is there a way to view all special character shortcuts in Word?

Yes. You can view the currently assigned keyboard shortcuts for all special characters by navigating to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, and then clicking on the Special Characters tab.

Office App Problems