Windows: Alt + 0176 on a numeric keypad
Use the numeric keypad, rather than the number row above the letters. A separate USB numpad can provide those keys on a compact keyboard.
- Place the cursor in your document or text field and turn Num Lock on.
- Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, including the leading zero.
- Release Alt and check that ° appears. If the app does not support this entry method, paste the symbol or use its symbol picker.
Windows without a numpad: copy or use Word’s Symbol menu
Do not assume an arbitrary Fn key creates a numeric keypad. Laptop embedded numpads depend on the exact model. Copying or choosing the symbol in the app works without one.
- Copy ° using the button above and paste it into the text field with Ctrl + V. If clipboard access is unavailable, select the provided character and copy it manually.
- In desktop Word, choose Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
- Choose Latin-1 Supplement, select the degree sign and insert it.
Mac: insert the degree sign from Character Viewer
Control + Command + Space also opens Character Viewer. Current Macs also offer Fn/Globe + E. Menu entry is useful if a shortcut has been reassigned.
- Place the text cursor where you need °. Choose Edit → Emoji & Symbols to open Character Viewer.
- Search for degree and select the degree sign. If the viewer is expanded, double-click the character to insert it.
- Check your completed text, for example 23°C or 90°. Add a frequently used character to Favorites in the expanded viewer.
Em dash, euro, check marks and accented letters
The copy buttons also provide —, €, ✓, é and ñ. A check mark such as ✓ is a Unicode character; a font-specific glyph code can produce a different result in another font.
On Mac, use Character Viewer for a symbol by name. In apps that support the accent menu, hold a letter such as e or n, then choose the accented form.
For regular typing in another language, add its keyboard input source. This gives repeatable access to its letters and punctuation; the layout guide explains how to select the exact variant.
Check the character you inserted
The degree sign is °, Unicode U+00B0. The masculine ordinal º and ring above ˚ look similar but are different characters.
The example 23°C uses the degree sign followed by C. Review the pasted text in the target document, since its font controls the appearance.