Infinity Symbol Keyboard — Type ∞ on Any Device
How to type the infinity symbol ∞ using keyboard shortcuts on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android. Alt codes, Unicode, and related symbols.
The infinity symbol (∞) is a mathematical icon that's found its way into everyday language, social media, tattoos, and design. Whether you're writing a math paper, creating content about "infinite love," or just want to use ∞ in a text message, this guide shows you every keyboard shortcut to type the infinity symbol on any device.
Quick Copy-Paste Infinity Symbols
Copy any infinity symbol below and paste it wherever you need it:
| Symbol | Name | Unicode |
|---|---|---|
| ∞ | Infinity | U+221E |
| ♾ | Permanent Paper Sign (infinity emoji) | U+267E |
| ♾️ | Infinity emoji (with variation selector) | U+267E + FE0F |
Related Mathematical Symbols
These symbols often appear alongside infinity in math and science:
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ∞ | Infinity | U+221E | Unbounded, limitless |
| ≈ | Almost Equal To | U+2248 | Approximately |
| ≠ | Not Equal To | U+2260 | Not equal |
| ≤ | Less Than or Equal To | U+2264 | At most |
| ≥ | Greater Than or Equal To | U+2265 | At least |
| ± | Plus-Minus | U+00B1 | Plus or minus |
| ∑ | Summation | U+2211 | Sum of series |
| ∏ | Product | U+220F | Product of series |
| √ | Square Root | U+221A | Radical sign |
| π | Pi | U+03C0 | 3.14159... |
Infinity Symbol Shortcuts for Windows
Alt Code Method
Make sure Num Lock is on, then hold Alt and type the code on your numeric keypad:
| Symbol | Alt Code | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| ∞ | Alt + 236 | Hold Alt, type 236 on numpad |
| ∞ | Alt + 8734 | Hold Alt, type 8734 on numpad |
Windows Emoji Picker
On Windows 10/11, press Win + . to open the emoji picker. Type "infinity" in the search bar and click the ∞ symbol. This works in any text field without needing a numpad.
Character Map
Press Win, type "Character Map", and press Enter. Search for "infinity" or scroll to find ∞. Select it, click Copy, then paste it into your document.
In Microsoft Word
Word has a few methods for inserting the infinity symbol:
- Alt + 236 — Insert ∞ directly (numpad required)
- Insert > Symbol > More Symbols — Find ∞ in the Mathematical Operators subset
- Equation editor: Press Alt + = to open the equation editor, then type \infty and press Space
- AutoCorrect: Set up a substitution in File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect to replace "(inf)" with "∞"
Infinity Symbol Shortcuts for Mac
Mac makes the infinity symbol accessible with a simple shortcut:
| Shortcut | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Option + 5 | ∞ | Works in every Mac app |
| Ctrl + Cmd + Space | Character Viewer | Search "infinity" for ∞ |
| Option + = | ≈ | Almost equal to (related) |
Option + 5 is the shortcut you'll use most. It works in Pages, Word, browsers, TextEdit, and every other Mac app. No numpad or setup required.
Infinity Symbol on iPhone and iPad
iOS has the infinity symbol available through the keyboard:
- Emoji keyboard: Switch to the emoji keyboard and search "infinity" — you'll find ♾️
- Symbols keyboard: On the number keyboard (123), tap #+= and look for ∞ in the symbols
- Text replacement: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Add "∞" as the phrase and "inf" as the shortcut
- Copy-paste: Copy ∞ from this page and paste it wherever you need
Infinity Symbol on Android
Android devices have the infinity symbol in the emoji/symbol keyboards:
- Gboard emoji: Tap the emoji key and search "infinity" for ♾️
- Gboard symbols: Tap ?123 then =\< to find ∞ on the symbols page
- Personal dictionary: Add "inf" → "∞" in Gboard settings > Dictionary > Personal dictionary
- Copy-paste: Copy ∞ from this page
Infinity Symbol in Popular Applications
| Application | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Alt + 236 or Alt + = then \infty | Option + 5 |
| Google Docs | Insert > Special Characters | Option + 5 |
| Excel | Alt + 236 | Option + 5 |
| LaTeX | \infty | \infty |
| HTML | ∞ or ∞ | ∞ or ∞ |
| CSS | \221E | \221E |
Infinity Symbol in HTML and CSS
For web development, use these codes to display the infinity symbol:
- ∞ — Named HTML entity, renders as ∞
- ∞ — Decimal entity, renders as ∞
- ∞ — Hex entity, renders as ∞
- CSS: Use
content: "\221E"in pseudo-elements - JavaScript: Use
"\u221E"to output ∞
Infinity Symbol in LaTeX
In LaTeX documents, type \infty to produce ∞. This works in both inline math mode ($\infty$) and display math mode (\[\infty\]). Related LaTeX commands include:
\infty— ∞\lim— lim (often used with infinity)\to\infty— → ∞ (approaches infinity)-\infty— −∞ (negative infinity)
Uses of the Infinity Symbol
The infinity symbol has applications far beyond mathematics:
- Mathematics: Limits, calculus, set theory (countably infinite, uncountably infinite)
- Physics: Infinite series, wave functions, cosmological models
- Social media: "Love you ∞", "∞ happiness", "besties forever ∞"
- Tattoos: Popular tattoo design symbolizing eternity, endless love, or limitless potential
- Jewelry: Infinity pendant necklaces and bracelets
- Programming: Represented as Infinity in JavaScript, float('inf') in Python
- Gaming: Infinite health, infinite ammo cheat codes
The History of the Infinity Symbol
The infinity symbol ∞ was introduced by English mathematician John Wallis in 1655. He chose this shape — a lemniscate (from Latin "lemniscus" meaning ribbon) — possibly inspired by the Roman numeral for 1,000 (CIƆ), which resembled a sideways figure-eight. Wallis used it in his work "De sectionibus conicis" to represent a quantity larger than any assignable quantity. The symbol has been universally adopted in mathematics ever since.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut for the infinity symbol?
On Windows, hold Alt + 236 on the numpad. On Mac, press Option + 5. Both insert ∞ in any application. You can also use the emoji picker (Win + . on Windows, Ctrl + Cmd + Space on Mac) and search "infinity."
What is the Alt code for infinity?
The Alt code for ∞ is Alt + 236 or Alt + 8734. Make sure Num Lock is enabled and use the numeric keypad. Release Alt after typing the code.
How do I type infinity on my phone?
On iPhone, switch to the emoji keyboard and search "infinity" for ♾️, or use the symbols keyboard. On Android, open the emoji keyboard and search "infinity." You can also set up a text replacement shortcut (e.g., "inf" → "∞") on either platform.
What is the HTML code for the infinity symbol?
The HTML named entity is ∞. The decimal code is ∞. The hex code is ∞. All three render as ∞ in browsers.