If you need to insert special characters into a document—for example, if you're writing an equation or typing in another language—Windows Alt keyboard shortcuts make the process a lot easier. This article will help you learn and master all the Windows Alt keyboard shortcuts you'll ever need.
Why Use Windows Alt Key Shortcuts?
A standard, full-size keyboard typically has 104 keys, which provides all the characters you need for the English language. However, let's say you're writing in another language or need special characters for functions. In that case, you'll need to dig deep into the Windows Character Map , select and copy the character you need, and then paste it into the document you're working on.
This process is tedious and time-consuming, especially if you use specific special characters frequently. Luckily, Microsoft knows that multilingual users will run into this problem, so they've come up with a way to easily insert them.
Simply hold down the Alt key and type the corresponding number to insert a special character. If you have memorized the code of your favorite special character, you can insert it in less than a second.
Refer to the following list of useful Alt shortcuts to insert special characters in Windows for more details.
How to Quickly Insert Special Characters in Windows
| Shortcuts |
Character |
| Emojis, bullets and symbols |
| Alt + 1 |
☺ |
| Alt + 2 |
☻ |
| Alt + 3 |
♥ |
| Alt + 4 |
♦ |
| Alt + 5 |
♣ |
| Alt + 6 |
♠ |
| Alt + 7 / Alt + 0149 |
• |
| Alt + 8 |
◘ |
| Alt + 9 |
○ |
| Alt + 10 |
◙ |
| Alt + 11 |
♂ |
| Alt + 12 |
♀ |
| Alt + 13 |
♪ |
| Alt + 14 |
♫ |
| Alt + 15 |
☼ |
| Alt + 0153 |
™ |
| Alt + 0169 |
© |
| Alt + 0174 |
® |
| Arrows and angles |
| Alt + 16 |
► |
| Alt + 17 |
◄ |
| Alt + 18 |
↕ |
| Alt + 23 |
↨ |
| Alt + 24 |
↑ |
| Alt + 25 |
↓ |
| Alt + 26 |
→ |
| Alt + 27 |
← |
| Alt + 28 |
∟ |
| Alt + 29 |
↔ |
| Alt + 30 |
▲ |
| Alt + 31 |
▼ |
| Punctuation and marking |
| Alt + 19 |
‼ |
| Alt + 20 / Alt + 0182 |
¶ |
| Alt + 21 / Alt + 0167 |
§ |
| Alt + 33 |
! |
| Alt + 34 |
“ |
| Alt + 35 |
# |
| Alt + 38 |
& |
| Alt + 39 |
' |
| Alt + 40 |
( |
| Alt + 41 |
) |
| Alt + 42 |
* |
| Alt + 44 |
, |
| Alt + 45 |
- |
| Alt + 46 |
. |
| Alt + 47 |
/ |
| Alt + 58 |
: |
| Alt + 59 |
; |
| Alt + 63 |
? |
| Alt + 64 |
@ |
| Alt + 91 |
[ |
| Alt + 92 |
\ |
| Alt + 93 |
] |
| Alt + 94 |
^ |
| Alt + 95 |
_ |
| Alt + 96 |
` |
| Alt + 123 |
{ |
| Alt + 124 |
| |
| Alt + 125 |
} |
| Alt + 166 / Alt + 0170 |
ª |
| Alt + 167 / Alt + 0186 |
º |
| Alt + 168 / Alt + 0191 |
¿ |
| Alt + 173 / Alt + 0161 |
¡ |
| Alt + 174 / Alt + 0171 |
« |
| Alt + 175 / Alt + 0187 |
» |
| Alt + 250 / Alt + 0183 |
· |
| Alt + 255 / Alt + 0160 |
|
| Alt + 0130 |
‚ |
| Alt + 0132 |
" |
| Alt + 0133 |
… |
| Alt + 0134 |
† |
| Alt + 0135 |
‡ |
| Alt + 0136 |
ˆ |
| Alt + 0139 |
‹ |
| Alt + 0145 |
' |
| Alt + 0146 |
' |
| Alt + 0147 |
“ |
| Alt + 0148 |
” |
| Alt + 0150 |
– |
| Alt + 0151 |
— |
| Alt + 0155 |
› |
| Alt + 0166 |
¦ |
| Alt + 0168 |
¨ |
| Alt + 0175 |
¯ |
| Alt + 0180 |
´ |
| Alt + 0184 |
¸ |
| Lines, shapes and shades |
| Alt + 22 |
▬ |
| Alt + 127 |
⌂ |
| Alt + 176 |
░ |
| Alt + 177 |
▒ |
| Alt + 178 |
▓ |
| Alt + 179 |
│ |
| Alt + 180 |
┤ |
| Alt + 181 |
╡ |
| Alt + 182 |
╢ |
| Alt + 183 |
╖ |
| Alt + 184 |
╕ |
| Alt + 185 |
╣ |
| Alt + 186 |
║ |
| Alt + 187 |
╗ |
| Alt + 188 |
╝ |
| Alt + 189 |
╜ |
| Alt + 190 |
╛ |
| Alt + 191 |
┐ |
| Alt + 192 |
└ |
| Alt + 193 |
┴ |
| Alt + 194 |
┬ |
| Alt + 195 |
├ |
| Alt + 196 |
─ |
| Alt + 197 |
┼ |
| Alt + 198 |
╞ |
| Alt + 199 |
╟ |
| Alt + 200 |
╚ |
| Alt + 201 |
╔ |
| Alt + 202 |
╩ |
| Alt + 203 |
╦ |
| Alt + 204 |
╠ |
| Alt + 205 |
═ |
| Alt + 206 |
╬ |
| Alt + 207 |
╧ |
| Alt + 208 |
╨ |
| Alt + 209 |
╤ |
| Alt + 210 |
╥ |
| Alt + 211 |
╙ |
| Alt + 212 |
╘ |
| Alt + 213 |
╒ |
| Alt + 214 |
╓ |
| Alt + 215 |
╫ |
| Alt + 216 |
╪ |
| Alt + 217 |
┘ |
| Alt + 218 |
┌ |
| Alt + 219 |
█ |
| Alt + 220 |
▄ |
| Alt + 221 |
▌ |
| Alt + 222 |
▐ |
| Alt + 223 |
▀ |
| Alt + 254 |
■ |
| Money |
| Alt + 36 |
$ |
| Alt + 155 / Alt + 0162 |
¢ |
| Alt + 156 / Alt + 0163 |
£ |
| Alt + 157 / Alt + 0165 |
¥ |
| Alt + 158 |
₧ |
| Alt + 0128 |
€ |
| Alt + 0164 |
¤ |
| Mathematics |
| Alt + 37 |
% |
| Alt + 43 |
+ |
| Alt + 60 |
|
| Alt + 61 |
= |
| Alt + 62 |
> |
| Alt + 126 |
~ |
| Alt + 171 / Alt + 0189 |
½ |
| Alt + 172 / Alt + 0188 |
¼ |
| Alt + 236 |
∞ |
| Alt + 239 |
∩ |
| Alt + 240 |
≡ |
| Alt + 241 / Alt + 0177 |
± |
| Alt + 242 |
≥ |
| Alt + 243 |
≤ |
| Alt + 244 |
⌠ |
| Alt + 245 |
⌡ |
| Alt + 246 / Alt + 0247 |
÷ |
| Alt + 247 |
≈ |
| Alt + 248 / Alt + 0176 |
° |
| Alt + 249 |
∙ |
| Alt + 251 |
√ |
| Alt + 252 |
ⁿ |
| Alt + 253 / Alt + 0178 |
² |
| Alt + 0137 |
‰ |
| Alt + 0179 |
³ |
| Alt + 0185 |
¹ |
| Alt + 0190 |
¾ |
| Alt + 0215 |
× |
| Alphanumeric characters |
| Alt + 48 |
0 |
| Alt + 49 |
1 |
| Alt + 50 |
2 |
| Alt + 51 |
3 |
| Alt + 52 |
4 |
| Alt + 53 |
5 |
| Alt + 54 |
6 |
| Alt + 55 |
7 |
| Alt + 56 |
8 |
| Alt + 57 |
9 |
| Alt + 65 |
A |
| Alt + 66 |
B |
| Alt + 67 |
C |
| Alt + 68 |
D |
| Alt + 69 |
E |
| Alt + 70 |
F |
| Alt + 71 |
G |
| Alt + 72 |
H |
| Alt + 73 |
I |
| Alt + 74 |
J |
| Alt + 75 |
K |
| Alt + 76 |
L |
| Alt + 77 |
M |
| Alt + 78 |
N |
| Alt + 79 |
O |
| Alt + 80 |
P |
| Alt + 81 |
Q |
| Alt + 82 |
R |
| Alt + 83 |
S |
| Alt + 84 |
T |
| Alt + 85 |
U |
| Alt + 86 |
V |
| Alt + 87 |
W |
| Alt + 88 |
X |
| Alt + 89 |
Y |
| Alt + 90 |
Z |
| Alt + 97 |
a |
| Alt + 98 |
b |
| Alt + 99 |
c |
| Alt + 100 |
d |
| Alt + 101 |
e |
| Alt + 102 |
f |
| Alt + 103 |
g |
| Alt + 104 |
h |
| Alt + 105 |
i |
| Alt + 106 |
j |
| Alt + 107 |
k |
| Alt + 108 |
l |
| Alt + 109 |
m |
| Alt + 110 |
n |
| Alt + 111 |
o |
| Alt + 112 |
p |
| Alt + 113 |
q |
| Alt + 114 |
r |
| Alt + 115 |
S |
| Alt + 116 |
t |
| Alt + 117 |
u |
| Alt + 118 |
v |
| Alt + 119 |
w |
| Alt + 120 |
x |
| Alt + 121 |
y |
| Alt + 122 |
z |
| Special letters |
| Alt + 128 / Alt + 0199 |
Ç |
| Alt + 129 / Alt + 0252 |
ü |
| Alt + 130 / Alt + 0233 |
yes |
| Alt + 131 / Alt + 0226 |
â |
| Alt + 132 / Alt + 0228 |
ä |
| Alt + 133 / Alt + 0224 |
ah |
| Alt + 134 / Alt + 0229 |
å |
| Alt + 135 / Alt + 0231 |
ç |
| Alt + 136 / Alt + 0234 |
hallo |
| Alt + 137 / Alt + 0235 |
ë |
| Alt + 138 / Alt + 0232 |
è |
| Alt + 139 / Alt + 0239 |
ï |
| Alt + 140 / Alt + 0238 |
î |
| Alt + 141 / Alt + 0236 |
ì |
| Alt + 142 / Alt + 0196 |
Ä |
| Alt + 143 / Alt + 0197 |
Å |
| Alt + 144 / Alt + 0201 |
Yes |
| Alt + 145 / Alt + 0230 |
æ |
| Alt + 146 / Alt + 0198 |
Æ |
| Alt + 147 / Alt + 0244 |
Umbrella |
| Alt + 148 / Alt + 0246 |
ö |
| Alt + 149 / Alt + 0242 |
oh |
| Alt + 150 / Alt + 0251 |
û |
| Alt + 151 / Alt + 0249 |
buzz |
| Alt + 152 / Alt + 0255 |
ÿ |
| Alt + 153 / Alt + 0214 |
Ö |
| Alt + 154 / Alt + 0220 |
Ü |
| Alt + 159 / Alt + 0131 |
ƒ |
| Alt + 160 / Alt + 0225 |
ah |
| Alt + 161 / Alt + 0237 |
yes |
| Alt + 162 / Alt + 0243 |
oh |
| Alt + 163 / Alt + 0250 |
u |
| Alt + 164 / Alt + 0241 |
ñ |
| Alt + 165 / Alt + 0209 |
Ñ |
| Alt + 0138 / Alt + 0352 |
Š |
| Alt + 0140 / Alt + 0338 |
Œ |
| Alt + 0142 / Alt + 0381 |
Ž |
| Alt + 0154 / Alt + 0353 |
š |
| Alt + 0156 / Alt + 0339 |
œ |
| Alt + 0158 / Alt + 0382 |
ž |
| Alt + 0159 / Alt + 0376 |
Ÿ |
| Alt + 0192 |
Ah |
| Alt + 0193 |
Ah |
| Alt + 0194 |
 |
| Alt + 0195 |
à |
| Alt + 0200 |
Yes |
| Alt + 0202 |
HALLO |
| Alt + 0203 |
Ë |
| Alt + 0204 |
Ì |
| Alt + 0205 |
Yes |
| Alt + 0206 |
Î |
| Alt + 0207 |
Ï |
| Alt + 0208 |
D |
| Alt + 0210 |
Oh |
| Alt + 0211 |
Oh |
| Alt + 0212 |
UMBRELLA |
| Alt + 0213 |
Yes |
| Alt + 0216 |
Ø |
| Alt + 0217 |
Buzz |
| Alt + 0218 |
U |
| Alt + 0219 |
Û |
| Alt + 0221 |
IDEA |
| Alt + 0222 |
Þ |
| Alt + 0227 |
ã |
| Alt + 0240 |
ð |
| Alt + 0245 |
oh |
| Alt + 0248 |
ø |
| Alt + 0253 |
idea |
| Alt + 0254 |
þ |
| Alt + 0256 |
A |
| Alt + 0257 |
a |
| Alt + 0258 |
Eat |
| Alt + 0259 |
a |
| Alt + 0260 |
A |
| Alt + 0261 |
ą |
| Alt + 0262 |
C |
| Alt + 0263 |
c |
| Alt + 0264 |
Ĉ |
| Alt + 0265 |
ĉ |
| Alt + 0266 |
Ċ |
| Alt + 0267 |
c |
| Alt + 0268 |
Č |
| Alt + 0269 |
c |
| Alt + 0270 |
Ď |
| Alt + 0271 |
ď |
| Alt + 0272 |
D |
| Alt + 0273 |
D |
| Alt + 0274 |
Ē |
| Alt + 0275 |
ē |
| Alt + 0276 |
Ĕ |
| Alt + 0277 |
ĕ |
| Alt + 0278 |
I |
| Alt + 0279 |
ė |
| Alt + 0280 |
Ę |
| Alt + 0281 |
ę |
| Alt + 0282 |
Ě |
| Alt + 0283 |
ě |
| Alt + 0284 |
I |
| Alt + 0285 |
ĝ |
| Alt + 0286 |
Ğ |
| Alt + 0287 |
g |
| Alt + 0288 |
Ġ |
| Alt + 0289 |
g |
| Alt + 0290 |
Ģ |
| Alt + 0291 |
G |
| Alt + 0292 |
Ĥ |
| Alt + 0293 |
ĥ |
| Alt + 0294 |
Ħ |
| Alt + 0295 |
ħ |
| Alt + 0296 |
Ĩ |
| Alt + 0297 |
oh |
| Alt + 0298 |
Ī |
| Alt + 0299 |
i |
| Alt + 0300 |
Ĭ |
| Alt + 0301 |
ĭ |
| Alt + 0302 |
Į |
| Alt + 0303 |
i |
| Alt + 0304 |
İ |
| Alt + 0305 |
i |
| Alt + 0306 |
IJ |
| Alt + 0307 |
ij |
| Alt + 0308 |
Ĵ |
| Alt + 0309 |
ĵ |
| Alt + 0310 |
Ķ |
| Alt + 0311 |
ķ |
| Alt + 0312 |
ĸ |
| Alt + 0313 |
Ĺ |
| Alt + 0314 |
ĺ |
| Alt + 0315 |
Ļ |
| Alt + 0316 |
ļ |
| Alt + 0317 |
Ľ |
| Alt + 0318 |
ľ |
| Alt + 0319 |
A |
| Alt + 0320 |
ŀ |
| Alt + 0321 |
Ł |
| Alt + 0322 |
l |
| Alt + 0323 |
Ń |
| Alt + 0324 |
ń |
| Alt + 0325 |
Ņ |
| Alt + 0326 |
ņ |
| Alt + 0327 |
Ň |
| Alt + 0328 |
ň |
| Alt + 0329 |
ʼn |
| Alt + 0330 |
|
| Alt + 0331 |
ŋ |
| Alt + 0332 |
Oh |
| Alt + 0333 |
ō |
| Alt + 0334 |
Ŏ |
| Alt + 0335 |
ŏ |
| Alt + 0336 |
Ő |
| Alt + 0337 |
ő |
| Alt + 0340 |
Ŕ |
| Alt + 0341 |
ŕ |
| Alt + 0342 |
Ŗ |
| Alt + 0343 |
ŗ |
| Alt + 0344 |
Ř |
| Alt + 0345 |
ř |
| Alt + 0346 |
Ś |
| Alt + 0347 |
ś |
| Alt + 0348 |
Ŝ |
| Alt + 0349 |
ŝ |
| Alt + 0350 |
Ş |
| Alt + 0351 |
ş |
| Alt + 0354 |
Ţ |
| Alt + 0355 |
ţ |
| Alt + 0356 |
Ť |
| Alt + 0357 |
ť |
| Alt + 0358 |
Ŧ |
| Alt + 0359 |
ŧ |
| Alt + 0360 |
Ũ |
| Alt + 0361 |
u |
| Alt + 0362 |
Ū |
| Alt + 0363 |
ū |
| Alt + 0364 |
Ŭ |
| Alt + 0365 |
ŭ |
| Alt + 0366 |
Ů |
| Alt + 0367 |
ů |
| Alt + 0368 |
Ű |
| Alt + 0369 |
ű |
| Alt + 0370 |
Ų |
| Alt + 0371 |
ų |
| Alt + 0372 |
Ŵ |
| Alt + 0373 |
ŵ |
| Alt + 0374 |
Ŷ |
| Alt + 0375 |
ŷ |
| Alt + 0377 |
Ź |
| Alt + 0378 |
ź |
| Alt + 0379 |
Ż |
| Alt + 0380 |
ż |
| Logical symbols |
| Alt + 169 |
⌐ |
| Alt + 170 / Alt + 0172 |
¬ |
| Greek characters |
| Alt + 224 |
α |
| Alt + 225 / Alt + 0223 |
ß |
| Alt + 226 |
Γ |
| Alt + 227 |
π |
| Alt + 228 |
Σ |
| Alt + 229 |
σ |
| Alt + 230 / Alt + 0181 |
µ |
| Alt + 231 |
τ |
| Alt + 232 |
Φ |
| Alt + 233 |
Θ |
| Alt + 234 |
Ω |
| Alt + 235 |
δ |
| Alt + 237 |
φ |
| Alt + 238 |
ε |
These Alt shortcuts will allow you to insert special characters in a flash, saving you time and effort. Be sure to refer to this list when needed, or use Windows' Character Map or clipboard manager!
Applications of Alt shortcuts
- Writing documents : Use Alt shortcuts for special punctuation, currency symbols, or accented letters in many languages.
- Graphic Design : Insert special characters into your logo design, invitations or advertisements.
- Data entry and coding : Enter special symbols commonly used in coding and data entry.
Tips to make the most of Alt shortcuts
- Memorize common keyboard shortcuts : Get familiar with commonly used Alt keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow.
- Backup Shortcuts Chart : Keep a printed or digital shortcut chart on your device that contains commonly used Alt shortcuts.
- Character Map Tool : Use Windows' Character Map tool to find and copy special characters that are not in the Alt keyboard shortcuts.
Benefits of using Alt key shortcuts
- Extended typing capabilities : Allows more characters and symbols.
- Improved accuracy : Provides accurate characters for different languages and technical texts.
- Enhance Creativity : Provides more options for creative and design work.