Typing special characters with the Alt key in Windows: symbols, tricks, alternatives, and updated tables

The Alt key is the gateway to hundreds of characters and symbols that do not appear directly on the standard keyboard.Thanks to a series of combinations, especially with the numeric keypad, it's possible to insert mathematical symbols, accented letters from other languages, arrows, currency symbols, emojis, mathematical symbols, diacritics, Greek letters, copyright symbols, trademarks, or even characters that only exist in the digital world.

This function results Of great usefulness for those who work in technical writing, as well as for students, programmers, designers, social network users or those who want to improve the presentation of a text with signs that do not appear visible even using Shift or Alt Gr. In addition, knowing how to access these Tricks can save you in case of having any physical problem with the keyboard keys (for example, if a particular key is broken), since the Alt combination allows you to type any special character if you know its code.

Basic Operation: How to Type a Special Character Using Alt and the Numeric Keypad

The mechanics are simple, but it is essential to follow them correctly for it to work:

• Activate the numeric keypad (If your keyboard has one, make sure the Num Lock light is on.)
• Hold down the Alt key.
• While holding Alt, type the number sequence of the desired symbol using only the numeric keypad (numbers above letters on standard keyboards don't usually work for this).
• Release the Alt key and the symbol will automatically appear where you are typing.

For example: To type the euro symbol (€), hold Alt and type 0128 on the numeric keypad. Then, release Alt and the symbol will appear. It's that simple.

Related article:

How to enter ASCII characters from the keyboard in Windows step by step

Complete tables of Alt codes for Windows: symbols, letters, currencies, math, and more

Below you have detailed tables with the most useful and widespread Alt codes, organized by categories, so you can easily look up and copy the code for every character you need, no matter what you're using it for.

Alt Code Table for Emojis and Simple Graphic Symbols

• Alt + 1: ☺
• Alt + 2: ☻
• Alt + 3: ♥
• Alt + 4: ♦
• Alt + 5: ♣
• Alt + 6: ♠
• Alt + 7: •
• Alt + 8: ◘
• Alt + 9: ○
• Alt + 10: ◙
• Alt + 11: ♂
• Alt + 12: ♀
• Alt + 13: ♪
• Alt + 14: ♫
• Alt + 15: ☼
• Alt + 16: ►
• Alt + 17: ◄
• Alt + 18: ↕
• Alt + 19: ‼
• Alt + 20: ¶
• Alt + 21: §
• Alt + 22: ▬
• Alt + 23: ↨
• Alt + 24: ↑
• Alt + 25: ↓
• Alt + 26: →
• Alt + 27: ←
• Alt + 28: ∟
• Alt + 29: ↔
• Alt + 30: ▲
• Alt + 31: ▼

Alt Code Table for Common Letters, Numbers, and Symbols

• Alt+32:
• Alt + 33: !
• Alt + 34: «
• Alt + 35: #
• Alt + 36: $
• Alt + 37: %
• Alt + 38: &
• Alt + 39: '
• Alt + 40: (
• Alt + 41: )
• Alt + 42: *
• Alt + 43: +
• Alt + 44: ,
• Alt + 45: –
• Alt + 46: .
• Alt + 47: /
• Alt + 48 to Alt + 57: numbers 0 to 9
• Alt + 58: :
• Alt + 59: ;
• Alt + 60:
• Alt + 61: =
• Alt + 62: >
• Alt + 63: ?
• Alt+64: @
• Alt + 65 to Alt + 90: Capital letters (AZ)
• Alt + 97 to Alt + 122: lowercase letters (az)
• Alt+91:
• Alt + 94: ^
• Alt + 95: _
• Alt + 96: `
• Alt + 123: {
• Alt + 124: |
• Alt + 125: }
• Alt + 126: ~

Alt Code Table for International Currencies and Characters

• Alt + 127: ⌂
• Alt + 155: ¢
• Alt + 156: £
• Alt + 157: ¥
• Alt + 158: ₧
• Alt + 159: ƒ
• Alt + 164: ñ
• Alt + 165: Ñ
• Alt + 166: ª
• Alt + 167: º
• Alt + 168:
• Alt + 169: ®
• Alt + 170: ¬
• Alt + 171: ½
• Alt + 172: ¼
• Alt + 173:
• Alt + 174: «
• Alt + 175: »
• Alt + 0128: €

Alt Code Table for Mathematical Symbols and Other Technical Characters

• Alt + 224: α
• Alt + 225: ß
• Alt + 226: Γ
• Alt + 227: π
• Alt + 228: Σ
• Alt + 229: σ
• Alt + 230: µ
• Alt + 231: τ
• Alt + 248: °
• Alt + 241: ±
• Alt + 242: ≥
• Alt + 243: ≤
• Alt + 247: ≈

Additional keyboard shortcuts for typing symbols without using Alt

On Spanish keyboards (and some other layouts), many symbols can be typed using key combinations such as Alt Gr and ShiftKnowing these combinations saves you time and is sometimes more convenient than using the Alt code.

• Alt Gr + 2: @
• Alt Gr + E: €
• Alt Gr + 3: #
• Alt Gr + 5: € on some keyboards
• Alt Gr + Q/W/E: Special symbols may appear depending on the regional settings
• Shift+1: !
• Shift+2: "
• Shift + 3: ·
• Shift + 4: $
• Shift + ': ?
• Shift + ¡: ¿
• Shift + .: :
• Shift + ,: ;

The key is to look at the silkscreen on each key.: If you see a small symbol in the lower right corner, it's usually accessed with Alt Gr; if it's at the top, it's accessed with Shift.

Related article:

Gboard Keyboard Not Working. Causes, Solutions, Alternatives

How to type special characters and symbols if a key is broken or the keyboard is not working

If any key on your keyboard (such as Alt, Shift, or AltGr) does not work, there are alternatives for typing special characters:

• Windows On-Screen KeyboardYou can enable the virtual keyboard from Settings –> Accessibility –> Keyboard –> Enable “Use On-Screen Keyboard.” You can also activate it with the Windows + Ctrl + O combination. This allows you to click on any symbol with the mouse.
• Characters map: Go to Start –> Programs –> Accessories –> Character Map (or type “charmap” in search). Select the desired symbol, click “Select” and “Copy,” and paste it wherever you need it.

Both options are especially useful when you need to type symbols and the physical keyboard is unresponsive., and you can also copy and paste from there any character that you cannot obtain with the usual methods.

How to type emojis in Windows: built-in methods and external options

The arrival of Windows 10 and 11 has brought with it new ways to add emojis throughout the operating system, whether on social networks, chats, documents or file and folder names.:

• Win + . or Win + ; combination: Press the Windows logo key and the period or semicolon at the same time. A pop-up window will appear with all the emojis categorized by category (faces, animals, symbols, food, etc.). Click on the emoji you want and it will be inserted into your text.
• Touch keyboard: Right-click on the taskbar and activate the Windows touch keyboard. There you will find the emoticons.
• You can also copy emojis from specialized websites such as Piliapp, Messletters, Alt-Codes, Copypastecharacter or EmojiKeyboard. Just click on the emoji and then paste it wherever you need it. These websites offer emojis and symbols for social media, email, WhatsApp and even for Windows file and folder names.

Related article:

Find out how to get back the missing Emoji key on your iPhone keyboard

Special fonts and symbols in Word, PowerPoint, and other applications

Windows includes fonts that convert each key into a special symbol, which is useful for quickly inserting icons into documents:

• Fonts like Webdings, Wingdings 1, 2 and 3 are available in the font selection menu Become, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft office programs. Change the font and type any letter to see the associated symbol.
• In addition to graphic symbols, you can copy and paste these icons into emails, presentations, or any other document, although their compatibility outside the Microsoft ecosystem is not always guaranteed.

Related article:

How to adjust keyboard delay and repeat rate in Windows 11

Change the keyboard language and switch between different layouts

If your keyboard is set to a different language or you want to access different symbols, you can easily add other layouts from Settings:

• Go to Settings –> Time & language –> Language.
• Select your preferred language and click Options to “Add a keyboard” in that language.
• To quickly switch between languages, use the Alt + Shift combination.

Entering Greek letters and other symbols using hexadecimal codes

In addition to classic decimal numbers, Windows allows you to insert Unicode characters using hexadecimal codes after a small configuration in the registry.This method is little known but very useful for accessing even rarer symbols, such as Greek letters or advanced mathematical symbols.

• Open “regedit” (Run –> Win + R –> type “regedit”).
• Navigate to the path HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Input Method
• Add a new string called EnableHexNumpad and set it to 1.
• Log out and restart your computer.

From here, you can Hold Alt and type “+” followed by the Unicode hexadecimal code of the symbol you are looking for. (for example, Alt +03BA generates “κ”, Greek lowercase kappa).

Note: This method only works in Unicode-compatible applications and not everywhere, but it's ideal for advanced users who need symbols for math, physics, music, or uncommon languages.

What to do if you can't find the symbol you need? Useful alternatives

If after reviewing the tables and methods above you still cannot find the symbol you are looking for, you have other very simple ways to achieve it:

• Use symbol and emoji collection websites such as Piliapp, Alt-Codes, Copypastecharacter, EmojiKeyboard, Messletters, etc. Simply search for the symbol, click on it, and copy it.
• Search the Windows Character Map (Charmap). It offers advanced searching, font filtering, copying multiple symbols in a row, and Unicode support.
• Copy from messages on social networks, WhatsApp web, Telegram web, or other applications that include the symbol (you can open a conversation with yourself to copy and paste the desired emoji or symbol).

Related article:

How to Disable Internal Laptop Keyboard in Windows 11: Ultimate Guide and All Methods

Remember that these methods allow you to go beyond the physical keyboard and open the door to an almost infinite universe of symbols and special characters.

Essential Windows keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow

In addition to Alt codes and symbol combinations, Windows includes a Wide range of shortcuts that speed up navigation and text editingSome of the most useful ones are:

• Ctrl + C: Copy
• Ctrl + V: Paste
• Ctrl + X: Cut
• Ctrl + Z: Undo
• Ctrl + A: Select all
• Ctrl + N: New document
• Ctrl + P: Print
• Alt + F4: Close program
• Windows +.: Emoji Picker
• Windows + R: Run
• Windows + D: Show/Hide Desktop
• Windows + E: Open File Explorer
• Windows + I: Open Settings
• Alt + Tab: Window switcher

These shortcuts not only help you type symbols quickly, but they also make your daily life much more efficient.Memorizing the main ones can save you a huge amount of time.

Write symbols and emojis in file and folder names

Windows 10 and 11 allow you to add emojis (although not just any symbol) to file and folder names to personalize them and make them easier to locate.

• Select the file or folder and press F2 to rename
• Press the Windows + . combination to open the emoji selector and choose the one you prefer.
• The emoji will appear next to the name of the file or folder, giving it an original touch.

Not all symbols or combinations work as file names. (certain symbols are prohibited by the operating system), but emojis are usually fully supported and very visual.

Recommended external tools and applications for copying and pasting symbols and emojis

If you are one of those who often use complex symbols or many emojis, there are applications and extensions designed to make your life easier.:

• WinMoji: A free tool that allows you to easily search and copy emojis for use in any Windows application, similar to the native selector but much more visual and advanced.
• Emoji Sidebar (Chrome extension): Add a sidebar to your browser with hundreds of emojis ready to copy with a single click.
• Microsoft Store: From the official app store, you can search for apps with more catalogs of symbols, fonts, and emojis to download for free.

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.