You can simply use the above Alt codes to type the symbols by pressing and holding the Alt key while typing the Alt code with the 10-key numeric keypad.
Alt codes are used to type symbols and characters that do not have a dedicated key on the keyboard.
I’m going to show you how to type the any of the symbols above with your keyboard using this Alt code method.
Just so you know, before you can use the Alt code method to type any symbol, your keyboard must have the 10-key numeric keypad.
Some laptop users may notice that their keyboards don’t have this extended number pad. If that’s you, don’t worry. In the upcoming sections, I’m going to show you how to type alt codes on a laptop without the 10-key Numpad.
Using Alt Codes to type Symbols on Keyboard
Without any further ado, these are the steps you may use to type any symbol on your keyboard using the Alt code method:
- Open your text editor where you need to type the symbol.
- Place your insertion pointer where you need the symbol.
- Press and hold down the Alt key.
- Whilst holding down the Alt key, type the Symbol Alt Code (see above table).
- After typing the code, release the Alt key.
As soon as you release the Alt key, the symbol you want will immediately appear exactly where you placed the cursor.
Rules for using Alt Codes
- You must press and hold down the Alt key before typing the code.
- You must use the numeric keypad on the right of the keyboard to type the alt code.
- Since you are using the 10-key numeric keypad, the NumLock must be turned on. Turning off the NumLock will disable the number keys which cannot type any numbers when disabled.
- If you are using a laptop without the numeric keypad, you should first turn on the hidden numeric keypad. With most laptops, you can turn on this by pressing Fn + NmLkkeys simultaneously. Not all laptops have a hidden numeric keypad. If it seems missing in yours, then you cannot use the alt code method to type symbols unless you connect an external keyboard that has a numeric keypad or use the on-screen keyboard (as shown in the next section).
How to Use Alt Code on a Laptop
Some laptops are too small to have a separate numeric keypad on the right. Some are bigger in size but are designed without this number pad.
And as I already mentioned, to use the Alt code method, your keyboard needs to have this numeric keypad.
Some laptop numeric keypads are embedded/hidden within the main keyboard where the right-hand types.
Note: Whilst some laptops have this 10-key number pad inside the main keyboard, some don’t have anything like that. If that’s your laptop, then you’ll need to attach an external keyboard that contains a numeric keypad or move on to the next section where I addressed how to use the on-screen keyboard to perform this task.
With that being said, obey the following steps to use these Alt Codes on supported laptops:
- Step 1:Check and confirm that your laptop has either a separate numeric keypad or the hidden one as shown in the picture below.
- Step 2:Enable your Num Lock. Somewhere on your keyboard has the Num Lock key (It might be called NumLock, or NumLk, or Num, or even ScrLk). Press Fn and this key simultaneously to enable the Num Lock.
- Step 3:Hold down the Alt key.
- Step 5:Whilst holding down the Alt key, press the Alt code (see alt code table above).
- Step 6:Release the Alt key after typing the code.
As soon as you let go of the Alt key, the symbol will immediately appear exactly where you placed the cursor.
And there you have it; a step-by-step guide to use any Alt code on a laptop without the separate numeric keypad.
If your laptop still fails you, the next section may save the day.
How to use Alt Code on keyboards without numpad
If your laptop or keyboard doesn’t have a numeric keypad, you can leverage the Windows on-screen keyboard to type any symbol using the Alt code. Either that, or there is no other way to use Alt codes on keyboards without the 10-key Numpad.
Thus, to use the onscreen keyboard for this task, obey the below instructions.
- Step 1: Launch the onscreen keyboard.
- Step 2: Make sure to click on the NumLock key to activate it.
- Step 3: Now that you have the on-screen keyboard with the Numpad, press and hold down the Alt key.
- Step 4: Whilst holding down the Alt key, type the Alt code by clicking on the Num pad on the onscreen keyboard.
- Step 5: Release the alt code after typing the code.
As soon as you release the Alt key, the symbol will be inserted exactly where you placed the insertion pointer.
Conclusion
These are the various ways one can use any Alt code on the keyboard.
I believe that using the onscreen keyboard will help you a lot if your laptop doesn’t have a numeric keypad.
It is also worth mentioning that Alt codes are for Windows only. They don’t work on Mac as it also has its own shortcuts.
Thanks so much for reading this.
