The fastest way to type symbols depends on your operating system
Most symbols live on your keyboard already — you just need to hold Shift or use a dedicated key. On Windows, you can also type any symbol using its Alt code. On Mac, you hold Option (or Option + Shift) and press a letter or number. If you need a symbol that isn't on your keyboard at all, both systems have character maps or symbol pickers built in.
The method you choose depends on whether you type the symbol often, whether you remember the code, and whether you're on Windows or Mac. A symbol you use once a week is worth learning the keyboard shortcut for. A symbol you use once a year is faster to find in the character map.
Key Takeaways
- Most keyboard symbols appear when you hold Shift and press the number or punctuation key — for example, Shift+2 types @ on a US keyboard.
- On Windows, you can type any symbol by holding Alt and typing its four-digit code on the numeric keypad, then releasing Alt.
- On Mac, hold Option and press a letter or number to type symbols; Option+Shift produces different symbols on the same keys.
- Both Windows and Mac have built-in character maps (Character Map on Windows, Character Viewer on Mac) where you can search for and copy any symbol.
- The numeric keypad is required for Alt codes on Windows — the number row at the top of the keyboard will not work.
Symbols you can type by holding Shift
On a US keyboard, every number key and most punctuation keys produce a symbol when you hold Shift. These are the fastest symbols to type because they're printed right on your keys and require only one key combination.
Here are the common ones:
| Key | Without Shift | With Shift |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ! |
| 2 | 2 | @ |
| 3 | 3 | # |
| 4 | 4 | $ |
| 5 | 5 | % |
| 6 | 6 | ^ |
| 7 | 7 | & |
| 8 | 8 | * |
| 9 | 9 | ( |
| 0 | 0 | ) |
| - | - | _ |
| = | = | + |
| [ | [ | { |
| ] | ] | } |
| ; | ; | : |
| ' | ' | " |
| , | , | < |
| . | . | > |
| / | / | ? |
| \ | \ | | |
| ` | ` | ~ |
If your keyboard layout is not US English, your symbols will be in different places. You can check your layout by going to Settings > Time & Language > Language (on Windows) or System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources (on Mac) and seeing which layout is active.
How to type Alt codes on Windows
Alt codes are four-digit numbers that produce specific symbols when you hold Alt and type them on the numeric keypad. This method works for hundreds of symbols that don't have a Shift shortcut. The numeric keypad is the small cluster of number keys on the right side of most desktop keyboards — the number row at the top of the keyboard will not work.
To type an Alt code: hold Alt, type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. For example, Alt+0169 produces the copyright symbol ©. Alt+0174 produces the registered trademark symbol ®. Alt+0176 produces the degree symbol °.
If your keyboard doesn't have a numeric keypad (common on laptops), you can enable Num Lock and use the number keys that double as letters. On most laptops, this is the right side of the letter keys. Look for a key labeled Num Lock or Fn+Num Lock, press it to turn it on, then type the Alt code using those keys.
A few common Alt codes to remember:
- Alt+0169 = © (copyright)
- Alt+0174 = ® (registered trademark)
- Alt+0176 = ° (degree)
- Alt+0177 = ± (plus or minus)
- Alt+0215 = × (multiplication sign)
- Alt+0247 = ÷ (division sign)
- Alt+0188 = ¼ (one quarter)
- Alt+0189 = ½ (one half)
- Alt+0190 = ¾ (three quarters)
How to type symbols on Mac using Option key
On Mac, hold Option (also called Alt) and press a key to type a symbol. Option+Shift and a key produces a different symbol on the same key. For example, Option+8 types the bullet point •, and Option+Shift+8 types the degree symbol °.
Unlike Windows Alt codes, Mac Option shortcuts are not four-digit numbers — they're single-key combinations. This makes them faster to type once you learn them, but there are many more to remember. Some common ones:
- Option+2 = ™ (trademark)
- Option+G = © (copyright)
- Option+R = ® (registered trademark)
- Option+Shift+= = + (plus, if your keyboard doesn't have a dedicated plus key)
- Option+- = – (en dash)
- Option+Shift+- = — (em dash)
- Option+8 = • (bullet point)
- Option+5 = ∞ (infinity)
If you use a symbol regularly on Mac, the fastest way to learn its shortcut is to open the Character Viewer (see below), find the symbol, and look at the code shown. You can also click the symbol in Character Viewer and it will paste into your document.
Using Character Map on Windows to find any symbol
Character Map is a built-in Windows tool that shows every symbol your computer can type. Open it by pressing the Windows key, typing "character map", and pressing Enter. A window will open showing a grid of symbols.
To find a specific symbol, type its name in the search box at the top (for example, "copyright" or "degree"). Click the symbol you want, and it will appear in the "Characters to copy" box at the bottom. Click Copy, then paste it into your document using Ctrl+V.
If you want to know the Alt code for a symbol, select it in Character Map and look at the bottom of the window — it will show "Alt+0000" with the code. Write down the code if you plan to type that symbol often.
Using Character Viewer on Mac to find any symbol
On Mac, the Character Viewer is the equivalent of Windows Character Map. Open it by pressing Control+Command+Space, or by going to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources, checking "Show Input menu in menu bar", then clicking the flag icon in the top menu bar and selecting "Show Character Viewer".
Type the symbol's name in the search box (for example, "copyright" or "heart") and the matching symbols will appear. Click the one you want and it will paste into your document. You can also click the symbol and look for its Option key shortcut displayed below it — if one exists, it will show there so you can learn it for next time.
Typing accented letters and special characters
If you need accented letters like é, ñ, or ü, both Windows and Mac have shortcuts. On Windows, hold Ctrl+Shift and type a symbol, then type the letter — for example, Ctrl+Shift+` (backtick) then e produces è. On Mac, hold Option and type the accent key, then type the letter — for example, Option+e then e produces é.
The easiest method for accented letters is often to use Character Map (Windows) or Character Viewer (Mac) and search for the letter you need. This avoids having to remember which accent key to press first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't my Alt codes work on Windows?
Alt codes only work on the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, not the number row at the top. If you're on a laptop without a numeric keypad, turn on Num Lock first (usually Fn+Num Lock), then use the number keys on the right side of the letter keys. Also make sure Num Lock is actually on — the light on the Num Lock key should be lit.
Can I type symbols on a phone or tablet?
Yes, but the method is different. On most phones, long-press a key to see symbol options, or switch to the symbols keyboard (usually labeled "123" or "!@#"). On tablets, the process is similar — look for a symbols key or long-press letters to see variants.
What if a symbol I need isn't in Character Map or Character Viewer?
Some symbols exist but are not installed on your computer, or they're part of a special font you need to install first. Try searching online for the symbol name plus "Unicode" — this will tell you if the symbol exists and what code it uses. You may need to install a font that includes it.
Is there a way to create a custom keyboard shortcut for a symbol I use often?
On Windows, you can use AutoCorrect: go to Settings > Devices > Typing > Advanced typing options > Spelling, grammar, and more, then scroll to AutoCorrect and add a shortcut. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text and add a text replacement. For example, you could make typing "copy" automatically replace with ©.
Do symbol shortcuts work the same way in all programs?
Shift shortcuts and Alt codes (on Windows) work in almost all programs. Option shortcuts (on Mac) work in most programs, but some older or specialized software may not recognize them. Character Map and Character Viewer work everywhere because you're copying and pasting the actual symbol, not using a keyboard shortcut.