How to How to Use UNICODE Function in Excel in Excel - Practical Guide

Learn how to use the UNICODE function to retrieve the Unicode numeric value of the first character in a text string. This function is essential for working with character encoding, data validation, and advanced text processing tasks in Excel.

Why This Matters

The UNICODE function enables you to identify and validate specific characters, automate character-based workflows, and troubleshoot encoding issues in professional data processing tasks.

Prerequisites

•Basic understanding of Excel formulas and cell references
•Familiarity with text functions (TEXT, LEN, MID)
•Knowledge of character encoding concepts

Step-by-Step Instructions

Open Excel and select a cell

Launch Microsoft Excel and click on any empty cell where you want to enter the UNICODE formula (e.g., cell A1).

Type the UNICODE formula syntax

Enter the formula =UNICODE(text) where text is either a cell reference or a text string in quotes, for example =UNICODE("A") or =UNICODE(A1).

Press Enter to execute the formula

Hit the Enter key on your keyboard to run the formula and display the Unicode value of the first character in the result cell.

Review the numeric output

The cell will display a number representing the Unicode code point (e.g., 65 for "A", 97 for "a").

Copy the formula to other cells

Select the cell with the formula, copy it (Ctrl+C), and paste into other cells to retrieve Unicode values from multiple text entries.

Alternative Methods

Use UNICODE with MID function

Combine UNICODE with MID to extract Unicode values of characters other than the first one, using =UNICODE(MID(text, position, 1)).

Create a lookup table with UNICODE values

Build a reference table that lists characters in one column and their UNICODE values in another to quickly identify character codes.

Tips & Tricks

✓UNICODE only returns the value of the first character; use MID to extract other characters first.
✓Unicode values range from 0 to 1,114,111; common ASCII characters are 0-127.
✓Use UNICODE in conditional formulas to validate that specific characters are present in your data.

Pro Tips

★Combine UNICODE with IF statements to flag non-standard characters for data cleaning purposes.
★Use UNICODE in conjunction with CHAR (the inverse function) to round-trip encode and decode text.
★Create a validation rule using UNICODE to ensure only specific characters are entered in a range.

Troubleshooting

Formula returns #VALUE! error

Ensure the cell reference contains actual text, not a formula that returns an error or empty value. Check for leading spaces or special formatting.

UNICODE values don't match expected numbers

Verify you're checking the correct character (first character only) and confirm the character set is Unicode, not a different encoding.

Formula works in one cell but not when copied

Check that cell references update correctly when copying; use absolute references ($) if needed to maintain reference consistency.

Related Excel Formulas

CHAR CODE MID LEN TEXT SUBSTITUTE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UNICODE function used for?

The UNICODE function returns the numeric Unicode code point of the first character in a text string. It's used for character validation, encoding verification, and advanced text processing workflows in professional data analysis.

Can UNICODE work on numbers or special symbols?

Yes, UNICODE works on any character including numbers, punctuation, and special symbols. For example, =UNICODE("5") returns 53, and =UNICODE("@") returns 64. Each character has a unique Unicode value.

Is UNICODE available in all Excel versions?

UNICODE was introduced in Excel 2013 and is available in all modern versions including Excel 2016, 2019, and Excel 365. For older versions, you may need to use alternative VBA solutions.

How do I get the Unicode value of characters beyond the first?

Use the MID function to extract the specific character first, then apply UNICODE: =UNICODE(MID(text, position, 1)). This retrieves the code point of any character in the string.