How to Type, Write & Speak in Wingdings: The Full Tutorial

Want to type secret messages in symbols, decode a puzzle, or just have fun with Microsoft’s most mysterious font? Learning how to type in Wingdings is easier than you think — but the method depends on your device. Windows and Mac handle it one way, phones require a clever workaround, and there is one universal method that works everywhere.

This full tutorial covers how to type in Wingdings on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, how to write in Wingdings in Word and Google Docs, how to “speak” in Wingdings like the characters in Undertale, and how to read Wingdings text back into English. Let’s start with the easiest method of all.

The Easiest Way to Type in Wingdings (Any Device)

Before we dive into device-specific steps, here is the method we recommend to everyone asking how to type in Wingdings: use a free online translator. Our Wingdings translator works on any phone, tablet, or computer — no font installation, no settings changes. Type normal text, get Wingdings symbols instantly, and copy them anywhere: messages, documents, social media, or games.

Why this is the best method: Phones and many apps don’t include the Wingdings font at all, so typing with the font installed only works in some programs. The translator produces symbols that display correctly almost everywhere.

Still, if you want to know how to type in Wingdings natively on each device — read on.

How to Type in Wingdings on Windows

Windows is the natural home of Wingdings — the font has shipped with every version since Windows 3.1. Here are three ways to type it:

Method 1: Change the font and type

In Word, Notepad, or any text program: select the Wingdings font from the font menu, then type normally. Every letter becomes a symbol. To write a readable message, type it first in a normal font, select it, and switch the font to Wingdings. If your font menu looks different, Microsoft Support has updated guides for changing fonts in Word. Once you learn how to type in Wingdings this way, it works in any Windows program.

Method 2: Character Map

Open the Character Map app (search for it in the Start menu), select the Wingdings font, and click any symbol to see which keyboard key produces it. Select, copy, and paste individual symbols wherever you need them.

Method 3: Insert Symbol in Word

In Microsoft Word, go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, set the font dropdown to Wingdings, and double-click any symbol to insert it at your cursor. This is the most precise method for how to type in Wingdings individual symbols in Word.

How to Type in Wingdings on Mac

Macs don’t ship with Wingdings, but learning how to type in Wingdings on macOS is still straightforward:

• Install the font: Download the Wingdings TrueType font file, double-click it, and click “Install Font” in Font Book. It then appears in TextEdit, Pages, and other apps.
• Type with the font: In TextEdit or Pages, open the font panel (Format > Font > Show Fonts), choose Wingdings, and type — letters become symbols.
• Character Viewer: Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, where you can browse and insert individual symbols.

For quick one-off messages on a Mac, the online translator is still faster than installing anything.

How to Type in Wingdings on iPhone & Android

Here’s the honest truth about how to type in Wingdings on a phone: you can’t install the Wingdings font on iOS or Android keyboards. Neither operating system includes the font, and phone keyboards can’t switch to it.

The workaround is simple and works perfectly:

1. Open the Wingdings translator in your phone’s browser.
2. Type your message in plain English.
3. Tap the copy button to copy the Wingdings symbols.
4. Paste them into Messages, WhatsApp, Instagram, Notes, or any app.

The symbols are real Unicode characters that display on any modern phone, so your recipient sees exactly what you intended — no font required.

How to Write in Wingdings in Microsoft Word

Writing a full document in Wingdings in Word takes seconds:

1. Type your text normally in Word.
2. Press Ctrl + A to select everything.
3. Open the font dropdown and choose Wingdings.
4. Your entire document transforms into symbols.

Warning: If you email a Wingdings document to someone without the font, they’ll see plain letters. For sharing, convert your text with the translator instead — the symbols travel with the message.

How to Type Wingdings in Google Docs

Google Docs doesn’t include Wingdings in its font list, so the font-switching trick won’t work there. Instead:

• Generate your Wingdings text with the online translator.
• Copy the symbols and paste them directly into your Google Doc.
• They’ll display correctly because they’re standard characters, not a font.

How to “Speak” in Wingdings

Nobody literally speaks Wingdings — it’s a font, not a language. But the idea comes from the game Undertale, where the mysterious character W.D. Gaster “speaks” in Wingdings text. Fans love to imitate this by:

• Typing messages in Wingdings symbols for a Gaster-style effect.
• Using our Gaster translator to encode and decode his dialogue.
• Reading symbols aloud by their names (“smiley face, arrow, star…”) for fun.

So “speaking” in Wingdings really means writing in Wingdings — which you now know how to do on any device.

How to Read and Decode Wingdings

Received a mysterious Wingdings message? Here’s how to decode it: For an independent chart reference, see Alan Wood’s Wingdings character chart.

• Online decoder (easiest): Paste the symbols into the Wingdings translator and it converts them back to English instantly.
• Manual lookup: Use the Wingdings chart to match each symbol to its keyboard letter.
• Font switch trick: If the message is in a Word document using the Wingdings font, select it and change the font back to Arial — the hidden letters reappear.

Pro Tips for Typing in Wingdings

• Learn the fun keys: J makes a smiley face, “l” makes a black circle, and the alphabet row is full of surprises — explore the chart to find your favorites.
• Wingdings 2 for checkmarks: Need a checkmark? That’s in Wingdings 2, not the original — or just copy one from the translator.
• Test before sending: Always preview symbol messages on the recipient’s type of device when it matters.
• Keep a decoder handy: Bookmark the translator so you can decode messages as fast as you encode them.

Frequently Asked Questions