How to Type Symbols and Special Characters in Windows 10

The quickest way to type a symbol in Windows 10 is the emoji panel. Press Windows logo key + period (.), select the Ω tab, and pick the symbol, such as °, ©, €, or é. For symbols that aren’t there, open Character Map, select the character, and copy it. You can also type many symbols with Alt codes on a keyboard that has a number pad.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 26, 2026.

Use the symbols tab in the emoji panel

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Press Windows logo key + period (.).
3. Select the Ω tab.
4. Pick a group at the bottom, such as Punctuation, Currency, Latin symbols, or Math, and select the symbol.

Use Character Map

1. Select Start, type Character Map, and open it.
2. Select the character you want, then select Select.
3. Select Copy, then paste it where you need it with Ctrl + V.

The bottom of the window shows the character’s name and, for many characters, its Alt code.

Type symbols with Alt codes

On a keyboard with a number pad, turn on Num Lock, hold Alt, type the code on the number pad, and let go of Alt. The number keys above the letters don’t work for this.

• ° degree sign: Alt + 0176
• © copyright: Alt + 0169
• € euro: Alt + 0128
• é: Alt + 0233
• ñ: Alt + 0241
• ™ trademark: Alt + 0153
• ® registered: Alt + 0174
• ± plus-minus: Alt + 0177
• • bullet: Alt + 0149
• — em dash: Alt + 0151
• £ pound: Alt + 0163
• ½ one half: Alt + 0189
• × multiplication: Alt + 0215
• ÷ division: Alt + 0247

Type accents with the US-International keyboard

If you type accented letters often, add the United States-International keyboard in Settings > Time & Language > Language > your language > Options > Add a keyboard. Then type an accent key followed by a letter: the apostrophe key then e gives é, and the grave accent key (left of 1) then a gives à. See how to change the keyboard language in Windows 10.

Use the touch keyboard

This works well on laptops without a number pad.

1. Right-click the taskbar and select Show touch keyboard button.
2. Select the keyboard icon near the clock.
3. Press and hold a letter, such as e or n, to see its accented versions, then select one.
4. Select the &123 key for more symbols, and the arrow key to see extra pages.

Type the rupee sign

With the English (India) language and its India keyboard added, press Ctrl + Alt + 4 or Right Alt + 4 to type ₹. It’s also in the emoji panel’s Currency group. For typing in Hindi and other Indian languages, see how to type in Indian languages in Windows 10.

If a symbol doesn’t come out right

• You get a different character: type the leading 0. For example, Alt + 0176 gives °, but Alt + 176 gives a shaded block.
• The symbol shows as a box or question mark: the font doesn’t include it. Try a font like Segoe UI Symbol.
• The emoji panel won’t open: click inside a text box first. You can also try Windows logo key + semicolon (;).
• Can’t find a character in Character Map: check Advanced view and type its name in Search for.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn’t my Alt code work?

Check that Num Lock is on and that you’re using the number pad. On laptops without one, use the emoji panel or Character Map instead.

How do I type symbols in Word?

In Word, select Insert > Symbol. Word also lets you type a code like 00B0 and press Alt + X to turn it into °.

Where are emojis?

See how to use emojis on Windows 10.

How do I type the degree symbol on a laptop?

Press Windows logo key + period (.), select the Ω tab, and find ° in the symbols list. You can also copy it from Character Map.

Can I make my own shortcut for a symbol?

Windows 10 doesn’t have a built-in way to do this. In Office apps, you can set up AutoCorrect so a short code turns into the symbol as you type.

For the Spanish ñ in particular, see how to type ñ on Windows 10.

Microsoft’s guides are Keyboard shortcuts in Windows and Insert ASCII or Unicode Latin-based symbols and characters. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Related: add special characters in Word.