Alt Codes: How to Use Them (With and Without a Numpad)

To use an Alt code on Windows, turn on Num Lock, hold down the Alt key, type the number on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. For example, Alt + 0176 types the degree sign (°). No keypad? Use the emoji panel (Windows + .), Character Map, or copy the symbol below.

Alt codes are one of the oldest ways to type characters that are not printed on your keyboard. They still work in almost every Windows program, but they come with two catches that confuse most people: there are two different numbering systems, and they only work with a real numeric keypad. This guide explains both, lists the codes people actually use, and shows the alternatives for laptops.

How to type an Alt code, step by step

1. Click where you want the character to appear.
2. Make sure Num Lock is on. On most keyboards a small light shows its state.
3. Press and hold the left Alt key.
4. While still holding Alt, type the digits on the numeric keypad (the block of number keys on the right side of a full-size keyboard). Include any leading zero.
5. Release Alt. The character appears when you let go.

The number keys in the row above the letters do not work for Alt codes. Windows only reads digits that come from the keypad. This is the single most common reason an Alt code “does nothing.”

Why some Alt codes start with 0 (and why it matters)

Alt codes are not Unicode numbers. They are positions in one of two older 256-character tables, and the leading zero tells Windows which table to use:

• No leading zero (for example Alt + 248): Windows looks the number up in the OEM code page, which on US English systems is code page 437, the character set of the original IBM PC and MS-DOS.
• With a leading zero (for example Alt + 0176): Windows uses the ANSI code page, which on Western-language systems is Windows-1252.

That is why the degree sign has two codes, 248 and 0176, and why typing Alt + 176 without the zero gives you a shaded block (░) instead of a degree sign. The two tables put characters in different places. Some characters exist in only one of them: the euro sign (€) was added to Windows-1252 but never to code page 437, so its only Alt code is Alt + 0128. The card suits and simple arrows exist only in code page 437, so they have short codes such as Alt + 3 for ♥ and Alt + 26 for →.

One more wrinkle: the OEM table depends on your Windows region settings. Code page 437 is the US default; many Western European and UK systems use code page 850 instead, which keeps most letters in the same spots but swaps some symbols. The leading-zero codes are more consistent across English-language systems, so when both exist, the 0-prefixed code is usually the safer choice.

Because both tables stop at 256 characters, most Unicode symbols have no Alt code at all. The check mark (✓), the Indian rupee sign (₹) and nearly every arrow beyond the basic four are examples. For those, use one of the methods further down this page or the symbol search.

Popular Alt codes

Every code below comes from the code page 437 and Windows-1252 tables. Codes without a leading zero assume the US OEM code page (437). Use the Alt code finder to search the full list by name or character.

Codes 1 to 31 (like Alt + 26 for the arrow or Alt + 7 for the bullet) map to picture characters that code page 437 placed in the control-code range. They work in Word, Notepad and most text boxes, but a few programs treat them as control characters and insert nothing. If a low code fails, try the 0-prefixed alternative where one exists, such as Alt + 0149 for •.

Alt codes on a laptop without a numeric keypad

Most thin laptops have no separate keypad, which means classic Alt codes are not available as-is. You have several options.

1. A built-in “embedded” keypad

Some laptops print small numbers on the letter keys (often around U, I, O, J, K, L and M). Turning on that overlay, usually with Fn plus a key labeled NumLk or Num Lock, makes those keys act as a keypad. Then hold Alt and type the code on the overlay keys. The exact key combination depends on the manufacturer, so check the key labels or your laptop manual. If your keys have no small numbers printed on them, your laptop does not have this feature.

2. The Windows emoji and symbol panel

Press Windows + . (period) or Windows + ; (semicolon) to open the emoji panel. Besides emoji, it has a Symbols tab (marked with an Ω icon) containing punctuation, currency signs, Latin letters with accents, math symbols and more. Click a symbol to insert it at the cursor. This is the fastest keypad-free method and works in nearly any app.

3. Character Map

Search for “Character Map” in the Start menu (or press Windows + R and run charmap). Pick a character, click Select, then Copy, and paste it where you need it. Character Map also shows the Alt code in its status bar for characters that have one, which is handy for learning the codes you use most.

4. Microsoft Word’s Alt+X

In Word, type a character’s hexadecimal Unicode code point and then press Alt + X. For example, 2713 followed by Alt + X becomes ✓. This uses the top-row number keys, needs no keypad, and works for any Unicode character, not just the 256 in the old tables. It is a Word feature, so it does not work in most other programs.

5. The On-Screen Keyboard with a numeric keypad

Windows includes an On-Screen Keyboard: search for “On-Screen Keyboard” in the Start menu or run osk. Click Options, check Turn on numeric key pad, and click OK. A keypad appears on the right side. To enter an Alt code, hold the physical Alt key on your laptop, click the digits on the on-screen keypad, then release Alt. Make sure NumLock is on in the on-screen keyboard as well. It is slow, but it gives you real Alt codes on any laptop.

6. Copy and paste

If you only need a character once, copying it is simplest. Search any symbol on SymbolHero, click the copy button and paste with Ctrl + V.

Why an Alt code doesn’t work

• You used the top-row numbers. Only the numeric keypad works.
• Num Lock is off. With Num Lock off, the keypad acts as arrow keys, Home, End and so on.
• You dropped or added the leading zero. Alt + 176 and Alt + 0176 are different characters. Type the code exactly as listed.
• You released Alt too early. Keep holding Alt until every digit is typed.
• The app intercepts Alt. Some programs, games and remote-desktop tools use Alt for menus or shortcuts. Try the same code in Notepad to confirm it works.
• The font lacks the character. If you see an empty box, the character arrived but your font cannot display it. Switch to a font with wider coverage.
• Your region uses a different OEM code page. A no-zero code may give a different symbol outside the US. Use the 0-prefixed code if one exists.
• You’re on a Mac. Alt codes are a Windows feature. Macs use Option-key shortcuts instead; the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space) is the closest equivalent.

Alt codes in HTML and on the web

Alt codes are a keyboard input method, not a way to encode text. When you write HTML, use the Unicode number instead: ° or ° for °, or a named entity such as ° where one exists. Note that the numbers are different from the Alt codes. The Unicode converter shows every format for any character.

Related symbols

• Degree Symbol (°)
• Copyright Symbol (©), Registered Trademark Symbol (®) and Trademark Symbol (™)
• Euro Sign (€) and other currency symbols
• Em Dash (—) and En Dash (–)
• Accented letters, or type them directly with the accent keyboard

Frequently asked questions

Do Alt codes work on a laptop?

Only if the laptop has a numeric keypad or an embedded keypad overlay. Otherwise use the emoji panel (Windows + .), Character Map, or the On-Screen Keyboard with its numeric keypad turned on.

What is the difference between Alt + 248 and Alt + 0176?

Both type the degree sign. Alt + 248 looks it up in the old DOS code page 437, while Alt + 0176 uses Windows-1252. Most characters have different numbers in the two tables.

Is there an Alt code for every symbol?

No. Alt codes cover only the characters in those two 256-character tables. Symbols such as ✓ or ₹ have no Alt code; use the emoji panel, Word’s Alt+X, or copy and paste.

Can I type Unicode numbers with Alt?

Not reliably. Standard Windows Alt codes stop at the old code pages. In Microsoft Word, type the hex code and press Alt + X instead.

Do Alt codes work on a Mac?

No. On a Mac, use Option-key shortcuts or the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space).