Symbol shortcut keys in Windows come in three kinds. Alt codes type a symbol from the number pad, such as Alt + 0176 for °. The symbol panel, opened with Win + ., lets you pick any sign with the mouse or arrows. And in MS Word, typing a code followed by Alt + X converts it into the symbol.
This page lists the most used symbols with every method, explains which to use on a laptop, and links to a full guide for each sign, from the rupee and degree signs to ticks and Hindi typing.
Quick facts
Symbol panel
Win + .Rupee ₹
Ctrl + Alt + 4Degree °
Alt + 0176Copyright ©
Alt + 0169Word code to symbol
Alt + XWord symbol box
Alt, N, U
Symbol shortcut keys for common signs
| Symbol | Windows Alt code | Word code then Alt + X | Mac |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹ rupee | Ctrl + Alt + 4 | 20B9 | Option + R on the Indian layout |
| ° degree | Alt + 0176 | 00B0 | Option + Shift + 8 |
| © copyright | Alt + 0169 | 00A9 | Option + G |
| ® registered | Alt + 0174 | 00AE | Option + R |
| ™ trademark | Alt + 0153 | 2122 | Option + 2 |
| ± plus minus | Alt + 0177 | 00B1 | Option + Shift + = |
| € euro | Alt + 0128 | 20AC | Option + Shift + 2 |
| ✓ tick | Symbol panel | 2713 | Emoji viewer |
| Ø diameter | Alt + 0216 | 00D8 | Option + Shift + O |
The rupee key needs the English (India) keyboard layout; the full story is in rupee symbol shortcut. Mac keys can differ on non US layouts, so check the Keyboard Viewer if one types something else.
MS Word symbol shortcut keys
Word has the most ways to insert symbols. Type the hexadecimal code of any Unicode character, such as 2713 for a tick, then Alt + X swaps the code for the character, and a second Alt + X swaps it back. AutoCorrect converts (c), (r) and (tm) as you type. Alt, N, U opens the Symbol menu, and More Symbols shows every character in a font, with its code and an option to assign a shortcut key of your own. Word also offers Ctrl + Alt + C for © and Ctrl + Alt + R for ®. Details per sign are in copyright symbol shortcut and tick mark shortcut.
Location symbol in Word and other picture symbols
Signs like the location pin, phone or envelope used on resumes and letterheads are emoji or picture symbols rather than letters. Press Win + . in Word, type pin or phone in the search box, and pick the icon. Inside Word you can also use Insert, Icons for simple coloured outlines, or More Symbols with the Wingdings and Webdings fonts, which contain phones, envelopes and arrows that print cleanly in black and white.
Symbol shortcut key on laptops without a number pad
Alt codes only work with a number pad and Num Lock on. Laptops have three alternatives: the symbol panel (Win + .), Word's code plus Alt + X which uses the top row numbers, and copying the sign from a page like this one. A few laptops hide a numeric keypad inside the letter keys, enabled with Fn and Num Lock, but switching it on and off is clumsy. The touch keyboard in Windows also has a symbols page.
Which symbol method to use
- Desktop keyboard with a number pad: learn the Alt codes for the four or five signs you use weekly.
- Laptop: rely on Win + . for occasional symbols and Word's Alt + X for documents.
- Regular Word user: assign your own key to frequent symbols in the Symbol dialog.
- Mac: use Option combinations, and the emoji viewer for anything else.
Mixing methods is normal. An accountant might type the rupee sign with Ctrl + Alt + 4 dozens of times a day but open the panel once a month for a rarer sign. Whatever the method, the symbol is the same character, so documents look identical on other computers as long as the font supports it.
Every symbol and text guide
| Guide | Main shortcut | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Emoji keyboard | Open emoji panel: Win + . | Win + . (period) opens the emoji panel in Windows 10 and 11 |
| Rupee symbol | With English (India) layout: Ctrl + Alt + 4 | Ctrl + Alt + 4 types the rupee sign with the English (India) keyboard |
| Superscript | Superscript: Ctrl + Shift + Plus | Ctrl + Shift + Plus for superscript, Ctrl + = for subscript in Word |
| Hindi typing | Switch language: Win + Space | Win + Space switches to a Hindi keyboard; then type in Inscript or phonetic |
| Subscript | Subscript: Ctrl + = | Ctrl + = for subscript in Word and PowerPoint; Command + = on Mac |
| Degree symbol | Number pad: Alt + 0176 | Alt + 0176 on the number pad types the degree sign in Windows |
| Uppercase | Word change case: Shift + F3 | Shift + F3 changes case in Word; Caps Lock types capitals |
| Kruti Dev | Start: Select Kruti Dev 010 as the font | Kruti Dev uses the Remington keys: d types ka, k adds the aa matra |
| Strikethrough | Word, PowerPoint: Alt, then H, then 4 | Alt, H, 4 in Word and PowerPoint; Ctrl + 5 in Excel; Command + Shift + X on Mac |
| Mangal font | Switch language: Win + Space | Win + Space switches to Hindi Inscript; then k types ka in Mangal |
| Bold and underline | Underline: Ctrl + U | Ctrl + B bold, Ctrl + U underline, Ctrl + I italic; Command on Mac |
| Tick mark | Tick: 2713, then Alt + X | In Word type 2713 then Alt + X for a tick; or Wingdings 2 and Shift + P |
| Diameter symbol | Ø on the number pad: Alt + 0216 | Alt + 0216 types Ø on the number pad; in Word, 2300 then Alt + X gives ⌀ |
| @ symbol | Most keyboards: Shift + 2 | Shift + 2 types @ on most Indian and US keyboards; Shift + ' on UK keyboards |
| Plus minus, euro, arrows | ±: Alt + 0177 | Alt + 0177 types ±, Alt + 0128 types €, Alt + 0215 types ×, on the number pad |
| Change language | Switch language: Win + Space | Win + Space switches keyboard language in Windows; Alt + Shift also works |
| Font size | Increase size: Ctrl + Shift + > | Ctrl + Shift + full stop enlarges Word text; Ctrl + Shift + comma shrinks it |
| Text alignment | Center: Ctrl + E | Ctrl + E centers text, Ctrl + L left, Ctrl + R right and Ctrl + J justifies |
| Copyright symbol | Copyright ©: Alt + 0169 | Alt + 0169 types © in Windows; Word also turns (c) into © automatically |
| Bullet points | Bulleted list: Ctrl + Shift + L | Ctrl + Shift + L adds bullets in Word; Alt + 0149 types a • anywhere |
Symbols in Excel and on the web
Excel accepts the same Alt codes and the symbol panel, and the CHAR function returns signs by number, such as CHAR(176) for degree. For currencies, use number formats rather than typed symbols, so totals still calculate; see degree in Excel and tick mark in Excel. On web pages, HTML entities such as © and ° display symbols in any browser.
Frequently asked questions
What are symbol shortcut keys?
Alt codes, the Win + . symbol panel, and Word's code plus Alt + X.
How do I type the rupee symbol?
Switch to the English (India) keyboard and press Ctrl + Alt + 4.
What are the MS Word symbol shortcut keys?
Type a Unicode code and press Alt + X, or use Alt, N, U for the Symbol menu.
How do I insert a location symbol in Word?
Press Win + . and search for pin.
Why do Alt codes not work on my laptop?
They need a number pad with Num Lock on.
How do I type symbols on a Mac?
Use Option key combinations or the emoji viewer.