Keyboard Symbols: How to Type Special Characters on Windows, Mac, and Mobile

Windows: 4 reliable ways to type symbols

Note: Limits can change—check the platform help center for the latest.

1) Use the Windows emoji/symbol panel (fastest)

Press Win + . (or Win + ;), then use search. Many common symbols live under the symbols tab, and you can also search by keywords like copyright, degree, arrow, or bullet.

2) Use Alt codes (best for repeat symbols)

Hold Alt and type a number on the numeric keypad (not the top number row). For example, the degree sign is often Alt + 0176. If it does nothing, turn on Num Lock, or use another method below.

• Works best on full keyboards: laptops without a dedicated numpad may require an Fn-based numpad or will not support some Alt codes.
• Can vary by app and code page: if you get the wrong character, use Character Map or Unicode input instead.

3) Type a Unicode code then Alt+X (Microsoft apps)

In Microsoft Word and some other apps, you can type the Unicode value then convert it. Example: type 00A9 then press Alt + X to get ©. To reverse it, place the cursor after the symbol and press Alt + X again.

4) Use Character Map (works even when Alt codes fail)

Open the Windows Character Map, find your symbol, then copy and paste it. This is the safest option when you are unsure which shortcut works on your keyboard layout.

Keyboard layout differences (Shift, AltGr, and where symbols move)

If you use AZERTY, QWERTZ, or a regional layout, symbols may move. Two tips solve most confusion:

• Try Shift first: many symbols live on the top row or punctuation keys when combined with Shift.
• Look for AltGr: on many European keyboards, AltGr unlocks extra symbols like @, €, { }, and |.

Mac: the fastest way is Character Viewer

1) Open Emoji & Symbols (Character Viewer)

Press Fn/Globe + E (or choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols), then search by name and double-click to insert. You can also add favorites so your most-used symbols stay one click away.

2) Use Control + Command + Space in most apps

This shortcut opens the same viewer in many apps. If nothing appears, try a different app, or check whether a secure keyboard entry mode is blocking the panel.

3) Learn a few Option-key shortcuts (layout-dependent)

Mac has many Option shortcuts (like currency and punctuation), but they can differ by keyboard layout and language. If you work across layouts, the Character Viewer search is more consistent than memorizing shortcuts.

Chromebook and Linux: fast symbol entry without extra apps

Chromebook (ChromeOS)

ChromeOS includes an emoji picker that also offers symbols and special characters. On many Chromebooks, press Search + Shift + Space to open the picker, then browse or search.

If you need currency symbols or accents for another language, add an input method in Chromebook settings and switch layouts when typing. This is often the cleanest way to get characters like € or ñ without memorizing shortcuts.

Linux (GNOME and many desktop environments)

Linux desktops typically offer multiple options: a character picker, a Compose key, and Unicode code-point input. The Compose key is great for frequent characters because you type a short sequence (Compose, then two or three keys) to produce a symbol.

For rarer characters, many environments let you type a Unicode code point directly (often by pressing a shortcut, typing the hex code, then confirming). If your shortcut does not work in a given app, switch to the character picker, which is the most consistent across applications.

iPhone and iPad: get symbols without leaving your app

• Long-press keys: hold a letter to reveal accents (e, a, n, c) and hold punctuation keys to reveal more marks.
• Emoji keyboard: add the Emoji keyboard and search for symbols by name when available.
• Text Replacement for favorites: create shortcuts like ';deg' -> ° or ';emd' -> — so you can type symbols as fast as words.

Android: long-press, symbol hints, and faster access

Most Android keyboards support long-press to reveal variants. If you see small hints on keys, you can often swipe or long-press to enter that symbol without switching layouts. If you need a repeatable workflow, add your most-used symbols as personal shortcuts in your keyboard dictionary (feature names vary by keyboard).

Web, docs, and code: when you should use HTML entities

If you are writing HTML (or a CMS that escapes characters), entities can be safer than pasting symbols:

• © for ©, ® for ®, ™ for ™
• ° for °, € for €, £ for £
• — for —, … for …, → for →

In editors like Word or Google Docs, you can also use Insert > Symbol (or Insert > Special characters) when shortcuts are unreliable.

Symbols and character count: why your total can change

Most symbols are Unicode characters, but some visible characters (especially emoji) can be made of multiple code points. That means a symbol that looks like one character can count as more than one in certain platforms or databases. Before you publish, paste your text into a character counter and verify the exact count for your destination.

Make your own keyboard symbols library (so you stop re-Googling)

Once you have 10-20 symbols you use repeatedly (bullets, arrows, dashes, currency, check marks), the fastest move is to store them in a reusable cheat sheet. A simple table works, but a doc that can grow into a lightweight workflow is even better.

If you want a clean place to store symbols, track where you use them, and keep character-limit fields next to your drafts, build a simple keyboard-symbols library in Coda. It is a good fit for writers and teams who want one page for favorites, notes, and reusable templates.

• Keep your most-used symbols in one searchable table (copy/paste in one click).
• Add columns like platform, purpose, and notes so you do not mix lookalikes (hyphen vs en dash vs em dash).
• Track character counts alongside drafts and snippets, so symbols do not push you over a limit.

Related internal resources: Content ops and Templates.

Turn symbols into shortcuts (text expansion)

If you type the same symbols every day, set up a shortcut so you never open a picker again:

• macOS: add a text replacement in system keyboard settings (example: type ';emd' and it expands to —).
• iPhone/iPad: use Text Replacement in keyboard settings (same idea, synced via iCloud for many users).
• Windows: many apps offer autocorrect or quick-replace rules (for example, office suites can replace '... ' with '…'). If your app does not, keep a pinned cheat sheet and use copy/paste.

Troubleshooting: when a symbol will not paste or looks wrong

• It pastes as a box: your font is missing the glyph. Switch to a different font or use a simpler symbol.
• It becomes a different character: some apps normalize punctuation (for example, turning a straight apostrophe into a curly one). Turn off smart punctuation for that app, or insert the symbol via the picker.
• Search does not find it: try a different keyword (dash, hyphen, bullet, arrow) or search by category (punctuation, arrows, currency).

Mistakes to avoid (they cause weird formatting)

• Lookalikes: '-' (hyphen), '–' (en dash), and '—' (em dash) are different characters. Same for straight quotes and curly quotes. If you write code or URLs, prefer plain ASCII characters.
• Invisible characters: some copy/paste sources add non-breaking spaces or zero-width characters that break search, sorting, or form validation. If something looks off, retype it using the picker instead of pasting.
• Font gaps: a symbol can render on your device but fail on someone else's. Test on the platform you publish to, and keep a fallback (like '->' instead of '→') when compatibility matters.
• Alt code confusion: Alt codes usually require a numeric keypad. If you do not have one, use Win + . or Character Map.

FAQ

Why do symbols not appear on my keyboard?

Most keyboards show only a subset of characters. Operating systems provide symbol pickers (Windows emoji panel, Mac Character Viewer) to access the full set.

Why do Alt codes not work on my laptop?

Alt codes typically require a numeric keypad. Some laptops emulate a numpad with Fn keys, but many do not support all codes reliably.

How do I type the degree symbol (°)?

On Windows, try Alt + 0176 (numpad) or search 'degree' in Win + . On Mac, open Character Viewer and search 'degree'.

How do I type an em dash (—) and ellipsis (…)?

The most reliable method is the symbol picker search (Windows: Win + .; Mac: Character Viewer). Many writers also save these two in text-replacement shortcuts.

Why does one emoji count as multiple characters?

Some emoji are made from multiple Unicode code points (for example, base emoji plus modifiers). Different platforms can count them differently, so always check with a character counter before posting.

What is the safest way to add symbols to a website?

Use Unicode directly when your CMS supports it, or use HTML entities like © and — when you need consistent rendering in HTML.

Conclusion

To get keyboard symbols fast, rely on search: Win + . on Windows, Character Viewer on Mac, and long-press on mobile. Then save your top symbols so you stop hunting for them. Finally, paste your finished text into a character counter to confirm the exact count before you publish.

Sources

• Apple Support: Use emoji and symbols on Mac
• Microsoft Support: Windows keyboard tips and tricks (Alt codes)
• Microsoft Support: Insert ASCII or Unicode symbols
• Microsoft Support: Use special characters in Windows documents
• GNOME Help: Enter special characters
• Acer Support: How to use emojis on a Chromebook (emoji picker shortcut)
• Unicode Consortium: What is Unicode?
• Unicode Consortium: The Unicode Standard