Abstract created by Good Solutions AI
In abstract:
- Macworld explains the best way to sort particular characters like @, #, €, and £ on Mac keyboards utilizing the Choice/Alt key combos.
- These shortcuts are important for customers switching from PC to Mac or working with worldwide symbols and forex marks.
- The information covers keyboard format variations between areas and demonstrates utilizing the Keyboard Viewer software for character discovery. Detailed directions are supplied beneath.
Whether or not you’ve simply switched from a PC to a Mac and have found that the ” and @ keys aren’t the place you had been anticipating, can’t discover the euro signal, pound signal, or hash key in your Mac keyboard, or it’s good to sort some uncommon or particular characters, symbols or accents for work or journey, we’re right here to assist. On this article, we’ll describe the best option to sort @ # € £ and different particular characters resembling ® © ™ Æ in your Mac.
These symbols that you could be end up needing to sort many times in your Mac, could also be hidden from view, or not the place you count on them to be, in your keyboard. Don’t fear although, we’ll let you recognize what it’s good to do to sort them.
Particular character areas at a look
| Character | US Mac Keyboard | UK Mac Keyboard |
| € | Alt/Choice + Shift + 2 | Alt/Choice + 2 |
| £ | Alt/Choice + 3 | Shift + 3 |
| # | Shift + 3 | Alt/Choice + 3 |
| @ | Shift + 2 | Shift + 2 |
| © | Alt/Choice + G | Alt/Choice + G |
| ® | Alt/Choice + R | Alt/Choice + R |
| ™ | Alt/Choice + 2 | Shift + Alt/Choice + 2 |
| ° | Shift + Alt/Choice + 8 | Shift + Alt/Choice + 8 |
| √ | Alt/Choice + V | Alt/Choice + V |
Why keyboard key layouts are totally different
The primary drawback is that totally different keyboards place sure keys in numerous areas, so any information about the place these keys will be discovered could also be unsuitable, in case your explicit keyboard isn’t allowed for.
As a result of we’ve got a world readership we embrace particulars of the place every of the particular characters will be discovered wherever you’re on the earth and whether or not you’ve a Mac or PC keyboard.
The placement of the particular characters could rely upon the place you’re based mostly on the earth as a result of keyboard format differs by nation, with sure characters getting extra prominence on the keyboards of the individuals who use them extra. You’ll discover QWERTY keyboards for English audio system, whereas French audio system get a AZERTY keyboard, and Germans get QWERTZ, for instance. Keyboards have utterly totally different key layouts relying on the nation, so we’ve included the situation of those particular keys for a wide range of keyboards.
Even U.S. and U.Ok. keyboards have a variety of stunning variations by way of key placement. Australians have a tendency to make use of the American keyboard format.
Alt and Choice confusion
One other supply of confusion is the truth that some Mac keyboards label the Alt key Choice whereas others name the Choice key Alt (relying in your viewpoint). On a Mac keyboard the important thing has a logo that appears like this: ⌥
Which means some guides you’ll learn will speak about an Choice or Alt key you’ll be able to’t see in your Mac. The secret is one and the identical. See: The place is the Choice key.
And if you’re utilizing a PC keyboard along with your Mac the Alt key will do the job of the Choice key, whereas the Home windows key will do the job of Command, and you’ll little question be very confused.
Additionally learn: Choice key secrets and techniques: Get extra out of your Mac with these hidden shortcuts.
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The place are the hidden characters on my keyboard?
To sort lots of the particular characters you’re in search of it’s possible you’ll must press the alt or possibility key. So, earlier than we start, here’s a useful overview of the hidden characters that you could sort utilizing Choice/Alt. The primary instance is the U.S. keyboard, the second is a U.Ok. keyboard. If you wish to see an summary of a distinct keyboard in your display we’ll embrace the steps to see it beneath.
The ‘hidden’ keys on a U.S. Apple keyboard.
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The ‘hidden’ keys on a U.Ok. Apple keyboard
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FAQ
Learn how to sort Euro image on a Mac keyboard – €
- On a U.S. keyboard to sort euro it’s good to press: Alt/Choice-Shift-2 = €
- On a U.Ok. keyboard to sort euro you need to press: Alt/Choice-2 = €
European keyboards give extra prominence to the Euro signal, however the location of the euro key, and the mixture of keys required, is determined by the nation.
- On French Apple Magic Keyboards you’ll discover the Euro signal (and greenback signal) subsequent to the return key.
- On German, Italian, Swiss and Spanish keyboards the euro signal is typed by urgent possibility/alt and the E key.
- Portuguese keyboards have the Euro signal on the quantity 3: press possibility/Alt and that key.
- For Norwegians and the Danish the euro is typed by urgent possibility/Alt and the quantity 4.
- And Dutch keyboards have the euro on the quantity 2.
Learn how to sort the pound signal (£) on a Mac keyboard
Not solely is typing a pound signal difficult as a result of the situation of the important thing will differ relying on the keyboard, but additionally the phrase itself has a distinct that means relying on the place you’re.
For U.Ok. residents the phrase pound represents the forex: £. Nevertheless, some nations name the hashtag or hash key a pound.
If you’re within the U.Ok. the hashtag signal shares the three key with the pound signal (£) however on different nation’s keyboards the U.Ok. £ signal is discovered elsewhere
- On a U.Ok. keyboard it’s good to sort £ it’s good to press shift+3 = £
- On a U.S. keyboard it’s good to sort £ it’s good to press Alt/Choice-3 = £
The £ key could not even be illustrated on the U.S. keyboard!
- On French and Swiss keyboards, the £ is discovered above the right-hand shift key, beside the enter/return key.
- Italian keyboards have the £ on the quantity 3, like U.Ok. keyboards.
Learn how to sort a # (hash)
- On a U.S. keyboard to sort # you want solely press Shift-3 = #
- On a U.Ok. keyboard to sort # you need to press Alt/Choice-3 = #
- The hash signal on French keyboards is discovered to the left of the number one.
- German keyboards have the hash key beside the return key.
- Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish and Portuguese keyboards have the hash key on quantity 3.
- Italian keyboards have the hash key (cancelletto) simply above the decrease proper shift key.
Additionally see: Learn how to sort a hashtag (#) on Mac
Learn how to sort ‘at’ – @
This @ key’s some extent of confusion for PC customers coming to Mac keyboards as a result of the ” key and @ key change locations.
- On a U.S. or U.Ok. keyboard you’ll discover the @ key on the two key. You should press Shift-2 = @.
- Spanish and Swedish keyboards even have the @ on the two.
- On Danish, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Swiss keyboards the @ key’s subsequent to the return key, above the right-hand shift key.
- French keyboards have the @ signal to the left of 1.
- German keyboards have the @ key on L.
- Italian keyboards even have the @ subsequent to the L.
The place is the ” key?
- On a U.S. or U.Ok. keyboard you’ll discover the “ key might be down on the fitting the place the ‘ key’s positioned.
- On German, Danish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swiss, Swedish and Italian keyboards the ” key’s on the two.
- French keyboards have the ” on 3.
The place are © ® and ™
The assorted copyright and trademark indicators will be generally utilized in sure strains of labor. Fortunately there’s a simple option to sort them on a Mac keyboard.
You may assume that logically the Copyright signal could be hidden on the C key, however you’d be unsuitable. The C key’s the house of assorted accented Cs. If you wish to sort a © it’s good to press Alt/Choice and G.
If you wish to sort the Registered Trademark image much less Choice/Alt and R:
As for the ™ the way you sort is determined by the keyboard:
- On a U.S. keyboard to sort ™ it’s good to press: Alt/Choice-2 = ™
- On a U.Ok. keyboard to sort ™ you need to press: Shift-Alt/Choice-2 = ™
Wish to sort the Pi (π) image? We now have a tutorial that explains how to do this right here: Learn how to sort the Pi (π) image on a Mac or iPhone.
The place is Æ
If you wish to take your inspiration for youngsters’s names from Elon Musk, who has a toddler known as X Æ A-12, later renamed the equally odd X Æ A-Xii, you will want the illusive Æ key.
If you wish to sort Æ simply press and maintain the A key. You’ll see a spread of choices seem in a field – simply choose the one you need or press 5.
Learn how to sort levels
If it’s getting actually scorching or actually chilly the place you’re you may wish to inform somebody. During which case a level signal could possibly be useful. Right here’s the best way to sort a °
- Shift-Alt/Choice–8 = °
Learn how to sort the Apple brand
You may surprise what circumstances would trigger you to wish to sort an Apple brand, however with Apple naming just a few merchandise with the Apple image if is likely to be that it’s good to sort TV or Watch. Should you do, the important thing mixture is as follows:
Learn how to sort a examine mark or tick
This can be a useful one – the V virtually appears like a tick or examine mark, add an Choice/Alt and that’s what you get.
Learn how to sort tilde and extra
There are just a few keys which are hidden in plain sight. We’ll point out them right here simply in case you’re struggling to seek out them:
~ (aka the Tilde signal) – It’s on the left by the Shift key
/ – on the fitting by the Shift key
– on the fitting above the Shift key
| – press shift and (beside enter/return)
Learn how to sort accents on a Mac keyboard
If you’re making an attempt to sort accents on an English keyboard if generally is a bit daunting – if you’re utilizing a keyboard that’s designed for that language will probably be significantly simpler to sort accents, for apparent causes. To sort an accented letter all it’s good to do is press and maintain the related key. While you accomplish that a menu will seem with the varied accented characters to select from.
For instance, should you press and maintain the E key then you’ll finally see this menu pop up. You possibly can select the model along with your pointer, or by urgent the corresponding quantity.
You’ll discover accents related to the next keys: e, y, u, i, o, a, s, l, z, c, n.
Learn how to sort emoji on a Mac
You may assume that emoji are restricted to iPhones and iPads, however they aren’t. It’s potential to entry emoji in your Mac. When you’re utilizing a phrase processor or comparable program you’ll be able to press Management-Command-Area to carry up the Emoji pallet.
Learn our information to utilizing Emoji on the Mac right here.
Learn how to sort particular characters on a Mac
You might recall the Character Viewer – a software which you may develop to seek out numerous characters to be added to textual content paperwork. It predated Emoji and since Emoji arrived it appears to have been hidden away, however it’s nonetheless there.
As above, press Management-Command-Area to carry up the Emoji pallet then click on on the icon within the prime proper of the Emoji field to carry up the Character Viewer. Right here you’ll discover greater than Emoji: there are additionally Arrows, different forex symbols, Maths Symbols, and extra.
That is the place you can see forex symbols resembling ¥ ¢ ₽ ₩ ₱ ₹ ﷼
Maths symbols resembling xxx ∄ ℇ ℏ ≥ ≯ ∑ √ ∱≉
There are additionally some pictographs that predate emoji together with all of those
Learn how to see the Keyboard overview in your display
To see the keyboard overview for any language observe these steps:
- When you’ve got a logo indicating US/UK or one other language within the menu on the prime of your display (subsequent to the highlight icon) click on on that.
- You will notice choices to Present Emoji & Symbols and Present Keyboard Viewer. Click on on Present Keyboard Viewer.
- You possibly can click on on the Choice key (the ⌥ key subsequent to the Command key) on that overlaid keyboard to see what characters will seem while you press that at the side of one other key.
- Should you press the shift and possibility keys you’ll different choices out there to you.
Should you don’t see the image in your menu go to System Setting > Keyboards and ensure Present Enter menu in menu bar is chosen.
A bonus is the truth that while you sort with this keyboard viewer on view you will notice numerous instructed autocomplete phrases that you just may wish to use.
If you end up utilizing totally different characters typically you may wish to attempt an app like PopChar X from Ergonis. The app makes it very easy to entry the varied characters which are out there within the totally different fonts in your Mac. You should purchase it right here for $29.99/£30.85.
Questioning the best way to copy and paste on a Mac? You may additionally discover our iPhone keyboard typing suggestions helpful.
