Keyboard Symbols
How to type special characters directly from your keyboard — Windows Alt codes and Mac Option-key shortcuts side by side for each symbol. Or skip memorizing anything and just copy the character.
| Symbol | Name | Windows | Mac | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ° | Degree sign | Alt+0176 | Option+Shift+8 | |
| © | Copyright sign | Alt+0169 | Option+G | |
| ® | Registered sign | Alt+0174 | Option+R | |
| ™ | Trademark sign | Alt+0153 | Option+2 | |
| € | Euro sign | Alt+0128 | Option+Shift+2 | |
| £ | Pound sign | Alt+0163 | Option+3 | |
| ¥ | Yen sign | Alt+0165 | Option+Y | |
| ± | Plus-minus sign | Alt+0177 | Option+Shift+= | |
| × | Multiplication sign | Alt+0215 | no shortcut — copy it | |
| ÷ | Division sign | Alt+0247 | no shortcut — copy it | |
| … | Ellipsis | Alt+0133 | Option+; | |
| • | Bullet | Alt+0149 | Option+8 | |
| § | Section sign | Alt+0167 | Option+6 | |
| ¶ | Pilcrow | Alt+0182 | Option+7 | |
| — | Em dash | Alt+0151 | Option+Shift+- | |
| – | En dash | Alt+0150 | Option+- | |
| ♥ | Heart | Alt+3 | no shortcut — copy it |
Frequently asked questions
How do I type the degree symbol (°) on a keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad. On Mac, press Option+Shift+8. If you're on a laptop without a numeric keypad, or just don't want to memorize codes, tap the copy button above instead.
What's the keyboard shortcut for a bullet point (•)?
Windows: Alt+0149 on the numeric keypad. Mac: Option+8. Word and Google Docs also auto-format a line starting with "*" or "-" followed by a space into a bulleted list, which is a different mechanism from typing the • character itself.
How do I type an em dash (—) on my keyboard?
Windows: Alt+0151. Mac: Option+Shift+-. Some word processors also auto-convert two hyphens (--) into an em dash as you type, but that only works inside that specific app.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for a checkmark?
There's no standard Alt code or Option-key shortcut for ✓ or ✔ — they're outside the small set of symbols Windows and Mac ship shortcuts for. Copying it from the checkmark symbols page is the fastest method on every platform.
How do I type the copyright (©) and trademark (™) symbols?
Copyright: Alt+0169 on Windows, Option+G on Mac. Trademark: Alt+0153 on Windows, Option+2 on Mac. Registered (®) is Alt+0174 on Windows and Option+R on Mac.
Why don't some symbols have a Mac shortcut listed?
A few symbols (like × and ÷) don't have a standard Option-key combo on the US Mac keyboard layout. Copying and pasting is genuinely the fastest reliable method for those.
Do Alt codes work on laptops?
They need a numeric keypad, which most laptops don't have built in. Some laptops have a hidden numpad activated with a Fn/NumLock key combo (varies by manufacturer) — otherwise, copy and paste works everywhere without one.