Alt Codes – How to Type Special Characters and Keyboard Symbols on Windows Using the 100+ Alt Keys

Have you ever sat in front of your keyboard, staring at it, wondering where that tiny degree symbol (°) or copyright mark (©) hides? I have.

Back in college, I remember preparing a project report about temperature sensors — and every time I had to type “25°C,” I’d copy-paste that little degree sign from Google. I didn’t even know I could just type it directly.

Then one day, someone casually told me, “You can use Alt codes to type special characters in keyboard.” That one line changed everything.

Since then, I’ve been using Alt key combinations to type special characters, emojis, mathematical symbols, and arrows right from my keyboard — no copy-pasting needed!

So, in this guide, I’ll walk you through everything I’ve learned about how to type special characters in keyboard using Alt keys, step-by-step, along with a massive list of 100+ Alt codes that’ll make your typing life easier.

What Are Alt Codes?

Alt codes are secret keyboard shortcuts that let you type special characters in keyboard using the Alt key and a numeric code on your numeric keypad.

Every symbol, letter, or shape has a corresponding number. When you press Alt + [number], your computer turns that number into a character.

For example:

• Alt + 0176 → ° (Degree)
• Alt + 0169 → © (Copyright)
• Alt + 3 → ♥ (Heart)

No magic, no extensions — just your keyboard doing its hidden tricks.

How to Type Special Characters in Keyboard Using Alt Keys

Here’s the simple step-by-step process I follow:

1. Turn on Num Lock.
   (Alt codes only work when Num Lock is enabled on your numeric keypad.)
2. Hold down the Alt key.
3. Type the numeric code of the symbol you want using the number pad.
4. Release the Alt key — and there’s your symbol!

For example, if you hold Alt + 0153, you’ll get ™.

✅ Tip: Always use the numeric keypad on the right — the numbers above letters won’t work for Alt codes.

Why Alt Codes Are Worth Learning

I used to think memorizing these codes was unnecessary. But honestly? They’re a lifesaver when:

• You’re formatting a report or writing code.
• You want to add symbols like °, →, or ™ instantly.
• You’re designing something in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel.

Learning these codes makes typing special characters in keyboard 10x faster and cleaner.

🔢 100+ Useful Alt Codes

Symbol	Alt Code	Description
☺	Alt + 1	White Smiley
☻	Alt + 2	Black Smiley
♥	Alt + 3	Heart
♦	Alt + 4	Diamond
♣	Alt + 5	Club
♠	Alt + 6	Spade
•	Alt + 7	Bullet
◘	Alt + 8	Inverse Bullet
○	Alt + 9	Hollow Circle
◙	Alt + 10	Inverse Circle
♂	Alt + 11	Male Symbol
♀	Alt + 12	Female Symbol
♪	Alt + 13	Single Note
♫	Alt + 14	Double Note
☼	Alt + 15	Sun
►	Alt + 16	Right Arrow
◄	Alt + 17	Left Arrow
↕	Alt + 18	Up/Down Arrow
‼	Alt + 19	Double Exclamation
¶	Alt + 20	Paragraph
§	Alt + 21	Section
▬	Alt + 22	Black Rectangle
↨	Alt + 23	Up Down Arrow
↑	Alt + 24	Up Arrow
↓	Alt + 25	Down Arrow
→	Alt + 26	Right Arrow
←	Alt + 27	Left Arrow
∟	Alt + 28	Right Angle
↔	Alt + 29	Left-Right Arrow
▲	Alt + 30	Up Triangle
▼	Alt + 31	Down Triangle
⌂	Alt + 127	House
Ç	Alt + 128	Capital C Cedilla
ü	Alt + 129	Lowercase u Umlaut
é	Alt + 130	Lowercase e Acute
â	Alt + 131	Lowercase a Circumflex
ä	Alt + 132	Lowercase a Umlaut
à	Alt + 133	Lowercase a Grave
å	Alt + 134	Lowercase a Ring
ç	Alt + 135	Lowercase c Cedilla
ê	Alt + 136	Lowercase e Circumflex
ë	Alt + 137	Lowercase e Umlaut
è	Alt + 138	Lowercase e Grave
ï	Alt + 139	Lowercase i Umlaut
î	Alt + 140	Lowercase i Circumflex
ì	Alt + 141	Lowercase i Grave
Ä	Alt + 142	Capital A Umlaut
Å	Alt + 143	Capital A Ring
É	Alt + 144	Capital E Acute
æ	Alt + 145	AE Symbol
Æ	Alt + 146	Capital AE
ô	Alt + 147	Lowercase o Circumflex
ö	Alt + 148	Lowercase o Umlaut
ò	Alt + 149	Lowercase o Grave
û	Alt + 150	Lowercase u Circumflex
ù	Alt + 151	Lowercase u Grave
ÿ	Alt + 152	Lowercase y Umlaut
Ö	Alt + 153	Capital O Umlaut
Ü	Alt + 154	Capital U Umlaut
¢	Alt + 155	Cent Sign
£	Alt + 156	Pound Sterling
¥	Alt + 157	Yen
₧	Alt + 158	Peseta
ƒ	Alt + 159	Function Symbol
á	Alt + 160	Lowercase a Acute
í	Alt + 161	Lowercase i Acute
ó	Alt + 162	Lowercase o Acute
ú	Alt + 163	Lowercase u Acute
ñ	Alt + 164	Lowercase n Tilde
Ñ	Alt + 165	Capital N Tilde
ª	Alt + 166	Feminine Ordinal
º	Alt + 167	Masculine Ordinal
¿	Alt + 168	Inverted Question
⌐	Alt + 169	Reversed Not Sign
¬	Alt + 170	Not Sign
½	Alt + 171	One Half
¼	Alt + 172	One Fourth
¡	Alt + 173	Inverted Exclamation
«	Alt + 174	Left Guillemet
»	Alt + 175	Right Guillemet
░	Alt + 176	Light Shade
▒	Alt + 177	Medium Shade
▓	Alt + 178	Dark Shade
│	Alt + 179	Vertical Line
┤	Alt + 180	Right T
╡	Alt + 181	Box Drawing
╢	Alt + 182	Box Drawing
╖	Alt + 183	Box Drawing
╕	Alt + 184	Box Drawing
╣	Alt + 185	Double Line
║	Alt + 186	Double Vertical
╗	Alt + 187	Box Corner
╝	Alt + 188	Box Corner
╜	Alt + 189	Box Corner
╛	Alt + 190	Box Corner
┐	Alt + 191	Box Drawing
└	Alt + 192	Box Drawing
┴	Alt + 193	Box Drawing
┬	Alt + 194	Box Drawing
├	Alt + 195	Box Drawing
─	Alt + 196	Horizontal Line
┼	Alt + 197	Box Drawing
╞	Alt + 198	Double Line
╟	Alt + 199	Double Line
╚	Alt + 200	Box Corner
╔	Alt + 201	Box Corner
╩	Alt + 202	Double Line
╦	Alt + 203	Double Line
╠	Alt + 204	Double Line
╬	Alt + 205	Double Line
╧	Alt + 206	Double Line
╨	Alt + 207	Double Line
╤	Alt + 208	Double Line
╥	Alt + 209	Double Line
╙	Alt + 210	Box Corner
╘	Alt + 211	Box Corner
╒	Alt + 212	Box Corner
╓	Alt + 213	Box Corner
╫	Alt + 214	Double Line
╪	Alt + 215	Double Line
┘	Alt + 216	Box Drawing
┌	Alt + 218	Box Drawing
©	Alt + 0169	Copyright
®	Alt + 0174	Registered
™	Alt + 0153	Trademark
°	Alt + 0176	Degree
±	Alt + 0177	Plus Minus
µ	Alt + 0181	Micro
¶	Alt + 0182	Paragraph
·	Alt + 0183	Middle Dot
¹	Alt + 0185	Superscript 1
²	Alt + 0178	Superscript 2
³	Alt + 0179	Superscript 3

What If Alt Codes Don’t Work?

If you press Alt + code and nothing happens, here’s what you can check:

• Make sure Num Lock is turned on.
• Use the numeric keypad (not the number keys above letters).
• Try changing your keyboard layout to English (US).
• Note that Alt codes only work on Windows (not on Mac).

If you’re a Mac user, you’ll need Option key shortcuts instead.
For example:

• Option + G → ©
• Option + 2 → ™
• Option + R → ®

👉 Here’s Apple’s official list: Mac Keyboard Symbols Guide

My Personal Hack to Remember Codes

I keep my favorite Alt codes written on a sticky note near my monitor.
It’s small but powerful. For instance:

• Alt + 0176 (°) → for temperature.
• Alt + 0153 (™) → for product names.
• Alt + 0169 (©) → for blog credits.

Once you use these codes regularly, they become second nature — like typing “Ctrl + C.”

Final Thoughts:

Learning how to type special characters in keyboard using Alt codes is one of those tiny skills that saves hours in the long run.

It’s faster than copy-pasting, cleaner than inserting from menus, and surprisingly satisfying once you get used to it.

So next time you need a °, ©, or ♥, don’t waste time searching online — just press Alt + the right code and type like a pro.

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Related Reads:

• Top 100+ Computer Keyboard Shortcut Keys List (A to Z)
• Microsoft Excel: 15 Time-Saving Keyboard Shortcuts That Changed the Way I Work