Windows Shortcuts
5 min readWindows Alt Codes Master List: Numeric Keypad Guide
How to type any special character, currency sign, or symbol on Windows using the Alt key
Executive Summary
Windows Alt codes allow you to input characters not available on standard physical keyboards by holding down the Alt key and typing a 3-digit or 4-digit numeric code on the numeric keypad.
How to Use Alt Codes on Windows
To type an Alt code on Windows:
1. Make sure Num Lock is ON on your physical keyboard.
2. Press and hold down the left ALT key.
3. While holding ALT, type the numeric code on the numeric keypad (the numbers at the top of your keyboard will not work).
4. Release the ALT key. The symbol will appear immediately.
Most Popular Windows Alt Codes Reference Table
Here is the reference table of the most frequently used Windows Alt codes:
| Symbol | Character Name | Alt Code (NumPad) | Unicode |
|---|---|---|---|
| © | Copyright Sign | Alt + 0169 | U+00A9 |
| ® | Registered Trademark | Alt + 0174 | U+00AE |
| ™ | Trade Mark Sign | Alt + 0153 | U+2122 |
| € | Euro Sign | Alt + 0128 | U+20AC |
| £ | Pound Sterling | Alt + 0163 | U+00A3 |
| ¥ | Yen / Yuan Sign | Alt + 0165 | U+00A5 |
| ° | Degree Sign | Alt + 0176 or Alt + 248 | U+00B0 |
| ± | Plus-Minus Sign | Alt + 0177 or Alt + 241 | U+00B1 |
| • | Bullet Point | Alt + 0149 or Alt + 7 | U+2022 |
| — | Em Dash | Alt + 0151 | U+2014 |
| – | En Dash | Alt + 0150 | U+2013 |
| … | Horizontal Ellipsis | Alt + 0133 | U+2026 |
| ¿ | Inverted Question Mark | Alt + 0191 or Alt + 168 | U+00BF |
| ✓ | Check Mark | Alt + 10003 or Alt + 251 | U+2713 |
| ★ | Black Solid Star | Alt + 9733 | U+2605 |
Using Alt Codes on Laptops Without a Numeric Keypad
If your laptop lacks a dedicated numeric keypad on the right, you can:
- Enable the Fn + NumLock simulated keypad (often printed in small blue/gray numbers on the 7, 8, 9, U, I, O, J, K, L, M keys).
- Use the Windows Emoji & Symbol Picker by pressing Windows Key + Period (.) or Windows Key + Semicolon (;).
- Use the TypeKitTools 1-click copy symbol library directly in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some Alt codes require a leading zero (e.g. Alt+0169 vs Alt+169)?
Alt codes with a leading zero (e.g., 0169 for ©) use the Windows ANSI code page (Windows-1252), which matches modern Windows software. Alt codes without a leading zero (e.g., 169) use the legacy MS-DOS OEM code page (Code page 437).
Why don't the number keys along the top row work?
The Windows operating system kernel specifically listens for scan codes generated by the hardware numeric keypad (NumPad) to initiate Alt-code translation.