How to type ¬ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+0172.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0172 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The not sign symbol ¬ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "not sign". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ¬, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ¬ on a Mac
Press Option+L on the US keyboard layout. Hold the modifier keys and tap the final key once.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "not sign" 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 ;not 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 00AC 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 00AC in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(172) returns the symbol.
How to type ¬ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "not sign" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(172).
¬ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ¬ |
| HTML decimal | ¬ |
| HTML hex | ¬ |
CSS content | "\00AC" |
| JavaScript | "\u00AC" |
| Python | "\u00AC" |
| LaTeX | \neg |
| URL encoded | %C2%AC |
Because ¬ is a standard Unicode character (U+00AC), 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 not sign symbol is used
It appears mainly in logic, mathematics, and computer science notation, such as ¬p meaning "not p" or ¬(A∧B) in boolean expressions. It's sometimes confused with the minus sign (-) or the tilde (~), which some fields use instead for negation.
Frequently asked questions
What does the not sign mean in logic? +
It denotes negation, flipping a true statement to false and vice versa. For example, if p is true, then ¬p is false.
Is the not sign the same as the tilde? +
They serve similar purposes in different systems: ¬ is standard in formal logic and math texts, while ~ is often used in computer science and some logic notations for the same negation concept.
What is the Alt code for the not sign symbol? +
The Alt code for ¬ is Alt+0172. Hold Alt, type 0172 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ¬ on a Mac? +
Press Option+L on a Mac with the US keyboard layout. You can also open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search for "not sign".
How do I type the not sign 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. The numeric form ¬ works too. In CSS use content: "\00AC" and in JavaScript use "\u00AC".