Special Characters On Mac: How to type Æ, €, #, @, © On Mac

Typing accents, special characters, and emojis can be confusing on Mac, especially if you’ve just shifted from a Windows PC because special characters on Mac keyboards have different locations.

Your trusted @ is not where you’re used to seeing it. Option key is Alt and Alt is Option key. And don’t even get me started on country-based keyboard layout differences. You have QWERTY for the English, AZERTY for the French, and QWERTZ for the Germans.

To help you out, I’ll share how to type accents, emojis, and special characters on Mac, like Æ, €, #, @, ©. So, let’s dive right in.

How to Type Special Characters on Mac: @°$€®©#€£¢™ and Æ

With different keyboard layouts and special characters located in various places, it’s natural to feel a bit lost. But don’t worry, below, I’ve shared a table showing the exact keys you need to press to get special characters, like @, °, $, €, ®, ©, #, €, £, ¢, ™, and even Æ.

Special Character	Mac Keyboard Keys
@	Shift ⇧ + 2
°	Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + 8
$	Shift ⇧ + 4
€	Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + 2
®	Option ⌥ + R
©	Option ⌥ + G
#	Shift ⇧ + 3
£	Option ⌥ + 3 (UK keyboard layout)
¢	Option ⌥ + 4
™	Option ⌥ + 2
Æ	Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + ‘ (apostrophe)Alternatively, keep pressing A till a box appears with different special characters. You can choose Æ from that box.
√	Option ⌥ + V

A. How to Type €£$@§^°®©#¢™Æ and More on Mac

Below, I’ve shared how you can type all special characters on your Mac.

1. How to Type a Euro (€) Sign on Mac

To type a Euro (€) sign on Mac keyboard, press and hold the following keys for your respective keyboards:

On UK keyboard: Alt/Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + 2

On US keyboard: Alt/Option ⌥ + 2

The € should now appear on your Mac.

Make sure you’re using a keyboard layout that includes the Euro symbol to type Euro sign on Mac. Most European keyboard layouts, such as British, French, German, and Spanish, include the Euro symbol by default. But you may need to switch to a European layout on a US keyboard layout.

2. How to Type British Pound (£) Symbol on Mac

The Mac keyboard British Pound (£) symbol is located on the 3 key if you have a UK keyboard.

To type a British Pound (£) symbol on a Mac with a US keyboard, press and hold the following keys:

Alt/Option ⌥ + 3

The £ symbol should now appear in your text.

A helpful trick to remember how to type a # or £, depending on your location, is that both symbols are sometimes called a Pound sign. So, if you see one of these symbols on your keyboard, pressing Alt/Option ⌥ will produce the British Pound symbol.

3. How to Type Dollar ($) Symbol on Mac

To type the dollar ($) symbol on a Mac, press and hold the Shift ⇧ + 4 keys. This shortcut will immediately type the dollar symbol on your screen.

Alternatively, you can use the Keyboard Viewer, which shows all the keys available on your keyboard.

To use the Keyboard Viewer, follow these steps:

1. Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard and tap the Edit button next to Input Sources.

2. Toggle on the Show Input menu in menu bar switch.

3. Then, click the icon that looks like an A inside a rectangle in the menu bar and select Show Keyboard Viewer.

4. When the Keyboard appears on your screen, click the $ symbol to type it. You may have to press the Shift ⇧ button to see the Dollar symbol.

You can also use the Character Viewer to type the Dollar symbol. To use the Character Viewer to type the $ symbol, follow these steps:

1. Open the Character Viewer by pressing Control ^ + Command ⌘ + Space

2. Type “dollar” in the search bar.
3. You’ll get the Dollar symbol in results. Double-click it and it will appear in your document.

4. How to Type At the Rate of (@ ) on Mac Keyboard

To type the ‘at the rate of’ (@) symbol on a Mac keyboard, press and hold Shift ⇧ + 2 keys.

This key combination is the same for US and most European keyboard layouts. However, you may find the @ symbol on different alphabet keys, like G or L, in German keyboards for Mac.

The placement of the @ key on Mac keyboards confuses PC users, as it switches places with the “ key. On US or UK keyboards, the @ key is on the 2 key, while the “ key is on the right side where the ‘ key is situated.

5. How to Type the Section (§) on Mac

To type the section symbol (§) on a Mac, press and hold the Alt/Option ⌥ + 6 keys. This should produce the § symbol on your screen.

However, if you have a German keyboard, you may have a dedicated § key right next to the 1 key.

6. How to Type Caret (^) Symbol on Mac

To type the caret symbol (^) on a Mac, press and hold the Shift ⇧ + 6 keys. This should produce the ^ symbol on your screen.

Alternatively, you can use the Character Viewer tool on your Mac to find and insert the caret symbol.

7. How to Type Tilde (~) on Mac

To type a tilde (~) on Mac, press and hold Shift ⇧ + ~ key. You’ll find the tilde key right next to 1.

If you have a German keyboard, you won’t see the ~ symbol on your keyboard, instead, the key with these symbols works as tilde: ><.

You can also get the tilde character apiece (˜) by pressing Alt/Option ⌥ + n keys.

8. How to Type Brackets on Mac

There are three types of brackets, including round brackets or parentheses, curly brackets, and square brackets. Here’s how to type brackets on Mac:

a. How to Type Round Brackets/Parentheses () on Mac

To type an open parenthesis “(“, press Shift ⇧ + 9 keys simultaneously.

To type a closed parenthesis “)“, press Shift ⇧ + 0 keys simultaneously.

b. How to Type Curly Brackets {} on Mac

To type an open curly bracket { on a Mac, press and hold Shift ⇧ + [ keys.

To type a close curly bracket } on a Mac, press and hold Shift ⇧ + ] keys.

c. How to Type Square Brackets [] on Mac

To type an open square bracket [ on a Mac, press the [ key.

To type an open square bracket ] on a Mac, press the ] key.

9. How to Type a Bullet Point (•) on Mac

To type a bullet point (•) on Mac, press Alt/Option ⌥ + 8 keys simultaneously. This will add a bullet point where your cursor is.

10. How to Type a Cent (¢) Sign on Mac

To type a cent sign (¢) on a Mac, press and hold the Alt/Option ⌥ key on your keyboard. While holding the Alt/Option ⌥ key, type the digit 4.

Release the keys, and the ¢ sign should appear at the point of your cursor.

11. How to Type Check Mark (√) Symbol on Mac

To type a check mark symbol (√) on a Mac, place the cursor where you want to insert it. Press and hold the Alt/Option ⌥ key on your keyboard and press the letter v.

When you release the keys, the check mark symbol should appear where your cursor is.

12. How to Type a Copyright (©) Symbol on Mac

To type a copyright symbol (©) on a Mac, place the cursor where you want to insert it. Press and hold the Alt/Option ⌥ key and press the letter G.

Release the keys, and the © symbol should appear.

13. How to Type a Dash (-) on Mac

Here’s how to type a hyphen on Mac: use the hyphen (–) key on your keyboard. It is usually next to the 0 key.

a. How to Type an En Dash (–) on Mac

To type an en dash (–) on Mac, use the Alt/Option ⌥ key with the hyphen (–) key.

b. How to Type an Em Dash (—) on Mac

To type an em dash (—) on Mac, press and hold the Alt/Option ⌥ and Shift ⇧ keys, then type the hyphen (–) key.

14. How to Type a Degree (°) Sign on Mac

To type the degree symbol (°) on your Mac, use the following Mac keyboard shortcut:

Alt/Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + 8

a. How to Type Celsius Symbol (°C) on Mac

To type the Celsius symbol (°C) on Mac, press Alt/Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + 8.

Then, type a capital C.

b. How to Type Fahrenheit Symbol (°F) on Mac

To type Fahrenheit symbol (°F) on a Mac, press Alt/Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + 8

Then type a capital F.

You might need to type a degree sign (°) on a Mac to indicate a temperature, an angle, a geographic location, or a measurement. Using the degree sign can make your text more precise and clear, particularly when you’re discussing topics that involve measurements or angles.

15. How to Type Trademark (™) Symbol on Mac

To type a trademark (™) symbol on Mac, press Alt/Option ⌥ + 2 keys simultaneously.

To type a ™ symbol on a Mac UK keyboard, use the Shift ⇧ + Alt/Option ⌥ + 2.

16. How to Type Registered (®) Symbol on Mac

To type the registered (®) symbol on Mac, press and hold the Alt/Option ⌥ key with R.

The registered symbol is an important and commonly used symbol in the business and legal world. Using the registered symbol, you can protect your intellectual property rights and prevent others from using your trademarks without permission.

Additionally, using the registered symbol can add a professional and authoritative touch to your branding and marketing materials.

17. How to Type the Paragraph (¶) Symbol on Mac

To type the paragraph symbol (¶) on a Mac, place the cursor where you want to insert it. Press and hold the Alt/Option ⌥ key on your keyboard. While holding the Alt/Option ⌥ key, type the number 7.

Release the Alt/Option ⌥ key, and the paragraph symbol should appear.

18. How to Type Underscore (_) on Mac Keyboard

To type an underscore (_) on a Mac keyboard, place the cursor where you want to insert it. Press the Shift ⇧ key and the hyphen (–) key on your keyboard at the same time.

The _ symbol should appear at the point of your cursor.

19. How to Type a Dot (.) on Mac

To type a dot (.) on a Mac computer, you can use the period key (.) on your keyboard.

a. How to Type Middle Dot (·) on Mac

To type a middle dot (·) on Mac, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + 9 keys.

20. How to Type Ellipsis (…) on Mac

To type an ellipsis (…) on a Mac computer, you can use the following methods:

a. Using the Period Key

The easiest way to type an ellipsis is to type three consecutive periods (…) using the period key (.) on your keyboard. The Mac operating system will automatically convert this into an ellipsis.

b. Using the Alt/Option ⌥ Key

Another way to type an ellipsis on a Mac is to use the Alt/Option ⌥ key in combination with the semicolon key (;). To do this, hold down the Alt/Option ⌥ key and press the ; key. This will type an ellipsis character (…).

21. How to Type Quotation Marks (”) on Mac Keyboard

To type a single quotation (‘) mark, press the ‘ key on your keyboard.

For typing a double quote (“), press and hold Shift ⇧ + ‘ keys.

22. How to Type Curly Quotes (“”) on Mac

To type curly quotes (also known as smart quotes) on a Mac, you can use the following method:

1. Open the document where you want to type the curly quotes. Click Edit in the menu bar, and select Substitutions.
2. Check the Smart Quotes option.

3. From now on, when you type straight quotes in that document, they will be automatically converted to curly quotes.
4. If you want to turn off the smart quotes feature, simply uncheck Smart Quotes in the Substitutions menu.

Alternatively, you can use these keyboard shortcuts to type curly quotation marks on Mac:

1. Alt/Option ⌥ + [ for the left curly quote (“)

2. Alt/Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + [ for the right curly quote (”)

3. Alt/Option ⌥ + ] for a single left curly quote (‘)

4. Alt/Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + ] for a single right curly quote (’)

B. How to Type Math Symbols on Mac

There are a number of Math symbols on Mac that you may need for different reasons. Below, I have shared the most commonly used Mathematics symbols on Mac.

• To type a plus (+) sign on Mac, press and hold Shift ⇧ + = keys.

• To type a minus (–) sign on Mac, press the hyphen (-) key.

• To type the multiplication (*) sign, press and hold Shift ⇧ + 8 keys.

• To type the division (÷) sign, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + / keys.

• To type a plus-minus (±) sign on Mac, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + = keys.

• To type less than or equal to (≤) on a Mac, use Alt/Option ⌥ + < keys.

• Alternatively, to type more than or equal to (≥) symbol, use Alt/Option ⌥ + >.

• Not sure how to type approximate (≈) symbol on Mac? Press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + x simultaneously.

• To type does not equal (≠) sign on Mac, use the Alt/Option ⌥ + = key combination.

1. How to Type the Asterisk (*) Symbol on Mac

Wondering how to type a star on Mac? Well, you can type the asterisk (*) symbol on your Mac by pressing and holding the Shift ⇧ + 8 keys.

2. How to Type Hashtag (#) on Mac

To type a hashtag (#) on a Mac, use the Shift ⇧ + 3 keys. Simply hold down the Shift ⇧ key and press the 3 key, and a # will appear in your document.

If you have a UK keyboard, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + 3 to type a hashtag symbol on Mac.

3. How to Type Infinity (∞) Symbol on Mac Keyboard

To type the infinity (∞) symbol on a Mac keyboard, place the cursor where you want to insert it. Press the Alt/Option ⌥ key and 5 key simultaneously, and a ∞ symbol will appear in your document.

The infinity symbol is a powerful and versatile symbol that can represent a wide range of concepts and ideas. You can use it to create a decorative or symbolic element in graphic design, art, or fashion. It conveys a sense of mystery, wonder, and awe, as well as a sense of boundlessness and limitlessness.

4. How to Type Roman Numerals on Mac

For uppercase Roman numerals, hold down the Shift ⇧ key and press i. This will produce I, which represents the Roman numeral 1.

For lowercase Roman numerals, simply press the i key. This will produce i, which also represents the Roman numeral 1.

C. How to Type Greek Alphabets on Mac

If you’re working on a project that involves writing in Greek, you may find it useful to know how to type Greek alphabets on your Mac. Below, I have shared quick ways to type Greek alphabets on Mac.

1. How to Type a Delta (∆) Symbol on Mac

To type a Delta (∆) symbol on Mac, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + J keys.

2. How to Type Mu (µ) Symbol on Mac

To type a Mu (µ) symbol on Mac, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + M keys.

3. How to Type the Pi (π) Symbol on Mac

To type a Pi (π) symbol on Mac, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + P keys.

4. How to Type Omega (Ω) Symbol on Mac

To type an Omega (Ω) symbol on Mac, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + Y keys.

5. How to Type Sigma (∑) on Mac

To type a Sigma (∑) on Mac, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + W keys.

6. How to Type Beta (ß) Symbol on Mac

If you’re not sure how to type ß on Mac, press and hold Alt/Option ⌥ + S keys and the Beta symbol will appear in your document.

7. How to Type Alpha (α) Symbol on Mac

To type the alpha (α) symbol on a Mac, you can use the Character View:

1. To access the Character Viewer, click Edit in the menu bar and click Emoji & Symbols.

2. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Control + Command + Space.
3. In the Character Viewer window, search for the word ‘alpha‘ and click the α symbol to insert it into your text.

This method also works if you want to type gamma symbol, theta symbol, tau, phi, epsilon, eszett, rho, psi, and lambda on Mac.

D. How to Type Mac Keyboard Symbols

There are four Mac keyboard keys whose symbols you may need to add to your documents, including the Command, Option, Control, and Shift keys. Here’s how to type these Mac symbols in a document:

1. How to Type Command (⌘) Symbol on Mac

To type the Command (⌘) symbol on a Mac, you can use the following method:

1. Open the Character Viewer by pressing Control ^ + Command ⌘ + Space.
2. Type “place” in the search bar.
3. You’ll get the Command symbol in the results. Double-click it, and it will appear in your document.

2. How to Type Option (⌥) Symbol on Mac

To type the Option (⌥) symbol on a Mac, you can use the following method:

1. Open the Character Viewer by pressing Control ^ + Command ⌘ + Space.
2. Type “option” in the search bar.
3. You’ll get the Option symbol in the results. Double-click it, and it will appear in your document.

3. How to Type Control (^) Symbol on Mac

To type the Control (^) symbol on a Mac, you can use the following method:

1. Open the Character Viewer by pressing Control ^ + Command ⌘ + Space.
2. Type “caret” in the search bar.
3. You’ll get the Control symbol in the results. Double-click it, and it will appear in your document.

4. How to Type Shift (⇧) Symbol on Mac

To type the Shift (⇧) symbol on a Mac, you can use the following method:

1. Open the Character Viewer by pressing Control ^ + Command ⌘ + Space.
2. Type “arrow” in the search bar.
3. You’ll get the Shift symbol in the results. Double-click it, and it will appear in your document.

E. How to Type Strikethrough on Mac

While there is no system-wide command for macOS to apply strikethrough formatting, certain Mac applications offer a dedicated menu item. Generally, this menu item can be found under Format > Font > Strikethrough or Format > Strikethrough.

macOS also allow you to assign keyboard shortcuts to menu commands in specific applications. If you find yourself using this feature often, you can create your own custom keyboard shortcut.

To do this, navigate to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts. Next, click the + sign and specify the application name, the exact text of the menu item, and the desired keystroke to activate the shortcut.

F. How to Type Accents on Mac

There are different methods for typing accents on Mac. Below, I have shared the three most commonly used methods for typing accents on Mac.

1. Using the Keyboard

To type an accented letter, simply press and hold down the relevant key, and a menu will appear with various accented characters to choose from. You can select the desired version by using your pointer or by pressing the corresponding number key.

Here is a step-by-step guide for typing accents using the keys on your Mac:

1. Open the document or application where you want to type accents.
2. Press and hold down the letter key you want to add an accent to. For example, if you want to type É, hold down the E key.

3. A pop-up menu of accented versions of that letter will appear.

4. Select the accented version you want to use by pressing the corresponding number key. For example, to type É, press 2.
5. The accented character will appear in your document.
6. If the pop-up menu doesn’t appear, go to System Settings > Keyboard and select Show Emoji & Symbols from the drop-down menu next to Press 🌐 key to.

2. Using the Character Viewer

The Character Viewer is an integrated tool on macOS that provides easy access to a wide range of special characters, symbols, and accent marks. It simplifies the process of accessing special characters, making it particularly useful for those who don’t want to memorize Mac keyboard shortcuts.

To access the Character Viewer and insert accent marks on a Mac, you can follow these steps:

1. Click Edit in the menu bar and select Emoji & Symbols.

2. The Character Viewer window will appear, displaying different categories of characters such as emojis, symbols, and accents. Choose the Latin tab in the left sidebar.

3. Browse through the available accent marks and double-click the desired one to insert it into your text.

4. Now, proceed to type your text with the inserted accent mark. However, it is essential to note that you must have a document open for the accent mark to be added.

G. How to Type Emojis on Mac

Typing emojis on Mac can be a fun and effective way to express emotions, convey ideas, or add personality to your messages, emails, documents, and social media posts. macOS includes a built-in emoji keyboard that makes it easy and convenient to access a wide range of emojis.

To use the built-in emoji keyboard, follow these steps:

1. Place your cursor in the text field where you’d like to insert the emoji (e.g., a messaging app, email, document, or social media post).
2. Click Edit in the menu bar and select Emoji & Symbols.

3. Select the Emoji tab in the left sidebar.

4. Browse through the emojis by scrolling or using the category icons. You can also use the search bar at the top of the keyboard to find specific emojis by typing keywords.

5. Double-click the emoji you want to insert, and it will appear at the location of your cursor in the text field.

H. How to Type the Apple Logo () on Mac

Using the Apple logo can add a nice visual touch to your content, especially when discussing Apple products or services. It also helps readers quickly identify your reference to Apple Inc., the technology company, rather than a generic term or a different company.

To type the Apple logo () on a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Open the document, text field, or application where you’d like to insert the Apple logo.
2. Place the cursor where you want the logo to appear.
3. Press and hold the Alt/Option ⌥ key on your keyboard.
4. While holding the Alt/Option ⌥ key, press the Shift ⇧ key.
5. While holding both keys, press the letter K key.
6. The Apple logo () should now appear at the cursor location.

Improve Typing Efficiency on Your Mac

With this comprehensive guide, you should now have a solid understanding of various methods to type accents, special characters, and emojis on your Mac. Here are some more tips to enhance efficiency while typing on Mac:

• Practice and memorize frequently used Mac keyboard shortcuts to save time and increase efficiency.
• Customize your Mac keyboard to optimize your input menu and keyboard settings.
• Understand Unicode and its role in special characters on Mac to use different special characters more easily.

Frequently Asked Questions