How to type ¥ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+0165.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0165 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The yen symbol ¥ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "yen". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ¥, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ¥ on a Mac
Press Option+Y 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 "yen" 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 ;yen 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 00A5 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 00A5 in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(165) returns the symbol.
How to type ¥ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "yen" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(165).
¥ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ¥ |
| HTML decimal | ¥ |
| HTML hex | ¥ |
CSS content | "\00A5" |
| JavaScript | "\u00A5" |
| Python | "\u00A5" |
| LaTeX | \textyen |
| URL encoded | %C2%A5 |
Because ¥ is a standard Unicode character (U+00A5), 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 yen symbol is used
It appears before amounts in pricing, invoices, and receipts, such as ¥1,000 for Japanese yen or ¥50 for Chinese yuan. It's sometimes confused with the yuan sign, since both currencies share this symbol.
Frequently asked questions
Is ¥ used for both yen and yuan? +
Yes, the same symbol represents both the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan, since Unicode does not distinguish between them.
Does the ¥ symbol go before or after the number? +
It's placed before the number, as in ¥500, following the same convention as the dollar sign.
What is the Alt code for the yen symbol? +
The Alt code for ¥ is Alt+0165. Hold Alt, type 0165 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ¥ on a Mac? +
Press Option+Y on a Mac with the US keyboard layout. You can also open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search for "yen".
How do I type the yen 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: "\00A5" and in JavaScript use "\u00A5".