To type the trademark symbol (™), press Alt + 0153 on a Windows numeric keypad or Option + 2 on a Mac. For the registered symbol (®), use Alt + 0174 or Option + R. Copy either one here:
™ is Unicode U+2122 TRADE MARK SIGN and ® is U+00AE REGISTERED SIGN. They mean different things legally, so this guide covers how to type each one and when to use which.
Trademark and registered symbol shortcuts
| Method | ™ Trademark | ® Registered |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Alt code (numeric keypad) | Alt + 0153 | Alt + 0174 |
| Mac (US layout) | Option + 2 | Option + R |
| Word AutoCorrect | (tm) |
(r) |
| Word Alt+X | 2122 then Alt + X |
00AE then Alt + X |
| Excel / Google Sheets | =UNICHAR(8482) |
=UNICHAR(174) |
| HTML named entity | ™ |
® |
| HTML numeric | ™ |
® |
| Unicode | U+2122 | U+00AE |
How to type ™ and ® on a Windows keyboard
Alt codes
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold Alt.
- Type 0153 for ™, or 0174 for ®, on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt.
Both codes need the leading zero, which tells Windows to use the Windows-1252 character set. Without it, Windows falls back to the old DOS code page 437, which has neither symbol: Alt + 153 types Ö and Alt + 174 types «. You can confirm codes for any character in the Alt code finder.
No numeric keypad
Press Windows + . or Windows + ;, open the Symbols tab (Ω), and pick ™ or ® from the lists. Character Map is the other built-in option: search Start for “Character Map”, tick Advanced view, and search “trade mark” or “registered”.
How to type ™ and ® on a Mac
- Option + 2 types ™.
- Option + R types ®.
These shortcuts belong to the US layout. On the British Mac layout, Option + 2 types € instead, so British users should use the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space, then search “trade mark”) or check the Keyboard Viewer from the input menu. The service mark ℠ has no Option shortcut on any standard layout, so the Character Viewer is the way to get it.
Word, Google Docs and Excel
Microsoft Word
Word’s built-in AutoCorrect turns (tm) into ™ and (r) into ® as you type. If the replacement is unwanted, press Ctrl + Z straight away to undo it. You can also type the code point and press Alt + X (2122 for ™, 00AE for ®), or use Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, then the Special Characters tab, which lists both by name.
Google Docs
Go to Insert > Special characters and search “trademark” or “registered”. To type them faster, open Tools > Preferences > Substitutions and check whether (tm) and (r) are listed; add them if they are not.
Excel and Google Sheets
=UNICHAR(8482) returns ™ and =UNICHAR(174) returns ®. Append them to a product name with =A2&UNICHAR(8482).
iPhone and Android
The iPhone keyboard has no ™ or ® key. Set up text replacements under Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, for example ttm for ™ and rreg for ®. Gboard and several other Android keyboards include ™ and ® on the second symbols page (=<). Or copy them from the widgets above.
HTML and web code
Use ™ and ®, or the numeric references ™ / ™ and ® / ®. In CSS, the escapes are "2122" and " 0AE"; in JavaScript, "u2122" and "u00AE". The HTML entities table and Unicode converter cover these and every related character.
Many brand style guides superscript ® so it sits like ™. Do this with CSS or the <sup> element (Brand<sup>®</sup>), and keep the underlying character the same.
™ vs. ® vs. ℠: which one should you use?
| Symbol | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ™ | Trademark | Claims a mark for goods, whether or not it is registered |
| ℠ | Service mark | Claims a mark for services, whether or not it is registered (used mainly in the US) |
| ® | Registered | The mark is registered with a national trademark office |
In the United States, the ® symbol should be used only once a mark is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and only for the goods or services covered by the registration. Using ® for an unregistered mark can cause legal problems, and many other countries have similar rules. ™ and ℠ carry no such requirement; anyone can use them to signal a claim. This is general information, not legal advice; ask a trademark attorney about your own marks.
Style guides commonly recommend using the symbol on the first or most prominent mention of a mark rather than every time it appears.
Typographic notes
™ is designed as a raised, small “TM”. Unicode even defines it as a compatibility form of superscript T and M, so most fonts already draw it raised and you do not need to superscript it. ® varies more between fonts: some draw it large and on the baseline, which is why designers often shrink and raise it. Neither symbol needs a space before it (Brand™, Brand®).
Avoid writing “TM” with superscript formatting as a substitute for ™. It looks similar in print, but it is two ordinary letters, so it will not survive copying into plain text and search engines treat it as the word “TM”.
Why the shortcut is not working
- You get Ö or «. You left out the leading zero. Use Alt + 0153 and Alt + 0174.
- Nothing happens. Alt codes only work on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on.
- Option + 2 gives €. Your Mac uses the British layout. Use the Character Viewer or switch input sources.
- ® looks too big. That is the font’s design. Apply superscript formatting or use a different font.
- ℠ shows as a box. Some fonts lack this less common character. Try a font with broader Unicode coverage.
Related symbols
See more in the letterlike symbols category or search the symbol finder.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alt code for the trademark symbol?
Alt + 0153, typed on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on.
What is the Alt code for the registered symbol?
Alt + 0174. Without the zero, Alt + 174 types «.
How do I type TM on a Mac keyboard?
Press Option + 2 on the US layout. Use Option + R for ®.
Can I use ® if my trademark is not registered?
No. ® indicates a registered mark. Use ™ (or ℠ for services) until registration is granted.
Is there a shortcut for the service mark ℠?
There is no Windows Alt code or standard Mac shortcut. Copy it from the service mark page, use Character Map or the Mac Character Viewer, or type 2120 and press Alt + X in Word.