How to type the euro sign on Windows
To type the euro sign on Windows, hold down the Alt key, type 0128 on the numeric keypad, and release Alt: the € symbol appears immediately. On UK and European keyboards, you can also press AltGr + 4 or Ctrl + Alt + 4. In Word, type 20AC and press Alt + X.
Quick answer
Hold Alt and type 0128 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt: €. On UK keyboards, press AltGr + 4.
Step by step
Turn on Num Lock
Make sure the Num Lock indicator light is lit on your keyboard so the numeric keypad sends numbers rather than navigation commands.
Hold down Alt
Press and hold the left Alt key on your keyboard. Do not release it yet.
Enter 0128 on the keypad
Type the four numbers 0, 1, 2, and 8 using the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard.
Release the Alt key
Let go of the Alt key. The euro sign (€) will appear at your cursor location.
Why Alt + 0128 works for the euro
The euro sign (€) was officially introduced by the European Commission in the late 1990s and added to the Windows-1252 character encoding at position 128. Because older MS-DOS code page 437 was standardized long before the euro existed, there is no three-digit alt code for the euro. You must always include the leading zero: Alt + 0128 tells Windows to read from the modern Western European code page. Typing Alt + 128 without the zero produces the accented letter Ç instead. Our complete alt code chart explains how the zero shifts between character tables.
AltGr shortcuts across different keyboard layouts
Many physical keyboards sold in Europe and the UK feature a dedicated euro shortcut printed on one of the number keys. On standard UK keyboards, hold AltGr (the right Alt key) and tap 4 to type €. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + 4 if your keyboard lacks an AltGr key. On Irish, Spanish, and German layouts, the euro is commonly mapped to AltGr + E. If you frequently write in European currencies, switching to the US International keyboard layout enables AltGr + 5 or AltGr + E across all Windows programs.
Laptops without keypads and Microsoft Word
Laptops without a dedicated numeric keypad cannot run alt codes using the top number row. In Microsoft Word and Outlook, you can type 20AC (the hexadecimal Unicode code point) and press Alt + X to convert it into €. Word also supports Ctrl + Alt + E. In any other Windows application, open the emoji and symbol panel by pressing Win + . (period), select the Ω symbol tab, and choose € from the currency section. You can also search for the symbol in the Windows Character Map utility.
Spreadsheets, formatting, and troubleshooting
In financial documents and spreadsheets, you often need to format numbers with currency signs. In Microsoft Excel, you can insert the character into formulas using =UNICHAR(8364) or read our euro sign in Excel guide for cell formatting rules. If Alt + 0128 fails, read our alt codes troubleshooting guide. If you also use macOS, see our euro sign on Mac tutorial. Find all technical encodings on the euro sign symbol page and discover related tenders in the currency symbols collection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Windows alt code for the euro sign?
The alt code is Alt + 0128 on the numeric keypad. You must type the leading zero; Alt + 128 produces Ç.
How do I type € on a UK Windows keyboard?
Press AltGr + 4, or press Ctrl + Alt + 4. On some UK laptop keyboards, the euro sign is printed directly on the 4 key.
How do I type € on a laptop without a number pad?
Press Win + . to open the emoji and symbols panel and pick €, or in Microsoft Word type 20AC followed by Alt + X.