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# | 5 ways to Type the Number Sign (or Hash Symbol) on the Keyboard

In this guide, we’re going to show you how to get the hashtag symbol (#), also known as the number sign. This symbol is like a little grid and you see it everywhere, from marking numbers in a list to tagging words on social media so more people can find them.

The hashtag started from the word “number,” shortened to “No.,” and then turned into “#” to make things quicker. Nowadays, it’s really important for lots of different things, especially online.

We’ll teach you different ways to put this symbol into your writing, whether you’re using a Windows computer or a Mac. We’ll mainly talk about using keyboard shortcuts, which are quick keys you can press to do something faster.

And if you need the symbol right now, you can just copy and paste it from the button we’ll show you below.

Using the Number Key on the Keyboard

Using the Number Key is one of the easiest ways you can type this symbol on the keyboard.

The Number Key is located on the left side of nearly all English computer keyboards, on the same key as the 3 key, directly above the middle of the W and E keys of the English Qwerty keyboard.

The Number Key is highlighted in yellow in the keyboard image below. This Key appears in the same location on both Windows and Mac keyboards.

how to type number sign or hash symbol on keyboard

However, the Hash sign is a second key after the 3 key. This means that pressing this key will give you the number 3 and not a Number Sign.

If you want to get the Hash Sign or Number Sign with this key, press down the Shift key before hitting on the Number or 3 key.

Therefore, to type the Number Sign on the keyboard, press Shift + 3 simultaneously for both Windows and Mac.

Number Sign Alt Code Shortcut (MS Word for Windows)

The Alt Code shortcut for the Hash Symbol is Alt + 35. To type with this method, press and hold one of the Alt keys on your keyboard while using the numeric keypad to enter the Alt code, then release the Alt key.

This method works only in Windows, and it requires that your keyboard have a separate numeric keypad with Num Lock enabled.

On Windows, alt codes like this are used to type symbols or characters that may or may not be available on the keyboard.

This method is extremely beneficial because it saves a significant amount of time when trying to type special characters like the Number Sign.

The following are the detailed steps you can take to type these Number Signs on Windows using the Alt Code keyboard shortcut:

  • Open your Word document where the symbol is to be typed.
  • The cursor should be positioned in the desired location.
  • Press and hold on to one of your Alt Keys.
  • As you hold down the Alt key, use the numeric keypad on the right to type the Number Alt code (35)
  • Release the alt key after typing the code.

As soon as you let go of the Alt key, the Number Sign will appear.

The following rules must be followed in order for the Number Alt Code to work.

  • Before typing the code, you must hold down the Alt key.
  • To type the alt code, you must use the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard.
  • The NumLock must be enabled because you are using the 10-key numeric keypad. When you turn off NumLock, the number keys become disabled, and you won’t be able to type any numbers.
  • If you’re using a laptop that doesn’t have a numeric keypad, you’ll need to activate the hidden numeric keypad first. On most laptops, you can turn it on by pressing the Fn + NmLk keys at the same time. A hidden numeric keypad isn’t found on every laptop. If it doesn’t appear in yours, you won’t be able to type symbols using the alt code method unless you connect an external keyboard with a numeric keypad or use the on-screen keyboard. Yet still, you can use the other methods discussed in this guide.
  • You should also be aware that, depending on the text editor you’re using, not all symbols can be typed with the alt code. Only Microsoft Word recognizes some of the alt codes.

Insert Number Sign on Mac

You can also obtain the Number Sign on Mac using either the keyboard or the Character Viewer.

The Character Viewer is a place on Mac where you can add special characters and symbols to text, such as math symbols, Latin characters, and pictographs.

Obey the following steps to insert this and any other symbol on Mac.

  1. To type the Number Sign (#) on Mac, simultaneously press Shift + 3 on your Mac keyboard.

Alternatively, obey the below instructions

  • Place your cursor in the text area where you need to insert the symbol.
  • Press Control + Command + Space bar to bring up the Character Viewer. Alternatively, choose Edit > Emoji > Symbols.
  • Type (Number Sign) in the search field at the top and press Enter.
  • The symbol should appear. Kindly click on it to insert it into your text.

These are the steps you may use to insert this and any other symbol on Mac using the Character Viewer.

Shortcut to type Number Sign in Microsoft Word

MS Word shortcut to type the Number Sign is 0023, Alt + X.

To use this shortcut, open your Microsoft Word document, position the insertion pointer where you want to type the Number Sign, and then follow the simple instructions below:

  • Simply type 0023.
  • Then press Alt plus X simultaneously.
  • If it doesn’t work, highlight the code before pressing the Alt and X keys simultaneously.

When you press Alt + X after typing the Unicode, the symbol appears in place of the Unicode.

Insert Number Sign from the Office Symbol Library

If using the keyboard isn’t your thing, there’s also a mouse-based method for getting the Number Sign in Office apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

To explain the steps, we’ll use screenshots of Microsoft Word. You can, however, use the same method in Excel and PowerPoint.

Without further ado, here are the steps to take:

  • Launch MS Word or Excel or PowerPoint.
  • Place your cursor at the desired place.
  • Navigate to the Insert tab.
Go to the Insert tab
  • Click the Symbols button in the Symbols group, then select More Symbols from the drop-down menu.
More Symbols

The Symbol window will appear. It contains a gazillion of symbols which include the Number Sign.

  • Find the Number Sign in the symbol library.

To easily locate this symbol, use the Subset dropdown list to display specific types of symbols. You can find the Number Sign in the Basic Latin group in the Subset list.

However, the fastest way to get this symbol is to type the Unicode 0023 in the Character code text box. Once you type the Unicode, the Number Sign will be filtered out and selected.

  • To insert it into your document, simply double-click on it. Alternatively, click the Insert button.
  • Close the Dialog.

If you follow the above steps carefully, you can insert the Number Sign in Word or any other symbol or character not available on the keyboard.

Copy and Paste Number Sign

This is by far the simplest way to obtain any symbol, including the Number Sign.

You simply need to copy the symbol somewhere, such as a web page, and then press Ctrl + V after switching to the document where you need it.

If you want to copy the symbol, you can do so below.

#

If you have a Windows PC, the steps below will show you how to copy this symbol from the Character Map.

  • Search and Launch the Character Map app.
  • Near the button, select the Advance View checkbox to expand more Character map options.
Advanced view on Windows Character map
  • In the Advanced view, you will see a search box. Type Number Sign in there and press Enter.
  • The symbol will appear in the search results.
  • Simply double click on it and hit on the Copy button after it is selected in the Characters to copy text box.

Conclusion

Navigating the intricacies of keyboard layouts to find symbols like the Number Sign, which often reside as secondary options on keys, can initially seem daunting. This challenge is especially pronounced when the symbol you require is not immediately visible, tucked away behind keystrokes that are not always intuitive.

However, the strategies and step-by-step instructions outlined in this guide are designed to demystify this process, transforming what might have been a complex endeavor into a straightforward task. By leveraging these methods, you’ll find that inserting the Number Sign or any similar symbol becomes a seamless part of your typing routine, enhancing your productivity and efficiency.

We deeply appreciate the time you’ve invested in reading through this guide. It’s our hope that the information provided not only aids in your immediate needs but also enriches your overall computing experience. Thank you for allowing us to assist you on this journey.