How do I type special characters on a keyboard?

The ones on the number row (!, @, #, $, %, &, *) are Shift + a digit. Rarer ones, such as § or °, you type on Windows with an Alt code: hold the left Alt key and type four digits on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, many of them have an Option shortcut (° is Option + Shift + 8), and the rest are in the Character Viewer: Ctrl + Cmd + Space.

How do I type the at sign (@)?

Shift + 2 on a US keyboard, on both Windows and Mac. On a UK keyboard in Windows, @ is Shift + ' (the apostrophe key). A Mac with the British layout keeps it on Shift + 2.

Alt codes don’t work - why?

Type the digits on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on, while holding the left Alt key. The number row at the top doesn’t work. On a laptop without a numeric keypad, use the symbols panel: Win + period, then the Symbols tab (Windows 11).

Cheat sheet

Special characters on the keyboard

You type the symbols on the number row with Shift: @ is Shift + 2, # is Shift + 3. Rarer characters, such as § or °, take an Alt code on Windows or an Option shortcut on a Mac - or copy them with the button next to them.

Special characters - shortcuts and Alt codes

Shortcuts for the US layout on Windows and the U.S. layout on a Mac. Type an Alt code on the numeric keypad while holding the left Alt key.

Press a shortcut - the keys light up on the drawing and the row with the character is highlighted in the table.

Character	Name	Windows	Mac
@	at sign	Shift + 2	Shift + 2
#	number sign (hashtag)	Shift + 3	Shift + 3
\|	vertical bar	Shift + \	Shift + \
\	backslash	\ (above Enter)	\ (above Enter)
~	tilde	Shift + ` (top left corner)	Shift + ` (top left corner, or next to the left Shift)
*	asterisk	Shift + 8	Shift + 8
!	exclamation mark	Shift + 1	Shift + 1
&	ampersand (“and”)	Shift + 7	Shift + 7
§	section sign	Alt + 0167 (numeric keypad)	Option + 6
°	degree sign (°C)	Alt + 0176 (numeric keypad)	Option + Shift + 8
—	em dash	Alt + 0151 (numeric keypad)	Option + Shift + -
–	en dash	Alt + 0150 (numeric keypad)	Option + -
“	left double quotation mark	Alt + 0147 (numeric keypad)	Option + [
”	right double quotation mark	Alt + 0148 (numeric keypad)	Option + Shift + [
…	ellipsis	Alt + 0133 (numeric keypad)	Option + ;
•	bullet	Alt + 0149 (numeric keypad)	Option + 8
×	multiplication sign	Alt + 0215 (numeric keypad)	Ctrl + Cmd + Space (Character Viewer)
±	plus-minus sign	Alt + 0177 (numeric keypad)	Option + Shift + =
©	copyright sign	Alt + 0169 (numeric keypad)	Option + G
™	trademark sign	Alt + 0153 (numeric keypad)	Option + 2
€	euro sign	Alt + 0128 (numeric keypad)	Option + Shift + 2
£	pound sign	Alt + 0163 (numeric keypad)	Option + 3

Frequently asked questions

How do I type special characters on a keyboard?: The ones on the number row (!, @, #, $, %, &, *) are Shift + a digit. Rarer ones, such as § or °, you type on Windows with an Alt code: hold the left Alt key and type four digits on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, many of them have an Option shortcut (° is Option + Shift + 8), and the rest are in the Character Viewer: Ctrl + Cmd + Space.
How do I type the at sign (@)?: Shift + 2 on a US keyboard, on both Windows and Mac. On a UK keyboard in Windows, @ is Shift + ' (the apostrophe key). A Mac with the British layout keeps it on Shift + 2.
Alt codes don’t work - why?: Type the digits on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on, while holding the left Alt key. The number row at the top doesn’t work. On a laptop without a numeric keypad, use the symbols panel: Win + period, then the Symbols tab (Windows 11).

A key not responding? Check it in the keyboard test. Learn to type every character without looking in the touch typing course.