⬅️ left arrow Emoji - Copy & Paste Free
left arrowEmoji
What Does the ⬅️ left arrow Emoji Mean?
A thick black arrowhead and shaft pointing squarely to the left, usually rendered on a rounded square tile. It communicates leftward direction, but far more often it means going back, returning, or reversing a step. On screens it reads as 'previous,' 'undo the last move,' or 'the item to the left,' making it one of the most functional, interface-flavored symbols in the emoji set.
At a Glance
| Name | ⬅️ left arrow |
|---|---|
| Unicode Codepoint | U+2B05 U+FE0F |
| Category | Symbols |
| Introduced | Unicode 4.0 · iOS 6.0+ |
| Also Known As | arrow_left |
Last updated: September 2026
left arrow on Different Platforms
This emoji may look different across platforms. Here is how left arrow emoji appears on popular platforms:
Download this emoji as a free PNG image, no sign-up. The PNG link appears under the open-licensed sets (Google, Twitter/X and OpenMoji).
Shortcodes for left arrow ⬅️
Use these shortcodes to type the left arrow emoji in Slack, Discord, and GitHub:
About left arrow Emoji
Usage: People use it to signal navigating backward, revisiting an earlier step, or pointing at whatever sits to their left in a photo or list. It appears in tutorials ('tap here ⬅️'), in directions, and playfully to point back at a previous message. It also flags a swipe-left or a return to a prior screen.
The leftwards arrow character predates emoji, living in Unicode's arrow blocks (added around 1999). It gained full-color emoji presentation in 2015 with Emoji 1.0. A quirk: arrows like this only become 'emoji' when paired with a variation selector, otherwise they render as plain text symbols.
What Does the ⬅️ left arrow Emoji Mean?
The ⬅️ emoji is part of the Symbols category. It is commonly used in digital communication to visually represent left arrow.
First introduced in Unicode 4.0, this emoji has become a staple in everyday messaging across platforms including iOS, Android, WhatsApp, and social media.
You may also find this emoji by searching for its alternative names: arrow_left.
Word Associations
People often pair the ⬅️ left arrow emoji with these words and ideas:
left arrow Emoji in Other Languages
How to say the ⬅️ left arrow emoji name around the world:
| English | ⬅️left arrow |
|---|---|
| Español | ⬅️flecha izquierda |
| Français | ⬅️flèche vers la gauche |
| Deutsch | ⬅️Pfeil nach links |
| 日本語 | ⬅️左矢印 |
| 中文 | ⬅️左箭头 |
| हिन्दी | ⬅️बाएँ तीर |
| العربية | ⬅️سهم لليسار |
Emoji names are based on the Unicode CLDR short names for each language.
Platform Support
This emoji is supported on iOS 6.0+, Android, Windows, macOS, and all major social media platforms including WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Facebook, and TikTok.
How to Copy ⬅️
Simply click the "Copy" button above to copy ⬅️ left arrow emoji to your clipboard. You can then paste it anywhere - in text messages, social media posts, emails, or documents. Works on all devices and platforms!
Technical Details
Use these code snippets to add the ⬅️ left arrow emoji in your projects:
U+2B05 U+FE0F⬅️⬅️content: '\2B05\FE0F';"\u{2B05}\u{FE0F}""\U00002B05\U0000FE0F""\u2B05\uFE0F""\u2B05\uFE0F""\u{2B05}\u{FE0F}""\u{2B05}\u{FE0F}"Use these codes to insert the left arrow emoji in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Perfect for web developers and designers.
⬅️ left arrow Emoji in Real Chats
Here's how people use the ⬅️ left arrow emoji in everyday messages, captions and comments:
- “left arrow? Say less ⬅️”: a quick reaction that works in any DM or group chat.
- “This is such a Symbols moment ⬅️”: perfect for texts, Stories and captions.
- “⬅️⬅️⬅️”: stack the left arrow emoji for extra emphasis and vibes.
Guides worth reading
- Check marks, arrows and star symbolsThe plain text versions that work in spreadsheets and slides.
- The 25 oldest emoji, dated to 1993Checked against Unicode's own character age file. Half of them are zodiac.
- How number emoji actually workEach keycap is three characters, and the 67 meme put them everywhere.
More Emojis from Unicode 4.0
⬅️ Usage Examples
Here are some practical ways to use the ⬅️ left arrow emoji in your messages:
- The exit is back that way ⬅️ you passed it near the elevators.
- Scroll ⬅️ to see the before photo, the difference is wild.
- That's my dog in the corner ⬅️ he refuses to leave that spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ⬅️ usually mean in apps?
In interfaces ⬅️ almost always means 'go back' or 'previous.' It points users toward an earlier screen, a prior step in a flow, or the last item in a sequence, mirroring the back button found in browsers and mobile apps.
Why does ⬅️ sometimes appear as a plain black symbol?
The base character is an old text arrow. Without an invisible variation selector telling the device to show the colorful emoji tile, it renders as a thin monochrome glyph. The emoji version simply requests the fuller, button-style presentation.
How is ⬅️ different from 🔙?
⬅️ is a directional arrow that can mean left or back depending on context. 🔙 literally spells the word 'BACK' inside an arrow, so it unambiguously means returning. Use 🔙 when you specifically want 'go back' and ⬅️ for general leftward pointing.