Complete list of ALT codes and keyboard symbols in Windows: Ultimate Guide

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if you ever needed write a special symbol, a letter from another language, a basic emoji or some curious character on your Windows computer, you have surely come across the popular ones ALT codes. These secret shortcuts They give you access to a immense collection of symbols and characters that are not visible on the keyboard. The good news is that you can take full advantage of them to personalize your texts, insert mathematical symbols or put international letters without copying and pasting from the Internet. Understanding how ALT codes work It will save you time and make your life easier when it comes to writing.

In this guide you will find the most complete and detailed list of ALT codes, as well as explanations on how to use them, advanced tricks for writing characters from different alphabets, troubleshooting tips, and handy tables for instant reference. Whether you're new to this as if you are looking for a updated and integrated list of codes for Windows and, to a lesser extent, for other systems, here is everything you need to Master the art of typing any symbol with your keyboard.

What are ALT codes and what are they really for?

The ALT codes are combinations that allow you to insert special characters, foreign language letters, currency signs, math signs, emojis and more, simply by pressing the ALT key and writing a sequence of numbers in the numeric keyboard. They are essential when you want to put something that doesn't appear directly on your keyboard, such as the letter ñ on foreign keyboards, copyright symbols, mathematical symbols, or curious icons. To expand your knowledge of the different types of character encoding, you can consult What is ASCII code?.

This function, inherited from the ASCII standard and extended with the Unicode tables, Turn your keyboard into a much more powerful tool, especially on Windows. And the best part is that It is compatible with most programs and text editors.

In addition to the classic signs and letters, you can also enter simple emojis, Greek characters or technical symbols, as long as you know the corresponding code. So, forget about searching for the special character every time: with a little practice, you'll be able to memorize the most useful ones and give your texts a professional touch in seconds. To understand how other insertion methods work, such as using the easter egg, you can explore how hidden features are integrated into different systems and programs.

How to Use ALT Codes Step by Step: Standard Method and Tricks

The procedure is very simple, but it has its trick. You must follow these steps exactly:

• Press and hold the ALT key on your keyboard.
• While holding down ALT, type the desired code number into the numeric keyboard (not on the top row of numbers, but on the numeric keypad on the right; if you're using a laptop and don't have a dedicated keyboard, you'll have to activate the numeric keypad with a combination like Fn+NumLock). If you want to learn other methods for inserting characters, check out What is a decoder?.
• Release the ALT key: the special character will appear instantly.

Important: Some codes require leading zeros (for example, for €, you would type ALT+0128, not ALT+128). If the expected symbol doesn't appear, make sure you have the numeric keypad enabled and are using the correct numbers.

If you want to go further and type Unicode characters (for example, Greek letters or symbols from other alphabets that do not appear in the standard list), there is an advanced method: activate the “EnableHexNumpad” function in the Windows registry and, after restarting, you will be able to hold ALT and type +hexadecimal code to get the symbol (e.g., ALT + 03BA gives κ, the Greek lowercase kappa). For helpful resources, you can check out What is an OCR?.

Main tables and categories of ALT codes: what symbols can you type?

The variety of symbols available with ALT codes is enormous. To make it easier for you to find what you're looking for, here are some of the most useful and commonly used categories, along with examples and usage details.

1. Basic symbols and emojis (ALT 1 to 31)

To give your texts a special touch, you can incorporate icons, smileys, and simple symbols using the first codes in the ALT series:

• ALT 1: ☺ (smiley face)
• ALT 2: ☻ (black face)
• ALT 3: ♥ (heart)
• ALT 4: ♦ (diamond)
• ALT 5: ♣ (clover)
• ALT 6: ♠ (stings)
• ALT 7: • (big dot)
• ALT 8: ◘ (black circle)
• ALT 9: ○ (white circle)
• ALT 10: ◙ (double circle)
• …and up to ALT 31 (▼, arrows, various signs)

These symbols are ideal for lists, menus, signatures or creative messages in any text editor..

2. Standard keyboard letters, numbers, and symbols (ALT 32 to 126)

Are you missing any basic character? In this range you have from space (ALT 32) even punctuation marks, numbers and uppercase and lowercase letters, closing with symbols like ~, |, {, }, . So you can write any conventional character even if your keyboard doesn't include the appropriate language. If you want to vary the style of your texts, you can also consult how to hack your console.

3. Currency symbols, legal and special signs

Within the extended tables are currency signs, copyrights and trademarks:

• ALT 0128: € (euro)
• ALT 0162: ¢ (cent)
• ALT 0163: £ (pound sterling)
• ALT 0165: ¥ (yen)
• ALT 0164: ¤ (generic monetary sign)
• ALT 0169: © (copyright)
• ALT 0174: ® (registered trademark)
• ALT 0153: ™ (trademark)

4. Mathematical and technical symbols

If you need to insert mathematical signs, operations or technical symbols, the ALT list is even more extensive:

• ALT 241: ± (plus-minus)
• ALT 177: ± (variant)
• ALT 248: ° (degree)
• ALT 246: ÷ (division)
• ALT 251: √ (square root)
• ALT 252: ⁿ (superscript n)
• ALT 253: ² (superscript two)
• ALT 179 and 0179: ³ (superscript three)
• ALT 230: µ (mic)
• ALT 242: ≥ (greater than or equal to)
• ALT 243: ≤ (less than or equal to)
• ALT 247: ≈ (approximately equal)
• ALT 240: ≡ (identical to)

5. International letters, accented letters and special characters

Do you work with multiple languages? ALT codes They make life easier when writing accented vowels, ñs, umlauts and other letters from other languages.:

• ALT 130: é
• ALT 160: á
• ALT 161: í
• ALT 162: ó
• ALT 163: ú
• ALT 164: ñ
• ALT 165: Ñ
• ALT 129: ü
• ALT 154: Ü

Greek letters and science symbols

Letter/Symbol	ALT code
α	OLD 224
Γ	OLD 226
π	OLD 227
σ	OLD 229
µ	OLD 230
Ω	OLD 234
φ	OLD 237

Mathematical symbols and operators

Symbol	ALT code
±	ALT 241/177
√	OLD 251
÷	OLD 246
°	OLD 248
²	OLD 253
³	ALT 179/0179
>=	OLD 242
<=	OLD 243

ASCII and Unicode: Differences and ALT Code Compatibility

The standard ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) was the starting point for ALT codes. It gives access to the first 127 characters (letters, numbers and basic signs), but Today there are thousands of characters thanks to the standard Unicode, which covers almost all scientific, technical, musical and mathematical alphabets and symbols.

Of course, not all programs or operating systems interpret ALT codes the same way. Some classic ALT codes do not work on other systems or in certain browsers., where it is recommended to copy and paste the symbol or use system shortcuts. In Windows, however, compatibility is soaring and it still being the fastest and most universal resourceTo learn more about the benefits of Unicode, you can visit .

Other ways to insert special characters: Character Map and shortcuts

If you don't remember the specific ALT code or need to see all characters of a particular font, Do you have the Windows Character Map, a handy utility built into the system. You can open it by searching for "character" in the search bar.

Within the map you will be able to copy and paste any character from all installed fonts and view the codes for future use. There are also shortcuts in applications like Word, which accept sequences like “0024 ALT+X” to insert Unicode symbols (e.g., the $ symbol). For more advanced cases, you can consult What is an Ink file?.

Advanced: Write Unicode letters and symbols from other alphabets

For advanced users, there is an option to write any Unicode symbol even if it does not appear in the standard tables. Simply activate the option in the Windows registry EnableHexNumpad (in HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Input Method) and type ALT along with the + sign and the hexadecimal code for the character (example: ALT + 03BA for κ, the lowercase kappa). To expand your knowledge, check out .

Frequently asked questions and common mistakes when using ALT codes

• Why doesn't the symbol appear when I type the code? Check that the numeric keypad is activated (Num Lock on), use the numeric pad and not the top row, and check if you need to put zeros in front of the code.
• Can I use ALT codes on macOS? No, but you can use the character viewer or copy and paste symbols; some special Mac shortcuts allow for other symbols.
• Why do some symbols not appear the same in all programs? It depends on the font and system; some symbols are only available in specific fonts or in the Unicode standard.
• Can you write Chinese or Cyrillic symbols? Yes, with Unicode and the advanced method, although compatibility depends on the installed font and the program.
• What do I do if I don't have a numeric keypad? On laptops, it's usually activated with the Fn + key combination; alternatively, you can open the on-screen keyboard from Windows to enter numbers.

The ALT code in context: practical applications and final recommendations

Mastering ALT codes It saves you time and gives you freedom to customize all types of texts, from a simple email to presentations, academic papers, social media posts, or legal documents. It's especially useful if you regularly work in multiple languages, are a science, math, or engineering student, or if you simply like your messages to have a personal and professional touch.

Remember that, although there are very complete tables (like the ones you have seen in this article), you don't need to memorize all the codes. The practical thing is to learn the ones you use most (such as currency signs, accented vowels, basic emojis, or math ones) and consult the lists when you need something special. The combined use of ALT codes, the character map, and Unicode shortcuts it will permit you write any symbol effortlessly and from any compatible application on Windows.

You no longer have to search the internet or copy and paste each character. Now you have all necessary tools and tables to type exactly what you want on your keyboard, with a fast, universal method suitable for both beginners and advanced users. The next time you're missing a symbol, remember: alt and the appropriate code, and ready.