How to type symbols on a Chromebook

Method 1: Ctrl + Shift + U

ChromeOS has Unicode input built in. It is the most reliable way to type any symbol, because it works in every app and needs no settings:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U. An underlined u appears.
2. Type the character’s hexadecimal code, for example b0 for °, 2713 for ✓ or 20ac for €.
3. Press Space or Enter to insert the character.

Every symbol page on SymbolHub lists the code; look up any character with the Unicode lookup. Leading zeros are optional, so b0 and 00b0 both work.

Method 2: the emoji and symbol picker

Press Search (or the Launcher key) + Shift + Space, or right-click in a text box and choose Emoji. The picker opens with emoji and a search box. On recent versions of ChromeOS it also has tabs for symbols and emoticons, so you can find ° or → by typing “degree” or “arrow”. Recently used characters stay at the top.

Method 3: the US International keyboard

If you type accents or a handful of symbols often, add an international layout: Settings → Device → Keyboard and inputs → Inputs → Add input methods → English (US) with International keyboard. Switch layouts with Ctrl + Space.

The layout adds dead keys: type ' then e for é, or " then u for ü. The right Alt key becomes AltGr and opens a symbol layer, for example AltGr + 5 for €, AltGr + C for © and AltGr + N for ñ. Our guide to the US International keyboard lists every key.

Method 4: copy and paste

For occasional symbols, copying is fastest. Open a collection such as math symbols, click the symbol and press Ctrl + V where you want it. ChromeOS also keeps a clipboard history: press Search + V to paste any of your last five copied items, which makes it easy to reuse symbols.

In Google Docs and Sheets

Most Chromebook writing happens in Google Docs, which has its own symbol tool: Insert → Special characters, where you can search by name or draw the symbol. Docs also replaces (c) with © and -> with → as you type. See special characters in Google Docs for details. In Sheets, =UNICHAR(176) returns °.

Why alt codes do not work

Windows alt codes such as Alt + 0176 depend on Windows code pages and a numeric keypad. ChromeOS has neither, so pressing Alt with numbers does nothing (or triggers a shortcut). Ctrl + Shift + U replaces them completely: instead of 0176, use the hex code b0.

Codes for the symbols students need most

If Ctrl + Shift + U does nothing

Unicode entry belongs to the ChromeOS input method, so it works only while a ChromeOS keyboard layout is active. If you installed an Android keyboard app or a third-party input method, switch back to the built-in layout with Ctrl + Space. Some Linux apps on ChromeOS (in the Linux development environment) also ignore it, because they receive keys through a different path; use the Compose key or copy and paste there.

Make sure you release all three keys before typing the code, and that you type hexadecimal digits only (0–9 and a–f). A code that is too long, or a letter outside a–f, cancels the entry. School-managed Chromebooks occasionally restrict input methods; in that case the emoji picker and copy and paste still work.

Tips for students and teachers

Maths and science symbols are the most common need on school Chromebooks. Google Docs has an equation editor (Insert → Equation) that turns shortcuts such as \pi, \sqrt and \pm into proper symbols, and Google Slides and Sheets accept the same Ctrl + Shift + U codes. Keep a short list of the codes you need taped inside your notebook: after a few uses, b0 for ° and 3c0 for π become automatic.