How to Get Symbols on Keyboard — Special Characters Guide

Ever needed to type a copyright symbol © and realized you had no idea how? Or wanted to use a proper degree symbol ° instead of typing "degrees"? You're not alone. Most people don't know how to access the hundreds of symbols hiding in their keyboard.

I've been collecting these shortcuts for years. Here's everything I know about getting symbols on your keyboard — no matter what device you're using.

The Fastest Way: Copy and Paste

Before we dive into shortcuts, let's be real. The easiest way to get any symbol is to find it and copy it. That's why sites like this one exist — so you can grab symbols like ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ without memorizing anything.

But sometimes you want to type it directly. Here's how.

Windows: Alt Codes Method

Windows has something called "Alt codes" — you hold Alt and type a number on your numeric keypad. Here are the ones I use most:

• © — Alt + 0169
• ® — Alt + 0174
• ™ — Alt + 0153
• ° — Alt + 0176
• ½ — Alt + 0189
• ¼ — Alt + 0188
• ÷ — Alt + 0247
• × — Alt + 0215

Important: You need to use the numeric keypad (the number pad on the right side of your keyboard), not the numbers across the top. Also, make sure Num Lock is on.

Windows: Character Map

Don't want to memorize codes? Windows has a built-in tool called Character Map:

1. Press Windows key + R
2. Type "charmap" and hit Enter
3. Browse or search for the symbol you want
4. Click it, then click "Select" and "Copy"

It's not the most elegant tool, but it has every symbol you could possibly need.

Mac: Option Key Shortcuts

Mac users, you have it easier in some ways. Hold Option (⌥) and press a key to get special characters:

• © — Option + G
• ® — Option + R
• ™ — Option + 2
• ° — Option + Shift + 8
• … — Option + ;
• – — Option + - (en dash)
• — — Option + Shift + - (em dash)
• • — Option + 8

Mac: Emoji & Symbols Panel

Need more symbols? Mac has a built-in panel:

1. Press Control + Command + Space
2. Search for the symbol or emoji you want
3. Double-click to insert it

This panel has everything — math symbols, arrows, currency, and of course, emojis.

iPhone and iPad: Long Press

On iOS, the secret is holding down keys on your keyboard:

• Hold the "0" key to get ° (degree)
• Hold "$" to get other currency symbols
• Hold "-" to get – and —
• Hold any vowel to get accents (é, ü, ñ, etc.)

Android: Gboard Method

If you're using Google's Gboard keyboard on Android:

1. Tap the "?123" key to switch to symbols
2. Tap the "=<" key for more symbols
3. Long-press certain keys for variations

Some Android keyboards also let you long-press keys like iOS does. Give it a try!

Browser Extensions

If you frequently need symbols while browsing, consider an extension like "Symbols Copy & Paste" for Chrome or Firefox. These add a toolbar button with quick access to common symbols.

Common Symbols Quick Reference

Here's a cheat sheet of the most-used symbols and how to type them:

• Arrows: → ← ↑ ↓ — Find these in emoji panels or copy them
• Math: ≠ ≈ ∞ √ — Character Map on Windows, Emoji panel on Mac
• Currency: € £ ¥ ₿ — Usually under the $ key on mobile, Alt codes on desktop
• Misc: ♥ ★ ✓ • — Copy from symbol sites or use character tools

My Recommendation

For symbols you use all the time (like © or °), learn the keyboard shortcut. For everything else, just bookmark a good symbol site and copy what you need. Life's too short to memorize Alt codes for symbols you use once a year.

Looking for specific symbols? Check out our heart symbols guide or browse arrow symbols for more options.