How to Type Symbols Using the ALT Key

The ALT key can help you access alt codes, or characters that aren't readily available on a normal keyboard. These codes can be used to write in foreign languages, mathematical equations, or to add fun symbols to your messages. Below ☟ is how to do it on a PC or a Mac, then a list of symbols such as π, ♫ and ♥.

On a PC 

1. To key in an alt code, hold down the ALT key and put in the numbers on the keypad to the right of the keyboard. When you finish entering the numbers, the symbol will appear

2. Do alt codes on a laptop. Press the "Num Lock" key. (If it's blue or grey, hold down the Fn key before pressing it.) The Number Lock activated the grey or blue keys on your keyboard; they should be arranged in a square. Hold down the ALT key and use these numbers.


On a MAC
 
1. On a Mac 1 Hold the Option key and press any other key to get custom characters

2. To get a second set of custom characters, hold down both the Option key and the Shift key

Symbol Alt Codes

Symbols With the ALT key plus numbers © Copyrighted [0169] ® Reserved mark [0174] ℠ Service mark [8480] ℃ Celsius [8451] ℅ Care of [8453] ℉ Fahrenheit [8457] № Number symbol [8470] ℗ Sound recording copyright [8471] ℞ Prescription/pharmaceutical symbol [8478] Ω Ohm [8486] ℧ Inverted ohm [8487] ☀ Sunshine [9728] ☁ Cloud [9729] ☂ Umbrella [9730] ☃ Snowman [9731] ☄ Comet [9732] ★ Star (solid) [9733] ☆ Star (outline) [9734] ☇ Lightning [9735] ☈ Thunderstorm [9736] ☉ Sun [9737] ☊ Ascending node [9738] ☋ Descending node [9739] ☌ Conjunction [9740] ☍ Opposition [9741] ☎ Phone (solid) [9742] ☏ Phone (outline) 9743] ☐ Checkbox [9744] ☑ Ballot box [9745] ☒ Ballot box with X [9746] ☓ Saltire (St. Andrew's Cross) [9747] ☚ Left-pointing index finger (solid) [9754] ☛ Right-pointing index finger (solid) [9755] ☜ Left-pointing index finger (outline) [9756] ☝ Upwards-pointing index finger (outline) [9757] ☞ Right-pointing index finger (outline) [9758] ☟ Downwards-pointing index finger (outline) [9759] ☠ Skull & crossbones [9760] ☡ Caution sign [9761] ☢ Radioactive sign [9762] ☣ Biohazard sign [9763] ☤ Caduceus or "Kerykeion" [9764] ☥ Ankh [9765] ☦ Eastern Christian cross [9766] ☧ Chi Rho cross [9767] ☨ Patriarchal cross [9768] ☩ Greek cross [9769] ☪ Crescent moon & star [9770] ☫ Farsi symbol [9771] ☬ Adi Shakti [9772] ☭ Hammer & sickle [9773] ☮ Peace sign [9774] ☯ Yin & yang [9775] ☰ Trigram Heaven [9776] ☱ Trigram Lake [9777] ☲ Trigram Fire [9778] ☳ Trigram Thunder [9779] ☴ Trigram Wind [9780] ☵ Trigram Water [9781] ☶ Trigram Mountain [9782] ☷ Trigram Earth [9783] ☸ Dharma wheel [9784] ☹ Frowning face [9785] ☺ Smiley face [9786] ☻ Black smiley face [9787] ☽ Waxing crescent moon [9789] ☾ Waning crescent moon [9790] ☿ Mercury [9791] ♀ Venus (female symbol) [9792] ♁ Earth symbol [9793] ♂ Mars (male symbol) [9794] ♃ Jupiter [9795] ♄ Saturn [9796]

Symbols With the ALT key plus numbers ♅ Uranus [9797] ♆ Neptune [9798] ♇ Pluto [9799] ♈ Aries [9800] ♉ Taurus [9801] ♊ Gemini [9802] ♋ Cancer [9803] ♌ Leo [9804] ♍ Virgo [9805] ♎ Libra [9806] ♏ Scorpio [9807] ♐ Sagittarius [9808] ♑ Capricorn [9809] ♒ Aquarius [9810] ♓ Pisces [9811] ♔ White king [9812] ♕ White queen [9813] ♖ White rook [9814] ♗ White bishop [9815] ♘ White knight [9816] ♙ White pawn [9817] ♚ Black king [9818] ♛ Black queen [9819] ♜ Black rook [9820] ♝ Black bishop [9821] ♞ Black knight [9822] ♟ Black pawn [9823] ♠ Black spade suit [9824] ♡ Red heart suit [9825] ♢ Red diamond suit [9826] ♣ Black club suit (or shamrock) [9827] ♤ Red spade suit [9828] ♥ Black heart suit (or valentine) [9829] ♦ Black diamond suit [9830] ♧ Red club suit [9831] ♨ Hot springs [9832] ♩ Musical quarter note [9833] ♪ Musical eighth note [9834] ♫ Musical single bar note [9742] ♬ Musical double bar note [9836] ♭ Flat note [9837] ♮ Natural note [9838] ♯ Sharp note [9839] ✁ Cut above [9985] ✂ Cut here [9986] ✃ Cut below [9987] ✄ Scissors [9988] ✆ Public pay phone [9990] ✇ Film reel (tape spool) [9991] ✈ Airport/airplane [9992] ✉ Envelope/mail/email [9993] ✌ Victory sign [9996] ✍ Signature/sign here [9997] ✎ Pencil diagonal down [9998] ✏ Pencil [9999] ✐ Pencil diagonal up [10000] ✓ Checkmark [10003] ✔ Heavy checkmark [10004] ✕ Multiplication sign/X [100005] ✖ Heavy multiplication sign/X [10006] ✗ Ballot X [10007] ✘ Heavy ballot X [10008] ✝ Latin Roman cross [10013] ✞ Latin cross 3D shadow [10014] ✟ Latin cross outline [10015] ✠ Maltese Cross [10016] ✡ Star of David [10017] ❛ Quotation mark single turned comma [10075] ❜ Quotation mark single comma [10076] ❝ Quotation mark double turned comma [10077] ❞ Quotation mark double comma [10078] ○= 777 To type pictures with keyboard symbols, such as a bunny, see this article.

Foreign Language Alt Codes

Symbols With the ALT key plus numbers Ç [128] ü [129] é [130] â [131] ä [132] à [133] å [134] ç [135] ê [136] ë [137] è [138] ï [139] î [140] ì [141] Ä [142] Å [143] É [144] æ [145] Æ [146] þ [0254] Þ [0222]	Symbols With the ALT key plus numbers ô [147] ö [148] ò [149] û [150] ù [151] ÿ [152] Ö [153] Ü [154] ¢ [155] £ [156] á [160] í [161] ó [162] ú [163] ñ [164] Ñ [165] ª [166] º [167] ¿ [168]

Mathematical Equation Alt Codes

Symbols With the ALT key plus numbers + [43] - [45] × [0215] ÷ [0247]  % [37] ‰ [0137] ± [241] ¼ [0188] ½ [0189] ¾ [0190] ≡ [240] = [61] ≈ [247] ≥ [242]

Symbols With the ALT key plus numbers ≤ [243] √ [251] ⁿ [252] ¹ [0185] ² [0178] ³ [0179] π [227] ° [248] ∞ [236] µ [230] Σ [228] ∩ [239] ⌠ [244] ⌡ [245]

Tips

• Some characters will show an ALT+Keystroke combination. This will be displayed in the lower right corner of the character map utility. In order to use this shortcut, hold down the ALT key while you type in the entire code. When you release the ALT key the glyph will appear.
• Take note of zeros - they must be entered on alt codes if listed.
• To type with special symbols you may also use transliteration tools.
• For laptops without number pads or number lock, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > On-Screen Keyboard, and use the virtual number pad to input Alt+Keystroke codes.
• The ALT key, along with characters not available on keyboards, can also type in standard characters.

Warnings

• This only works with programs which accept an ASCII input, such as email, Notepad, WordPad, etc. Try it for the program you are using.