Degree Symbol on Keyboard: Type ° on Any Device

The degree symbol (°) is a small circle used with temperatures and angles, as in 72°F or 90°. This guide shows practical ways to type it on Windows and Mac computers, phones, and in common documents. You may need to choose a method based on your keyboard, app, or device settings.

What You’ll Need

• A computer, phone, or tablet with a text field or document open.
• For the Windows Alt-code method, a numeric keypad or a laptop layout that provides numeric-keypad input.
• If a shortcut is unavailable, access to your device’s emoji/symbol keyboard, character viewer, or the app’s insert-symbol tool.

Step-by-Step

1. Choose your device. Start with the instructions for Windows, Mac, iPhone or iPad, or Android below. Shortcuts can depend on the operating system, keyboard layout, and app, so use the alternate method if the first one does not work.
2. Type it on Windows with a numeric keypad. Click where the sign should appear. Turn on Num Lock if your keypad requires it, hold down Alt, and type 0176 using the numeric keypad—not the number row above the letters. Release Alt, and the ° sign should appear. The leading zero matters for this commonly used Windows Alt code.
3. Check your laptop’s number-pad layout. Some laptops have a built-in number pad activated with an Fn key, while others do not support this Alt-code method directly. If your keyboard has no numeric keypad, try the character map or symbol picker in your app, or copy ° from this guide and paste it where needed.
4. Use the Windows character map if needed. Open Character Map from the Start menu, find and select the degree symbol, then choose Select and Copy. Paste it into your document. Windows search and menu labels can vary slightly by version; if Character Map is unavailable, use the symbol-insertion option in the app you are using.
5. Type it on a Mac. Click in the text field and press Option+Shift+8. On a typical US keyboard layout, this inserts °. Keyboard layouts and app shortcuts can vary, so if it produces another character or nothing, open the Character Viewer from the input menu or use the app’s symbols panel.
6. Open Character Viewer on Mac. Use the menu bar’s input or emoji-and-symbols control, if available, and search for “degree.” Select the degree sign to insert it. The menu path may differ slightly by macOS version and settings. In many apps, Edit > Emoji & Symbols also opens the viewer.
7. Insert it on an iPhone or iPad. Tap the text field to bring up the onscreen keyboard, then press and hold the 0 key. When the ° option appears, slide to it and release. If the option does not appear, check that the standard keyboard is active; keyboard layouts and third-party keyboards may behave differently.
8. Insert it on Android. Open the onscreen keyboard and look for the symbols view, commonly reached with a key such as ?123 or =\<. Check the secondary symbols page for °. The exact key and layout depend on the keyboard app and its version; press and hold a related key if no degree sign is immediately visible.
9. Use a document or web app’s symbol menu. In a word processor or other editor, look under Insert for a symbol or special-character option, then search for “degree” and select °. Menu names and paths may differ slightly by app version. This is often the most reliable choice when keyboard shortcuts are intercepted or unavailable.
10. Confirm the result. Make sure you see ° in the right place, with no space unless your style or assignment calls for one. For a temperature, put the scale after it, such as 20°C or 68°F; for an angle, write a value such as 45°.

Common Mistakes

• Using the number row for an Alt code. The Windows Alt+0176 method normally requires the numeric keypad. Typing those digits above the letters may enter ordinary numbers instead.
• Forgetting Num Lock or the leading zero. A disabled keypad or an incomplete code can produce no symbol or a different character. Use Alt+0176 and release Alt only after entering the digits.
• Confusing ° with º. The degree sign is a small circle: ° (Unicode U+00B0). The similar-looking º is a masculine ordinal indicator and is not the right character for a temperature or angle.
• Using a superscript letter o. A raised lowercase “o” may look close, but it is not the degree symbol. Use ° to avoid inconsistent spacing and appearance.
• Assuming every keyboard uses the same shortcut. Shortcuts may depend on the keyboard layout, operating system, app, or input method. If a shortcut gives a different result, use the character or symbol picker instead.
• Putting the sign in the wrong place. Write 30°C, not °30C. For an angle, the symbol follows the number, as in 30°.

Tips

• Copy and paste for occasional use. Copy this character: °. It is a quick workaround if you cannot remember a shortcut or are using a device without a convenient symbol menu.
• Use the symbol name in search. Searching a character viewer or insert-symbol panel for “degree” is usually faster than browsing categories.
• Save a reusable text shortcut. If you type the symbol often, you can set up a text replacement or autocorrect entry in your device or app. Check the relevant settings; the path differs by version and keyboard.
• Keep units clear. For temperatures, include the scale when it matters: °F or °C. For angles, ° follows the number without a temperature scale.
• Prefer the actual character in shared documents. A pasted or inserted ° is more dependable than a font trick or a superscript “o,” especially when text is copied into another app.

Troubleshooting

The Windows shortcut does nothing: Confirm that you are holding Alt, using the numeric keypad, and entering 0176. Check Num Lock, and try a different text field. If your laptop lacks a usable keypad, use Character Map or the app’s symbol menu.

The Mac shortcut inserts the wrong character: Confirm that Option and Shift are both held while you press 8, and check the active keyboard layout. Open Character Viewer and search for “degree” as an alternative.

The symbol will not appear on a phone: Confirm that the onscreen keyboard is open, switch to its symbols page, and try pressing and holding 0 or a related key. If necessary, copy ° from another text source. A third-party keyboard may use a different layout.

The sign changes after pasting or appears as a box: Try inserting it with the app’s symbol tool, or change to a font that supports common symbols. If the character is being converted by autocorrect, undo the change or adjust that app’s text-replacement settings.

The shortcut works in one app but not another: Some apps assign their own shortcuts or handle text input differently. Use the app’s Insert or special-character menu; menu names may differ slightly by version.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Windows shortcut for the degree symbol?

Hold Alt and enter 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. This method may not work with the number row or on every laptop keyboard.

How do I type the degree symbol on a Mac?

On a typical US keyboard layout, press Option+Shift+8. If that does not work, search for “degree” in Character Viewer.

How do I type ° on a phone?

On many iPhone and iPad keyboards, press and hold 0 and select °. On Android, open the symbols keyboard and look for the sign; the exact layout varies.

Is the degree symbol the same as a superscript o?

No. The correct symbol is °. A raised lowercase o or the ordinal character º may look similar but is a different character.

Should there be a space before the degree symbol?

In common US writing, the number and degree sign are usually together, as in 90° or 72°F. Follow the style guide or technical format required for your document.

Can I copy and paste the degree symbol?

Yes. Copy ° and paste it into your text. This works well when a shortcut is unavailable, though an app’s symbol menu can be more reliable if formatting causes a problem.

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