To make a heart in Word, go to Insert > Shapes, pick the Heart from Basic Shapes, then drag on the page to draw it; hold Shift while dragging to keep its proportions. Colour it with Shape Format > Shape Fill and Shape Outline. For a heart inside your text, use Insert > Symbol, Insert > Icons, or the emoji panel (Windows + .).
Quick Answer
Insert > Shapes > Heart > drag with Shift. Or Windows + . for a heart emoji in text.
Steps to Draw a Heart Shape
- Click Insert > Shapes.
- Under Basic Shapes, click the heart.
- Hold Shift and drag on the page.
- On Shape Format, set Shape Fill (for example red) and Shape Outline.
- Use Wrap Text to position it with your text, or Add Text to type inside it.
Heart Options
| Method | Best for |
|---|---|
| Shapes > Heart | Large, colourable hearts on cards and flyers |
| Insert > Icons | Stylish outline or filled heart icons |
| Insert > Symbol | A heart character in a line of text |
| Emoji panel (Windows + .) | A colour heart emoji in text |
Type a Heart Symbol With the Keyboard
If you only need a small heart inside a sentence, these keyboard methods are faster than any menu:
- Unicode trick in Word for Windows: type
2665and press Alt+X. Word converts the code into a heart (♥). Type2661and press Alt+X for an outline heart (♡). - Alt code: hold Alt and type 3 on the numeric keypad to insert ♥ in Word and many other Windows apps.
- AutoCorrect: In Word, go to File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options and add an entry such as
<3that is replaced with ♥. From then on, the heart appears whenever you type it.
Make a Heart Look Polished
Once your heart shape is on the page, a few touches make it look designed rather than drawn. On the Shape Format tab, open Shape Effects to add a soft shadow or glow, or choose a gradient under Shape Fill. Right-click the heart and choose Format Shape for precise control over transparency and line style. To build a pattern of hearts for a card or border, draw one, then press Ctrl+D to duplicate it and drag the copies into place. Select them all and use Align to line them up neatly.
Troubleshooting
- Heart is squashed: Delete it and redraw holding Shift, or set equal height and width in Shape Format > Size.
- Can’t move it freely: Set Wrap Text to In Front of Text.
- Combining shapes: See merging shapes in Word.
- Other symbols: See adding a location symbol in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a heart outline only?
Set Shape Fill to No Fill and give it a thicker Shape Outline.
Can I add a picture inside the heart?
Yes. Shape Fill > Picture fills the heart with an image.
Does this work on a Mac?
Yes. Insert > Shapes works the same; use Control + Command + Space for emoji.
Summary
- Insert > Shapes > Heart.
- Drag holding Shift.
- Colour it in Shape Format.
- Use Icons, Symbol or emoji for text hearts.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.