Natural, friendly, and just a bit flirty, the heart emoji with arrow is one of those tiny symbols that instantly tells people you are in your feelings. If you are texting, DMing, or posting and want to show you are smitten, this is the emoji you reach for. In this guide, you will learn exactly what the heart emoji with arrow means, when to use it, and how to type it quickly on any device.
What the heart emoji with arrow actually means
The heart emoji with arrow 💘 shows a heart pierced by an arrow, inspired by Cupid, the mythological figure of love who shoots arrows to make people fall in love. You can think of it as the visual version of saying, “I am love-struck.”
You usually use this emoji to express:
- Romantic love and crushes
- Being smitten or “head over heels”
- Valentine’s Day vibes
- Deep affection for a person, pet, or even a favorite thing
Across platforms, it appears as a stylized pink or red heart with a feathered arrow going through it at an angle. Unicode approved 💘 in version 6.0 in 2010, which is why you now see it everywhere in modern apps and operating systems.
On most major platforms, the tip of the arrow points up toward the left. On WhatsApp, it points down toward the left, but the core meaning stays the same.
| Emoji | Best for | “Vibe” | When to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💘 | Crushes, flirting, love-struck moments | Targeted + intense | Professional or platonic chats |
| ❤️ | Classic love, strong care | Direct + universal | Rarely “wrong,” but can be heavy |
| 💕 | Mutual affection, cute romance | Soft + playful | When you want serious tone |
| 💝 | Gifts, proposals, big romantic gestures | Celebratory | Casual everyday texting |
| 💔 | Breakups, sadness | Emotional/heartbreak | Light conversations |
The symbolism behind the heart emoji with arrow
You already know it signals “love,” but there is more emotional detail wrapped into this small icon.
Cupid’s arrow and being love-struck
In classical mythology, Cupid shoots arrows that make people fall in love. The heart with arrow emoji borrows that idea and turns it into a quick, visual shorthand for that moment when someone gets under your skin in the best way.
It often stands for:
- That first rush of infatuation
- Butterflies in your stomach
- Daydreaming about a person or future with them
Writers sometimes describe it as the feeling of being “love-struck,” which is exactly what 💘 is meant to capture.
Arrow as direction and commitment
Historically, arrows are about direction and purpose. When you combine an arrow with a heart, you get a symbol of choosing someone and moving toward them. It can suggest:
- You are aiming your love at a specific person
- You are ready to be vulnerable
- You are letting yourself fall for them
So while a plain heart can say “love,” the heart emoji with arrow adds a sense of impact, intensity, and maybe even destiny.
How the heart emoji with arrow is used online
You mostly see 💘 in romantic contexts, but there are a few different ways you might use it in real conversations.
Romantic relationships and crushes
This is the most common use. You send 💘 when you:
- Want to signal a crush without spelling it out
- Are flirting and want to make your message feel more romantic
- Are celebrating an anniversary, proposal, or special date
- Want to say “I am totally into you” in one character
Examples you might send:
- “Only thinking about you today 💘”
- “I cannot believe I get to date you 💘”
- “We matched a year ago today 💘”
Because it is so clearly romantic, you usually save 💘 for someone you are attracted to, not for platonic friendships.
Valentine’s Day and romantic holidays
Usage of the heart emoji with arrow spikes around Valentine’s Day, when social media fills up with couples’ photos, date night posts, and love-themed content.
You can use it to:
- Caption Valentine’s Day photos
- Reply to romantic stories or engagement posts
- Decorate announcements for weddings, proposals, or date nights
It also works well with other romantic emojis like 💕, 💌, 💝, and 💖, especially when you want your post to feel extra sweet or celebratory.
Deep affection for people and things
Sometimes you are not talking to a romantic partner, but you still want to show you are obsessed with something.
In that case, 💘 can amplify your enthusiasm:
- “I LOVE my alone time 💘”
- “Instantly obsessed with this playlist 💘”
- “This dog, I am in love 💘”
Here, the emoji exaggerates your love for an activity, object, or experience. It still carries a romantic echo, but it can be more playful than literal.
How 💘 looks across different platforms
The overall meaning stays the same, but the exact design of the heart emoji with arrow varies slightly depending on where you see it.
| Platform / style | Heart color | Arrow direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most major platforms | Pink or red | Arrow tip up and left | Feels soft and romantic |
| Pink/red | Arrow tip down and left | Slight angle change only | |
| Microsoft Fluent | Pink/red | Stylized 3D or flat | Very polished look |
| OpenMoji / Mozilla | Pink/red | Simple, flat | Minimal, clean design |
| Google Noto Color Emoji | Pink/red | Up-left | Supported since Android 4.3 Jelly Bean |
Across all of these, the core elements remain: a heart plus a piercing arrow that signals love and romance.
When to choose 💘 instead of other heart emojis
You have a lot of heart options. The key is knowing when the heart emoji with arrow is the best match and when another heart fits better.
Situations that are ideal for 💘
You want to pick 💘 when:
- You are hinting at a crush
- You are talking about falling for someone
- You are celebrating love-related milestones
- You need a “struck by love” vibe instead of a neutral or friendly one
It works especially well in:
- Flirty DMs
- Romantic captions
- Valentine’s Day posts
- Anniversary stories
If you want a full breakdown of other heart styles, you can browse different heart emoji meanings and see how they compare.
When another heart fits better
Sometimes 💘 is a bit too intense or romantic for the situation. In those cases, you might go with:
- ❤️ Red heart for simple, classic love
- 💕 Two hearts for mutual affection or a cute, light tone
- 💝 Heart emoji with ribbon for “a gift of love” or celebrations
- 💖 Heart emoji with sparkles for excitement and admiration
- 💔 Broken heart emoji for heartbreak or sadness
If you are expressing love for family members, you may prefer softer or more neutral hearts, which you can explore in detail on the page about heart emoji for family.
How to type the heart emoji with arrow on any device
You do not have to search for ❤️ and then an arrow separately. The heart emoji with arrow is its own character, and you can access it directly on phones, tablets, and computers.
On iPhone and iPad (iOS)
- Open your Messages, social app, or any text field.
- Tap the emoji icon on your keyboard.
- Go to the “Smileys & Emotion” or “Symbols” section.
- Scroll through the hearts row until you see 💘.
- Tap to insert.
You can customize your heart usage even more by learning how different hearts behave on Apple devices in the guide to heart emoji ios.
On Android devices
Most Android phones use a version of Google’s Noto Color Emoji set, which has supported 💘 since Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, so you are very likely to have it available.
To use it:
- Open any app where you can type.
- Tap the emoji or smiley face icon on your keyboard.
- Navigate to the hearts or “Smileys & Emotion” section.
- Look for the heart with arrow 💘 and tap it.
If you want more platform-specific details, you can check out the guide to heart emoji android.
On Windows and Mac
Even on desktops and laptops, you can insert 💘 without copying and pasting from a website.
On Windows:
- Place your cursor in any text field.
- Press
Windows key + .(period) orWindows key + ;. - The emoji panel will open.
- Search for “heart” or scroll to the hearts section and select 💘.
On Mac:
- Place your cursor in the text field.
- Press
Control + Command + Spaceto open the emoji viewer. - Type “heart” in the search bar.
- Click 💘 to insert.
If you want a broader overview of entering different hearts and symbols, you can refer to how to type heart emoji or explore the full set of heart emoji symbols.
Using copy and paste
If your device is older or you just prefer a quick shortcut, you can copy 💘 from a reliable source and paste it anywhere. For more copy-ready options, including colored hearts and variations, visit the collection at heart emoji copy paste.
The heart emoji with arrow in Unicode and emoji sets
Behind the scenes, every emoji has a Unicode code point so software can recognize and display it correctly.
- Name: Heart with arrow
- Common form: 💘
- Assigned in: Unicode 6.0 (2010)
This emoji appears in many major emoji sets, such as:
- Google’s Noto Color Emoji
- Microsoft Fluent Emoji (3D, color, flat, and high contrast styles)
- Mozilla FxEmojis
- OpenMoji
- Twitter’s Twemoji
Its wide adoption means that if you send 💘 from your phone, the person on the other end will almost certainly see some version of a heart with arrow, even if their exact design is slightly different.
If you enjoy the technical side of emoji, you can learn more about code points and encodings in the overview of heart emoji unicode.
How 💘 behaves on different social platforms
The core meaning of the heart emoji with arrow stays romantic everywhere, but it picks up small platform-specific vibes depending on where you use it.
On Instagram
You often see 💘 in:
- Romantic photo captions
- Stories with couple selfies or date nights
- Comments hyping up friends’ relationships
Brands sometimes use it in Valentine’s Day campaigns, dating app promotions, or posts centered on love and relationships. For a closer look at how hearts show up on this platform, you can check out heart emoji instagram.
On Twitter / X
Because posts move fast, 💘 on Twitter (or X) is usually short and expressive:
- “Currently obsessed with this song 💘”
- “Crushing hard and not okay about it 💘”
You will also see it in reaction tweets, ship posts, and fandom content. Emojis in general are a big part of how tone comes across there, which is covered more in heart emoji twitter.
On Snapchat and Facebook
On Snapchat, hearts mostly appear in friend status icons, while 💘 is more common in Snaps and chats when you are being openly romantic. For more on that ecosystem, you can read about heart emoji on snapchat.
On Facebook, you see 💘 in:
- Relationship status updates
- Anniversary or wedding photo captions
- Valentine’s Day event invites or posts
If you use 💘 with friends and family on Facebook, it usually signals strong affection that leans romantic in tone, instead of strictly platonic. General heart usage on that platform is covered in heart emoji facebook.
Pairing 💘 with other heart emojis
You rarely use the heart emoji with arrow in isolation. It often appears with other hearts to fine tune the tone of your message.
Colorful hearts and combinations
You can combine 💘 with different heart colors to layer your meaning:
- 💘❤️ for strong, intense romantic love
- 💘💕 for cute, playful crush energy
- 💘💝 for gift-giving, proposals, or big romantic gestures
- 💘💖 for glam, sparkly romance or admiration
Each color has its own vibe, which you can explore in more detail in the guide to heart emoji meanings colors.
If you are curious about specific colors, you can dive deeper into:
- ❤️ Red heart emoji for classic love
- 💓 Pink heart emoji for softer affection and sweetness
- 🤍 White heart emoji for purity and gentle care
- 💜 Purple heart emoji for loyalty and admiration
- 💙 Blue heart emoji for calm, trust, and friendship
- 💚 Green heart emoji for growth or sometimes jealousy
- 💛 Yellow heart emoji for friendship and happiness
- 🧡 Orange heart emoji for warmth without full romance
- 🖤 Black heart emoji for dark humor or dramatic feelings
Using 💘 with non heart emojis
You can also pair 💘 with other symbols to tweak the mood:
- 💘🥰 for very mushy, affectionate messages
- 💘🏹 to emphasize the Cupid theme
- 💘💌 when you are sending a love letter or romantic text
- 💘😳 to show you are shy or flustered about your feelings
The more emojis you combine, the more exaggerated or playful the message feels, so you can adjust based on how serious you want to sound.
Quick tip: If you are chatting with someone new, start with softer hearts and use 💘 after you both seem comfortable with romantic or flirty conversation.
Using 💘 in your brand or content strategy
If you create content or handle social media for a brand, you might wonder whether the heart emoji with arrow fits your voice.
When it works for brands
💘 can be a good fit if your content focuses on:
- Dating, relationships, or romance
- Valentine’s Day promotions or seasonal campaigns
- Gifts, jewelry, or experiences aimed at couples
- “Customer love” stories with a playful twist
Used sparingly, it can make posts feel warm and human. Just be sure it aligns with your brand personality. A very serious or corporate brand might want to stick to simpler hearts instead.
When to avoid or limit 💘
You probably want to skip the heart emoji with arrow when:
- You are addressing sensitive topics like grief or serious health news
- You are talking about professional news (for example financial reports or policy updates)
- Your audience skews very formal or conservative
In those cases, neutral or basic hearts, or even no emoji at all, may be more appropriate.
If you are tailoring heart choices for tone, the broader overview at heart emoji designs and heart emoji meanings can help you choose.
Practical tips for using 💘 naturally
To make the heart emoji with arrow feel like a natural part of your communication style, keep these simple habits in mind:
- Match intensity: Use 💘 when your message is clearly romantic or extremely affectionate so it does not feel out of place.
- Watch context: Avoid sending it to people who might misunderstand your intentions, especially coworkers or casual contacts.
- Combine thoughtfully: Pair it with other hearts and emojis only when they add clarity or tone. More is not always better.
- Test your audience: If you share content publicly, try 💘 in a few posts and see how your audience responds before using it heavily.
If you want a smoother way to access hearts in general, especially if you are switching between platforms, a dedicated heart emoji keyboard can make it easier to find and insert the symbols you use most often.
Final thoughts
The heart emoji with arrow💘 is your shortcut for saying “I am love-struck” without typing an entire paragraph. It adds charm and emotion to texts, captions, and DMs, especially when you are talking about crushes, romantic relationships, or those moments when your feelings take you by surprise.
As you get more comfortable with it, you can mix 💘 with other hearts, experiment with how it looks on different apps, and personalize how often you use it. With a good handle on the full spectrum of heart emoji meanings and colors, you can make every tiny symbol you send feel intentional, expressive, and completely your style.
FAQs
What does the 💘 heart with arrow emoji mean?
It usually means love-struck, crushing hard, or romantic attraction—a Cupid-style “you hit me right in the feelings” vibe.
Is 💘 flirty or serious?
Both—but it leans flirty/romantic. It’s stronger than a simple ❤️ and more “targeted” than 💕.
Can I use 💘 with friends or family?
You can, but it may read romantic. For family/friends, softer hearts like ❤️ or 💛 often feel safer.
Why does 💘 look different on WhatsApp?
Emoji designs vary by platform. On WhatsApp, the arrow angle can differ (the meaning stays the same).
What is the Unicode for 💘?
It’s U+1F498 (Heart with Arrow), added in Unicode 6.0 (2010).
How do I type 💘 on Windows and Mac?
Windows: open emoji panel with Win + .
Mac: open Character Viewer (Emoji & Symbols) from Apple’s shortcut options.
