How to type Alt+0178
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0178 on the numeric keypad. The number row above the letters will not work.
- Release Alt. The squared symbol ² appears.
The leading zero matters. Alt+0178 uses the Windows-1252 code page. Without the zero, Alt+253 on the classic CP437 table also gives ², but that is a coincidence of the two tables rather than the rule, so learn the four-digit version.
On a laptop without a numpad
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, pick the Symbols tab and search for "squared". Or open Character Map from the Start menu. In Microsoft Word you can type 00B2 followed by Alt+X. Some laptops have a hidden numpad on the J, K, L, U, I and O keys that activates with Fn.
On a Mac
Alt codes do not exist on macOS and this symbol has no dedicated shortcut. Open the Character Viewer with Control+⌘+Space, search for "squared" and double-click it.
In HTML and code
Use ² in HTML, "\00B2" in CSS and "\u00B2" in JavaScript. See the Squared Symbol guide for every platform.
Frequently asked questions
What does Alt+0178 type?+
Alt+0178 types the squared symbol, ² (Unicode U+00B2). Hold Alt, type 0178 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
Why do I need the leading zero?+
Alt+0178 uses the Windows-1252 code page, which is selected by the leading zero. Without the zero, Windows reads the CP437 table and may type a different character.
Alt+0178 does not work. Why?+
Check that Num Lock is on and that you are using the numeric keypad rather than the number row. Laptops without a numpad cannot enter Alt codes: use Win + . for the symbol panel, Character Map, or copy the symbol from this page.
How do I type ² on a Mac?+
Alt codes do not work on macOS. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "squared", and double-click the symbol, or copy it from this page.