How to Type ŵ (W with circumflex) on Microsoft Word

Published May 1, 2026, 2 min read

Typing ŵ (w with circumflex) on Microsoft Word takes a few seconds once you know the trick. The short answer is 0175 then Alt+X. Read on for step-by-step instructions, the uppercase Ŵ and what to do when a method does not work.

ŵ on Microsoft Word: 0175 then Alt+X

Ŵ on Microsoft Word: 0174 then Alt+X

Or copy it:

Method 1: Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 0175 where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into ŵ.

Press Alt+X again to turn it back into the code. On a Mac, Word uses the macOS methods instead.

Method 2: Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 0175 in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

How to type the capital Ŵ

The uppercase form works the same way with Shift added where a letter is typed.

Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 0174 where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into Ŵ.

Press Alt+X again to turn it back into the code. On a Mac, Word uses the macOS methods instead.

Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 0174 in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

About the letter ŵ

ŵ is Unicode U+0175, named LATIN SMALL LETTER W WITH CIRCUMFLEX. It is used in Welsh. A small caret (^) above a vowel. In French it often marks a vanished s (forêt from forest), in Portuguese a closed vowel, in Welsh a long vowel, and in Vietnamese a distinct vowel (â, ê, ô). See the ŵ character page for every code and shortcut.

Troubleshooting

Ctrl accent shortcuts are in Word for Windows. Word for Mac uses the macOS Option shortcuts.
If Alt+X converts the wrong text, select just the code first, then press Alt+X.
Change the font if the letter shows as an empty box; Calibri, Arial and Times New Roman cover common accents.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut for ŵ on Microsoft Word?

0175 then Alt+X.

Can I just copy and paste ŵ?

Yes. Click the copy button above, then paste with Ctrl+V on Windows and Chromebook, Cmd+V on a Mac, or touch and hold and choose Paste on a phone.

What is the Unicode code for ŵ?

U+0175. In HTML it is ŵ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for Microsoft Word