Type Symbols Using the ALT Key

In Windows, the Alt key combined with numeric codes can access characters that aren't readily available on a normal keyboard. While Alt codes don't exist on Mac computers, there are a variety of Option key shortcuts that can let you type the most popular characters.

Alt Key Symbol Cheat Sheets

Doc:Alt Key Symbols PC,Alt Key Symbols Mac

Steps

Windows

  1. Type currency symbols. Hold Alt and type the number below using the numeric pad on your keyboard. When you release Alt, the symbol will appear. NumLock must be enabled.[1]
  2. Type mathematics symbols. Hold Alt and type the number below using the numeric pad on your keyboard to insert mathematics symbols. When you release the Alt key, the symbol will appear. NumLock needs to be enabled.[2]
  3. Type special punctuation and editing symbols. Hold Alt and use the numeric pad to enter the number below to create special punctuation symbols. When you let go of the Alt, the symbol will be inserted. NumLock must be enabled.[3]
  4. Type musical notation. Hold the Alt key and enter the number below using the numeric pad on your keyboard. When you release Alt, the musical symbol will appear. NumLock must be enabled for these to work. Symbols with codes between 9000 and 9999 rely on certain fonts, and may not work everywhere.
  5. Type other miscellaneous symbols. Hold Alt and type the number below with the numeric pad. When you release Alt, the symbol will appear. NumLock has to be on.[4]

Mac

  1. Type currency symbols. When you hold ⌥ Opt or ⇧ Shift+⌥ Opt, your keyboard keys will make different symbols than normal. This includes some of the more popular currency symbols. Use the shortcuts below to type different currency symbols.
  2. Type mathematics symbols. Use ⌥ Opt or ⇧ Shift+⌥ Opt to modify the functions of your keyboard keys. Use the modifiers below to type different mathematics symbols.
  3. Type special punctuation and editing symbols. The ⌥ Opt and ⇧ Shift+⌥ Opt modifiers will change the symbols your keyboard keys create. Some of these modified characters are punctuation and editing symbols. Use the key combinations below to type these symbols.[5]
  4. Use the Symbol Viewer to find more symbols. The Mac doesn't have as many codes as a Windows computer, but you can find lots of different symbols in the Symbol Viewer:[6]
    • Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences."
    • Click the "Keyboard" option and then check "Show viewers for keyboard, emoji, and symbols in menu bar."
    • Click the viewer icon that appears in the menu bar and select "Show Emoji & Symbols."
    • Browse through the categories of symbols and double-click the one you want to insert.

Tips

  • If the Windows Alt code includes zeros, you must input them.

Warnings

  • Alt codes only work with programs that accept an ASCII input.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.alt-codes.net/currency-symbols
  2. ↑ http://reeddesign.co.uk/pdf/WindowsAltCodes.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.tedmontgomery.com/tutorial/altchrc-a.html
  4. ↑ http://usefulshortcuts.com/alt-codes/bullet-alt-codes.php
  5. ↑ http://symbolcodes.tlt.psu.edu/accents/codemac.html
  6. ↑ http://www.chriswrites.com/how-to-type-common-symbols-and-special-characters-in-os-x/
Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Type_Symbols_Using_the_ALT_Key&oldid=315511"