How to type ♪ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+13.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 13 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The eighth note symbol ♪ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "eighth note". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ♪, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ♪ on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ♪ on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "eighth note" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ♪ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ♪, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ♪ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;eighth in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ♪ anywhere.
How to type ♪ on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ♪ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ♪ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 266A where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ♪.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 266A in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(9834) returns the symbol.
How to type ♪ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "eighth note" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(9834).
♪ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ♪ |
| HTML decimal | ♪ |
| HTML hex | ♪ |
CSS content | "\266A" |
| JavaScript | "\u266A" |
| Python | "\u266A" |
| URL encoded | %E2%99%AA |
Because ♪ is a standard Unicode character (U+266A), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the eighth note symbol is used
People use ♪ in social media captions, song lyrics, and playlist titles to show that music is playing or referenced, such as "♪ Now Playing: Yesterday ♪" or "Shower thoughts ♪". It's often confused with ♫, which shows two beamed eighth notes instead of one.
Frequently asked questions
What does ♪ mean in a text message? +
It usually signals that the sender is talking about music, singing, or listening to a song.
Is ♪ the same as ♫? +
No. ♪ shows a single eighth note, while ♫ shows two beamed eighth notes; both represent music but look different.
What is the Alt code for the eighth note symbol? +
The Alt code for ♪ is Alt+13. Hold Alt, type 13 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ♪ on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ♪. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "eighth note", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the eighth note symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ♪ by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for ♪? +
Use ♪ in HTML. In CSS use content: "\266A" and in JavaScript use "\u266A".