Alt Codes

The list of all Alt Codes for special characters and symbols. Learn How to use Alt Key Codes? for special characters and symbols.

Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode
☺	1	@	64	⌂	127
☻	2	A	65	Ç	128
♥	3	B	66	ü	129
♦	4	C	67	é	130
♣	5	D	68	â	131
♠	6	E	69	ä	132
•	7	F	70	à	133
◘	8	G	71	å	134
○	9	H	72	ç	135
◙	10	I	73	ê	136
♂	11	J	74	ë	137
♀	12	K	75	è	138
♪	13	L	76	ï	139
♫	14	M	77	î	140
☼	15	N	78	ì	141
►	16	O	79	Ä	142
◄	17	P	80	Å	143
↕	18	Q	81	É	144
‼	19	R	82	æ	145
¶	20	S	83	Æ	146

Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode
╛	190	²	253	Â	0194
┐	191	■	254	Ã	0195
└	192	spc	255	Ä	0196
┴	193	€	0128	Å	0197
┬	194	‚	0130	Æ	0198
├	195	ƒ	0131	Ç	0199
─	196	„	0132	È	0200
┼	197	…	0133	É	0201
╞	198	†	0134	Ê	0202
╟	199	‡	0135	Ë	0203
╚	200	ˆ	0136	Ì	0204
╔	201	‰	0137	Í	0205
╩	202	Š	0138	Î	0206
╦	203	‹	0139	Ï	0207
╠	204	Œ	0140	Ð	0208
═	205	Ž	0142	Ñ	0209
╬	206	‘	0145	Ò	0210
╧	207	’	0146	Ó	0211
╨	208	“	0147	Ô	0212
╤	209	”	0148	Õ	0213

Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode
§	21	T	84	ô	147
▬	22	U	85	ö	148
↨	23	V	86	ò	149
↑	24	W	87	û	150
↓	25	X	88	ù	151
→	26	Y	89	ÿ	152
←	27	Z	90	Ö	153
∟	28	[	91	Ü	154
↔	29	\	92	¢	155
▲	30	]	93	£	156
▼	31	^	94	¥	157
spc	32	_	95	₧	158
!	33	`	96	ƒ	159
«	34	a	97	á	160
#	35	b	98	í	161
$	36	c	99	ó	162
%	37	d	100	ú	163
&	38	e	101	ñ	164
‘	39	f	102	Ñ	165
(	40	g	103	ª	166

Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode
╥	210	•	0149	Ö	0214
╙	211	–	0150	×	0215
╘	212	—	0151	Ø	0216
╒	213	˜	0152	Ù	0217
╓	214	™	0153	Ú	0218
╫	215	š	0154	Û	0219
╪	216	›	0155	Ü	0220
┘	217	œ	0156	Ý	0221
┌	218	ž	0158	Þ	0222
█	219	Ÿ	0159	ß	0223
▄	220	spc	0160	à	0224
▌	221	¡	0161	á	0225
▐	222	¢	0162	â	0226
▀	223	£	0163	ã	0227
α	224	¤	0164	ä	0228
ß	225	¥	0165	å	0229
Γ	226	¦	0166	æ	0230
π	227	§	0167	ç	0231
Σ	228	¨	0168	è	0232
σ	229	©	0169	é	0233

Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode
)	41	h	104	º	167
*	42	i	105	¿	168
+	43	j	106	⌐	169
,	44	k	107	¬	170
—	45	l	108	½	171
.	46	m	109	¼	172
/	47	n	110	¡	173
0	48	o	111	«	174
1	49	p	112	»	175
2	50	q	113	░	176
3	51	r	114	▒	177
4	52	s	115	▓	178
5	53	t	116	│	179
6	54	u	117	┤	180
7	55	v	118	╡	181
8	56	w	119	╢	182
9	57	x	120	╖	183
:	58	y	121	╕	184
;	59	z	122	╣	185
62	>	125	╝	188
?	63

Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode	Symbol	AltCode
·	250	¿	0191	þ	0254
√	251	À	0192	ÿ	0255
ⁿ	252	Á	0193

About Alt Codes

IBM developed a method to place the characters that can not be typed by a keyboard on the screen: while keeping the Alt key down, typing the code defined for the character via the numeric keypad. The system which interprets this action and places the corresponding character at the cursor’s location is BIOS.

These codes became so popular so that Microsoft, even though developed a new set of codes, decided to keep them. The new set was named ANSI(later changed to Windows codes), and the old ones called as OEM(original equipment manufacturer) code pages. Three-digit codes represent the OEM codes. Codes with a preceding 0 represent the new ANSI codes.

For the last two decades, Unicode is being adopted by many systems. After adopting Windows to Unicode, the entry of all Unicode characters by the same method was desired, and achieved by some applications, but couldn’t be spread to all system. Compatibility issues with old ANSI codes prevent the entry of all Unicode characters.

Some Tips:

• Characters produced may vary depending on the OEM Code Page setting.
• To type a character using its Alt Code value, Num lock should be on. Otherwise unwanted results may occur.
• The numeric keypad does not exist on every laptop. To use them, Numpad should be activated by pressing down the Fn key.

How to type an Alt Symbol on keyboard?

For example, let’s type a degree symbol by using its Alt Code value on the keyboard.

• Make sure you switch on the NumLock,
• press and hold down the Alt key,
• type the Alt Code value of the degree symbol 0 1 7 6 on the numeric pad ,
• release the Alt key and you got a ° degree symbol.

** Above mentioned procedure is not aplicable for MacOS.

For more information on how to use symbols, emojis please check our How to use Alt-Codes? page.

Make Special Characters & Symbols with Your Keyboard

Today, there is no need to buy a special keyboard that has symbols. Pretty much every standard QWERTY keyboard can be used to make those characters and symbols you want so badly. Whether you are looking for a way to write in another language or want specific symbols and characters for other purposes like coding, it’s possible with the help of your computer’s operating system or an external app.

Before I get to the instructions, you should know there are multiple ways to make these symbols, and there can be multiple codes for the same item. Your choices will depend on where you need the code, such as a Word document, email, web page, and more. And to clarify, when I say “keyboard symbols,” I mean I’m using the keyboard to make them. This is a bit different than representing symbols on a keyboard like Shift .

And while these codes are universal, that doesn’t mean they work across all applications. That is why it helps to know multiple ways.

For example, you can use these codes:

In addition, you could use these methods to enter the symbols.

• Direct with keyboard
• Use Windows Character Map
• Use a program’s symbol tool

What are Special Characters?

This depends on context and vendor. For example, sometimes, when you create an online password, you’ll see a hint or tooltip that references non-numeric keys like @, #, $, %, &, * and +. These are easy to enter as they are on your keyboard. These are examples of “special characters,” even though they exist on your keyboard.

In contrast, there are a number of symbols that require you to enter multiple keys. There are no dedicated keyboard keys for them.

If you use one of Microsoft’s Ofice programs to insert a symbol, they have a dedicated tab for Special Characters. These special characters relate to formatting, punctuation, em dashes, copyright ©, and trademark ™ signs.

Special Characters according to Microsoft

Perhaps, a more common set of special characters are for things like accented letters, fractions, and currency symbols.

For this article, I’m going to call all these items “symbols.” This may upset some purists, but I don’t want to get into code page history except to say some of these codes came about before we had graphical interfaces.

Symbol Representations & Codes

Depending on your symbol, there could be several codes that represent it. For example, every key on your keyboard has a code that represents the same value. While the keyboard accounts for over a hundred entries, there are thousands of symbol codes when you factor in different languages.

Alt Codes

Alt codes come from pressing and holding down your Alt key and pressing a specific set of numbers. It could be from 1 to 4 digits. These codes are useful when you don’t have some symbol tool. They can also be faster if you know the code.

There are 256 Alt Codes in the first set. The first 126 maps pretty well to a US English keyboard and work in just about any application. The remaining items are called “extended ASCII” and work fairly well in all applications.

However, there are Alt codes that have numbers greater than 255 and these can pose problems in certain programs. In particular, programs outside of Microsoft Office.

Things to Remember About Alt Codes

1. You must use the numbers on the Numeric keypad. Using the number keys below your function keys won’t work.

Numerical keypad and Num Lock

1. Num Lock should be on.
2. If your keyboard doesn’t have a dedicated Numpad, you may have to use an Fn key combined with a Num Lock key.
3. Not all code symbols show on printouts even though they show on your screen.
4. Apple has its own method and doesn’t rely on these codes.

On a Mac, you’ll need to use the Character Viewer instead of using Alt codes. Apple has a support document on this.

Notebooks and Num Lock Keys

Trying to find the Num Lock key on notebooks can be challenging. To give an example, my Asus notebook doesn’t have a dedicated key. I had to Google to find out where it was. I had to run a program called OSK that brought up an on-screen keyboard. Then I had to hit an Options button to toggle Turn on numeric keypad. In cases like these, it may be easier to use a character map.

How to Create Symbols Using Alt Codes

Going back to my story, here is how I could type the cents sign ¢ on a Windows PC.

1. Open a document where you want to see the symbol.
2. Make sure the Num Lock key is on.
3. Press and hold down your left Alt key.
4. Press the 1 key on your Number pad.
5. Press the 5 key on your Number pad.
6. Press the 5 key on your Number pad.

The reason I mentioned the left Alt key is that some keyboard language settings don’t allow the right side key to work.

Why Alt Codes Don’t Work

Sometimes, the Alt codes don’t work as expected. This has to do with details like rich editors, code pages, and Windows registry settings.

For example, if you tried to enter the Alt code for the French Franc in Microsoft Word, WordPad, or Outlook, it would work fine. But, it doesn’t work in Gmail, Excel, my code editor, or other programs. With these programs, any code greater than 255 will provide unexpected results. You’ll see a symbol produced, but it won’t be the one you want, making it more confusing.

Currency Symbol Examples

Here are some examples you can try. You might notice that lower numbers have a designated keyboard key such as the $ sign.

$ (Dollar)	Alt 3 6
¢ (Cents)	Alt 1 5 5
£ (Pound)	Alt 1 5 6
¥ (Yen)	Alt 1 5 7
ƒ (Guilder)	Alt 1 5 9
€ (Euro)	Alt 0 1 2 8
₣ (French Franc)	Alt 8 3 5 5

The last example for the Euro € sign has a 4 digit Alt code, and you must put in the leading 0. Even though this code has 4 digits, it is still less than 256, so it works in just about any application, including Gmail.

Trademark, Copyright & Fraction Symbols

™ (Trademark)	Alt 0 1 5 3
© (Copyright)	Alt 0 1 6 9
® (Registered Copyright)	Alt 0 1 7 4
℅ (c/o)	Alt 8 4 5 3
№ (Numero sign)	Alt 8 4 7 0
§ (Section sign)	Alt 2 1
½ (One half)	Alt 1 7 1
⅓ (One third)	Alt 8 5 3 1
¼ (One quarter)	Alt 0 1 8 8
⅛ (One eigth)	Alt 8 5 3 9

Finding Alt Codes

The problem with finding ALT codes is not all lists are complete. Some have the first 128 items. Others include extended ASCII, and a few have all of them, including the 4 digit Alt Codes that start with 0.

One site that I prefer is Alt-Codes.net. It has a numeric listing that is larger than most. While it doesn’t provide the literal name of the symbol like “copyright,” it’s easy to find the graphical representation. It also provides some groupings on the sidebar and top navigation like “currency,” “language,” “gender,” and others. It also has a test window where you can try out the symbol code.

Unicodes

Unicodes are another way to represent and standardize characters. A big difference is the set size as there are well over 100,000 Unicodes. Unicodes also represent many more languages. While there are symbols in the set, you won’t find things like trademarked symbols. For example, there isn’t a Unicode for the Windows symbol.

How to Enter Unicodes

The Unicodes work in a different way. You do not need to use the numeric keypad and the letters are not case-sensitive.

Below are the steps to create the ¢ sign.

1. Open a document where you want to see the symbol.
2. Press 0 0 a 2 .
3. Press Alt X .

You can find a detailed code list from the https://unicode-table.com

Entering Unicodes in Excel

I found entering some of these codes in Excel a challenge. Although the documentation says it accepts Unicodes, I couldn’t do it using those codes. I had to use HTML codes or HTML-Entity Decimal codes. As you can see this name differs based on which lookup service I used.

To give an example, I wasn’t able to use the Unicode for a checkmark. I had to use a different code.

1. Find the HTML code for your symbol.

Check Mark symbol and codes

1. Look for the value in the HTML-code field. You can find values at https://unicode-table.com
2. Copy just the number. No punctuation.
3. In Excel, type =UNICHAR(10003). The number in ( ) represents your HTML code.
4. Press Enter .

Using Insert Symbol Tools

The methods mentioned above were direct, and you had to know the symbol code. However, an easier method is to check your program for a menu option that allows you to insert symbols.

Many Microsoft products include this option. For example, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint all have an Insert menu with an option for Symbol. The most common symbols are included.

The nice thing about this symbol utility is you don’t need to figure out which code set to use. You simply highlight the symbol and click the Insert button and then close the utility. However, you could change the code set by choosing another option from the drop-down list. Presently, you can use:

• Unicode Hex (default)
• ASCII (decimal)
• ASCII (text)

Insert Symbols with Microsoft Office tool

The tool has 6 areas, but these can change based on your options. This dialog is consistent with most Microsoft products. However, the free online versions of Microsoft programs have fewer symbols.

1. This area shows your Symbols or Special Characters. The default starts on the Symbols tab. In this example, I’ve clicked the Cents symbol.
2. This drop down allows you to select between different fonts, webdings and wingdings.
3. Indicates the selected symbol.
4. Indicates the character set. The default is ASCII decimal.
5. Depending on your selection, you may see a predefined shortcut. For the cent sign, it’s Ctrl + / + c .
6. To accept the assigned Symbol, click the Insert button.

Using the Keyboard shortcut or AutoCorrect

If you look at the screen snap above, you’ll see a shortcut has been assigned to this symbol. If you frequently use a symbol, the keystroke option may be the fastest method. You can also change the Shortcut key using the button.

An alternate method is to use the AutoCorrect… button and assign a new set of keystrokes that are intuitive to you. This is the same function that allows you to type (c) and get a copyright symbol. This is a great feature.

Reassigning (ct) for cents symbol

Windows Character Map

If you’re like me, you don’t like looking up codes. Instead, you want to see a graphical representation of the symbols and say “that one!” This is especially true if the symbol is one you rarely use. For these times, you can use Windows Character Map (charmap.exe).

To use Windows Character Map Tool,

1. Press your Windows key + s . This should open Windows search
2. In the Open: textbox, type character.
3. Select the Character Map program.

An insert symbol tool similar to the one in Microsoft Word appears. When you click a symbol, a larger image appears with the description and key codes displayed on the status line. If this is a program you think you’ll use frequently, you might want to add it to your Windows taskbar.

Character Map with Cents Sign

You can click the Select button and then copy the symbol to your clipboard to paste into another program. Or, you can type the keystroke equivalent.

Even though the character map is a system tool, it doesn’t mean the results will work everywhere you need it. The codes that seem to work without issue are Alt codes less than 255. And yes, it seems odd that ¼ works fine, but ⅛ produces a [.

And in case you’re wondering how I got that ⅛ symbol, it has to do with another set of codes that work with HTML. Yes, another set of codes. My suggestion is to try some of these examples and test to see which ones work in your apps.

Emojis

Last but not least are emojis. These are the symbols or ideograms you often see on social media sites. Think of smiley faces. With most of these applications, some built-in tool within the messaging app allows you to insert them easily. Emojis are also built into the Windows and Mac operating systems. Each OS has a keystroke combo to open the app.

Windows: Press the Windows key + . .

Apple: Press Control + Command + space .