Table of Contents
Ever wondered how to type special symbols on your Apple keyboard? Maybe you need a © symbol for your blog or a € sign for a price? No worries! Apple keyboards have tons of special characters hidden behind simple key combinations.
Accessing Common Symbols
The most common symbols are easy to find. Here are some quick shortcuts:
- @ – Press Shift + 2 (US keyboard) or Alt + 2 (UK keyboard).
- € – Press Option + Shift + 2.
- © – Press Option + G.
- ™ – Press Option + 2.
- £ – Press Option + 3.
Try these out! You’ll type symbols much faster once you remember them.
Finding More Symbols
What if you can’t find the symbol you need? No problem! Use the built-in Character Viewer.
- Press Control + Command + Space to open the emoji and symbols menu.
- Use the search bar to find the symbol you need.
- Click it, and it will be inserted into your text.
This tool has hundreds of symbols! You’ll find arrows, mathematical symbols, currencies, and emojis too.

The Option Key is the Magic Key
The Option key unlocks special characters. Just hold it and press another key. Some examples:
- å – Press Option + A.
- Ø – Press Option + O.
- ∑ – Press Option + W.
Want more? Try holding Option + Shift together and press different keys. You’ll discover even more symbols!
Typing Accented Letters
If you type in multiple languages, you might need accented letters. Apple makes it super easy.
- Press and hold a letter (like “e”).
- A menu will pop up showing different accent options.
- Press the corresponding number to choose one.
For example, holding “e” will show: é, è, ê, ë, and more!

Making Custom Shortcuts
Don’t want to remember all these shortcuts? You can create your own!
- Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
- Click Keyboard, then go to the Text tab.
- Click + to add a new shortcut.
- Type something simple like “(c)” and replace it with “©”.
Now, every time you type “(c)”, it will change to © automatically. Pretty cool, right?
Conclusion
Apple keyboards are packed with hidden secrets. You just need to know where to look!
- Use Shift for basic symbols.
- Use Option for special characters.
- Use Character Viewer for rare symbols.
- Create custom shortcuts for easy typing.
Try these tricks, and soon, typing symbols will be second nature!
