An Alt code is a way to type a character that has no key of its own. You hold Alt, tap a number on the numeric keypad, release Alt, and Windows inserts the character. The trick has been around since DOS and still works in every Windows app today.
How to enter an Alt code
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type the number on the numeric keypad, not the number row.
- Release Alt.
That is it. The most common mistake is using the numbers above the letters, which do nothing.
Why some codes start with zero
There are two tables hiding behind Alt codes.
- No leading zero (Alt+1 to Alt+255) uses CP437, the original IBM PC character set. That is where the smiley faces, card suits and box-drawing characters come from.
- Leading zero (Alt+0128 to Alt+0255) uses Windows-1252, the standard Windows code page for Western languages. This is where accented letters, currency symbols, curly quotes and the trademark sign live.
The same digits can give different results: Alt+169 is ® on CP437 but Alt+0169 is © on Windows-1252. When a guide shows a four-digit code with a zero, type the zero.
Codes above 255
Anything above 255 is a Unicode decimal code, and whether it works depends on the app. WordPad and Microsoft Word accept them. Notepad, browsers and most other apps do not. For those, Word’s Alt + X trick is more reliable: type the hex code (for example 2713 for ✓) and press Alt + X.
The codes worth memorising
| Symbol | Name | Alt code |
|---|---|---|
| ° | Degree | Alt+0176 |
| © | Copyright | Alt+0169 |
| ® | Registered | Alt+0174 |
| ™ | Trademark | Alt+0153 |
| € | Euro | Alt+0128 |
| £ | Pound | Alt+0163 |
| ¢ | Cent | Alt+0162 |
| ± | Plus-minus | Alt+0177 |
| × | Multiply | Alt+0215 |
| ÷ | Divide | Alt+0247 |
| • | Bullet | Alt+0149 |
| – | En dash | Alt+0150 |
| — | Em dash | Alt+0151 |
| … | Ellipsis | Alt+0133 |
| § | Section | Alt+0167 |
| ¶ | Pilcrow | Alt+0182 |
| ½ | One half | Alt+0189 |
| ¼ | One quarter | Alt+0188 |
| ¾ | Three quarters | Alt+0190 |
| ² | Squared | Alt+0178 |
| ³ | Cubed | Alt+0179 |
| ♥ | Heart | Alt+3 |
| ♪ | Music note | Alt+13 |
| → | Right arrow | Alt+26 |
| ← | Left arrow | Alt+27 |
| ∞ | Infinity | Alt+236 |
| π | Pi | Alt+227 |
| √ | Square root | Alt+251 |
| ≈ | Approximately | Alt+247 |
| ≤ | Less or equal | Alt+243 |
| ≥ | Greater or equal | Alt+242 |
| é | e acute | Alt+0233 |
| ñ | n tilde | Alt+0241 |
| ü | u umlaut | Alt+0252 |
| ç | c cedilla | Alt+0231 |
| ß | Eszett | Alt+0223 |
| ¿ | Inverted question | Alt+0191 |
| ¡ | Inverted exclamation | Alt+0161 |
When Alt codes do not work
- No numpad. Use Win + . for the emoji and symbol panel, or Character Map.
- Num Lock is off. Turn it on. Some laptops need Fn + Num Lock.
- Wrong keys. You are using the number row instead of the keypad.
- The app ignores them. A few apps, notably some games and remote desktop sessions, swallow Alt. Paste the symbol instead.
- Wrong table. You forgot or added a leading zero. Try the other version.
Frequently asked questions
Do Alt codes work on a laptop? +
Only if the laptop has a numeric keypad or a Fn-key numpad overlay. Otherwise use the Windows emoji panel (Win + .), Character Map, or Alt + X in Word.
Why do some Alt codes start with 0? +
Codes with a leading zero use the Windows-1252 code page. Codes without it use the older CP437 table from DOS. The same number can give a different symbol depending on whether you add the zero.
Do Alt codes work on a Mac? +
No. Mac uses Option key shortcuts instead, for example Option + G for © and Option + Shift + 8 for °.