How to Type the Infinity Symbol (∞) on Keyboard

The infinity symbol (∞) shows up in math, science, and even casual texting to mean endless or limitless. Here is every reliable way to type it on any device.

Quick Answer

If none of these work on your setup, just copy this symbol: ∞

Windows: Alt Code

1. Turn on Num Lock.
2. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
3. Hold Alt and type 236 on the numeric keypad.
4. Release Alt. The ∞ symbol appears.

This works in most Windows apps, including WordPad, Notepad, and browsers, because 236 falls within the standard code page range.

Windows Emoji and Symbol Panel

You can also press Windows key + period (.) or Windows key + semicolon (;) to open the emoji panel, then browse the symbols tab (math symbols) to find ∞. Searching “infinity” finds the ♾️ emoji.

Mac: Option Key Shortcut

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Press Option+5.

This works in most text fields system-wide, including Pages, Safari, and Messages.

Mac Character Viewer

If the shortcut does not work in a specific app, use the Character Viewer:

1. Press Control+Command+Space.
2. Type “infinity” in the search box.
3. Double-click the ∞ symbol to insert it.

iPhone and iPad

There is no dedicated keyboard key for ∞, so the fastest options are:

1. Copy the symbol from this page and paste it into your text.
2. Use the emoji keyboard: tap the globe or emoji icon, search “infinity,” and tap the ♾️ emoji. Note this is a colorful emoji, not the plain math symbol.
3. Add a text replacement: go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, tap +, paste ∞ into the Phrase field, and set a shortcut like “inf”. Typing “inf” will now suggest the symbol.

Android

Android also lacks a built-in key for ∞. Your options:

1. Copy and paste the symbol.
2. Open the emoji keyboard and search “infinity” for the ♾️ emoji.

Microsoft Word

Alt+X Method

1. Type 221E (the Unicode code point for infinity).
2. Press Alt+X immediately after.
3. The digits convert to ∞.

Insert Symbol Menu

1. Go to the Insert tab.
2. Click Symbol > More Symbols.
3. Choose the (normal text) font, then find ∞ in the grid, or type 221E in the character code box.
4. Click Insert.

Excel and Google Sheets

In both Excel and Google Sheets, use a formula to insert the symbol into a cell:

• Excel: =UNICHAR(8734)
• Google Sheets: =UNICHAR(8734) also works

You can also just copy and paste ∞ directly into a cell.

Google Docs

1. Go to Insert > Special characters.
2. Type “infinity” in the search box.
3. Click the ∞ symbol to insert it at your cursor.

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

For web pages, use one of these HTML entities:

• ∞
• ∞
• ∞

In CSS, you can insert it as content using content: "\221E";. In JavaScript strings, use the Unicode escape "\u221E".

LaTeX

In math mode, type \infty to render the infinity symbol:

$\infty$

Troubleshooting

Alt+236 does nothing. Laptops without a numeric keypad often need Fn+NumLock first. Then hold Fn and use the embedded numpad keys (7-9, U-O, J-L, M) if your laptop has them. If that fails, copy and paste the symbol instead.

The symbol shows as a box or question mark. The font you are using does not include the infinity glyph. Switch to a common font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

Alt+X in Word inserts the wrong character. Make sure there is no space between “221E” and pressing Alt+X, and that your cursor is directly after the typed digits.

Emoji infinity looks different from the math symbol. The ♾️ emoji renders in color or a different style depending on the platform, while ∞ (U+221E) is the plain text math symbol. Use the math symbol for academic or technical writing.

Frequently asked questions