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How to Type Trademark Symbol ™ — Everything You Need to Know

·8 min read

You've got a brand, a product, or something you've created and you want to mark it with the trademark symbol ™. Problem is, it's not on your keyboard. You could type "TM" in brackets like everyone used to do, but that looks dated. You want the real symbol.

I've been typing the trademark symbol for years — for client work, personal projects, and just general writing. Here's every way I know to get ™ onto your screen, organized by what you're using. Find the method that fits your workflow.

Quickest Method — Copy and Paste

Don't want to remember shortcuts? Just grab it here:

™

Click or tap to select, copy with Ctrl+C (Windows/Linux) or Command+C (Mac), then paste wherever you need it. This works everywhere — no setup, no codes, just copy and go.

Windows — Multiple Ways to Get ™

Windows gives you options depending on your version and what you're comfortable with.

Alt Code Method (Classic)

The traditional Alt code approach — works on any Windows PC with a numeric keypad:

Note the leading zero: 0153, not just 153. This matters. Also, this only works with a full numeric keypad. Laptop users without one need a different approach.

Emoji Picker (Windows 10 and 11)

Modern Windows has a built-in symbol picker that's surprisingly useful:

This is my preferred method on Windows. It's visual, fast, and includes tons of other symbols besides ™. The emoji picker also has ® (registered trademark) and © (copyright) in the same place.

Character Map

The old Windows Character Map app still works if you prefer traditional tools:

Character Map has been around since Windows 95. It's slower than the emoji picker but shows every available character organized by font. Sometimes that's useful.

Mac — Simple and Consistent

Mac users have it easy. The trademark symbol has a dedicated keyboard shortcut.

Keyboard Shortcut

This is the standard Mac shortcut for trademark:

That's it. Option (or Alt, same key on most Macs) plus the number 2 produces ™. This works in virtually any Mac application — TextEdit, Pages, Safari, email clients, you name it.

Character Viewer

If you forget the shortcut or want to browse available symbols:

The Character Viewer shows all symbols organized by category. Great for finding rare characters or exploring what's available in your current font.

iPhone and iPad — iOS Methods

iOS doesn't have direct keyboard shortcuts for ™, but there are workarounds that work well.

Text Replacement (Recommended for Frequent Use)

If you use ™ regularly, set up a text replacement:

Now whenever you type your shortcut and hit space, iOS replaces it with ™. I use "(tm)" because it's unlikely to be a real word I want to type and it's intuitive — "tm" in parentheses equals the trademark symbol.

Emoji Keyboard

The iOS emoji keyboard includes symbols too:

This works if you're already typing in an app. It's a few taps, but no need to switch away from what you're doing.

Copy from Notes

Low-tech solution that always works:

I keep a "Quick Symbols" note on my phone with ™, ®, ©, and a few other frequently used characters. It's saved me countless times.

Android — Methods That Work

Android varies by device and keyboard, but these methods cover most situations.

Gboard (Google Keyboard)

Most Android phones use Gboard. Here's how to find ™:

On some versions of Gboard, you can long-press the T key to reveal ™ as an option. Try it — if your keyboard supports it, that's faster.

Text Replacement

Android supports text shortcuts similar to iOS:

The exact menu path varies slightly by Android version and phone manufacturer, but the personal dictionary feature is standard on modern Android devices.

Copy from Online

Simple and effective for occasional use:

No setup required, works every time.

Web Development — HTML and CSS

If you're building websites, here's how to include ™ properly.

HTML Entities

HTML provides multiple ways to represent the trademark symbol:

All three render as ™ in the browser. Use ™ for code readability — it's clear what the symbol is. The numeric codes are useful in specific situations where named entities might not be supported.

Direct Unicode

Modern HTML5 supports Unicode characters directly in source:

<p>MyBrand™</p>

This works fine, but some developers prefer named entities for consistency. It's a matter of personal preference and team standards.

CSS

To add ™ via CSS (useful for pseudo-elements or styling):

.trademark::after &lbrace; content: "\2122"; &rbrace;

The backslash notation (\2122) is CSS syntax for Unicode characters. This is great for adding symbols without modifying HTML, like in automated footers or brand elements.

LaTeX — Academic Writing

If you're writing papers in LaTeX:

For the trademark symbol, add \usepackage&lbrace;textcomp&rbrace; to your preamble, then use \texttrademark wherever needed.

Microsoft Word

Word includes a symbol inserter:

You can also create a custom shortcut:

Google Docs

Google Docs keeps it straightforward:

You can also search by drawing — if you can't find it, draw the ™ symbol with your mouse or trackpad and Docs will match it.

Adobe Applications

Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign have a Glyphs panel:

The Glyphs panel shows all available characters in the current font, including ™.

Related Symbols — © and ®

Trademark isn't the only intellectual property symbol. Here's the quick comparison:

™

Trademark

Unregistered marks

®

Registered

Registered marks

©

Copyright

Creative works

Quick shortcuts for these related symbols:

™ vs. ® — When to Use Which

This is where people get confused. Here's the practical difference:

The simple rule: If it's not registered, use ™. If it's registered, use ®. When in doubt, ™ is the safer choice.

What Can You Trademark?

Trademarks cover more than just brand names:

Not everything qualifies. Generic terms can't be trademarked. You can't trademark "shoes" for a shoe company, but you can trademark "Air Jordan" for athletic shoes.

Proper Trademark Formatting

There are a few conventions for using the trademark symbol correctly:

In practice, online, you'll see both styles. The superscript ™ looks more professional, but the regular ™ works fine and is more accessible.

Common Mistakes

Things people get wrong with trademarks:

My Recommended Approach

Based on years of using ™ across different platforms:

For occasional use, copy-paste from this page works perfectly fine. Don't overthink it.

Final Thoughts

The trademark symbol ™ is one of those tools that looks professional when used correctly but feels unpolished when misused. Know when to use it (when claiming a trademark) and when not to (on generic terms or when you actually mean copyright).

As for typing it — pick one method and stick with it. Muscle memory beats memorizing three different approaches. I use the emoji picker on Windows, Option+2 on Mac, and text replacements on mobile. That covers 99% of my situations.

And remember: ™ is a notice, not a substitute for actual trademark registration. For serious trademark protection, talk to an intellectual property lawyer. The symbol signals your claim, but registration gives you legal rights.

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