How to Type Special Symbols on Mac and Windows
Most special characters can be typed directly from your keyboard using a shortcut or numeric code — no need to copy and paste from a website. Here's how to do it on both Windows and Mac.
Windows: Alt Codes
On Windows, hold the Alt key and type a numeric code on your number pad, then release Alt. The symbol will appear at your cursor. This requires a full keyboard with a dedicated number pad — on laptops, you may need to enable Num Lock and use the Fn key with number-pad-equivalent keys.
| Symbol | Name | Alt Code |
|---|---|---|
| © | Copyright | Alt+0169 |
| ® | Registered Trademark | Alt+0174 |
| ™ | Trademark | Alt+0153 |
| ° | Degree | Alt+0176 |
| ± | Plus-Minus | Alt+0177 |
| € | Euro | Alt+0128 |
| £ | Pound | Alt+0163 |
| ¢ | Cent | Alt+0162 |
| • | Bullet | Alt+0149 |
| ½ | One Half | Alt+0189 |
If Alt codes don't work on your device, open Character Map (search for it in the Start menu), find the symbol, and copy it directly.
Mac: Option Key Shortcuts and Character Viewer
On Mac, many symbols have a dedicated Option key shortcut. For symbols without one, use the built-in Character Viewer.
| Symbol | Name | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| © | Copyright | Option+G |
| ® | Registered Trademark | Option+R |
| ™ | Trademark | Option+2 |
| ° | Degree | Option+Shift+8 |
| ≠ | Not Equal | Option+= |
| € | Euro | Option+Shift+2 |
| £ | Pound | Option+3 |
| ¢ | Cent | Option+4 |
| • | Bullet | Option+8 |
| ÷ | Division | Option+/ |
For any symbol without a dedicated shortcut, press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer, then search by name or browse categories to insert it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type a symbol on Windows using Alt codes?
Hold the Alt key and type the numeric code on your keyboard's number pad, then release Alt. A full number pad is required; laptops without one may need Num Lock enabled with an Fn key combination.
How do I type a symbol on Mac?
Use an Option-key shortcut, such as Option+G for the copyright symbol, or open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space to search for and insert any symbol.
What if my keyboard doesn't have a number pad?
On Windows laptops without a number pad, Alt codes may not work directly. Use the Character Map utility instead, or copy the symbol from a reference site and paste it.
Do Alt codes work in every program?
Most Alt codes work in Windows programs like Word, Excel, and browsers, but support can vary. If a code doesn't work, copying and pasting the symbol directly is a reliable alternative.
Prefer not to memorize codes? Browse and copy any symbol directly from our full symbol library instead.