How to type Alt+253
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 253 on the numeric keypad. The number row above the letters will not work.
- Release Alt. The squared symbol ² appears.
Alt+253 is a classic code from the CP437 table used by the original IBM PC, which is why there is no leading zero. The same symbol is also available as Alt+0178 on the Windows-1252 table.
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+253 type?+
Alt+253 types the squared symbol, ² (Unicode U+00B2). Hold Alt, type 253 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
Why do I need the code without a zero?+
Alt+253 is a classic CP437 code from the original IBM PC character set. It has no leading zero. The same symbol can also be typed as Alt+0178 on the Windows-1252 table.
Alt+253 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.