How to type the plus-minus symbol (±) on iPhone
The standard iPhone keyboard has no plus minus symbol key, and ± is not hidden behind a long-press either. The reliable way is to copy ± once from this page, then save it as a Text Replacement so that a short code such as “pm+” turns into ± in any app.
Quick answer
Tap Copy above to copy ±, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as pm+.
Step by step
Copy the symbol
Tap the Copy button at the top of this page. ± is now on your clipboard.
Open Text Replacement
Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and tap +.
Paste and add a shortcut
Paste ± into the Phrase field, type a shortcut you would never type by accident, such as pm+, and tap Save.
Use it anywhere
Type pm+ followed by a space in Messages, Notes or Mail and it becomes ±.
Why there is no ± on the keyboard
Apple’s on-screen layouts keep only the most common punctuation and currency on the 123 and #+= pages. Maths signs such as ±, ÷ and √ are left out, and pressing and holding + or = does not offer ± on the English keyboards. That is why a text replacement is the best long-term fix.
It syncs to your Mac and iPad
Text replacements are stored in iCloud, so the shortcut you create on your iPhone also works on your iPad and Mac. If you already use Option + Shift + = on the Mac, see ± on a Mac; the phone shortcut will not interfere with it.
Other quick routes
- Keep this page as a bookmark or add it to your Home Screen from the Share menu, so ± is always two taps away.
- Use a hardware keyboard: with a Bluetooth or Magic Keyboard connected, Option + Shift + = types ± directly.
Check what you pasted
Some websites show “+/-” or a similar-looking character instead of the real sign. If ± looks too wide or sits oddly, paste it into our Unicode character lookup: the correct character is U+00B1 PLUS-MINUS SIGN. The plus-minus symbol page lists all its codes, and the iPhone symbols guide covers the symbols that do have keyboard shortcuts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I long-press a key to get ± on iPhone?
No. On the English iPhone keyboards neither + nor = offers ± in the long-press menu. Copy it and save it as a text replacement instead.
Will my ± shortcut work in every app?
Yes. Text replacements work in any app that uses the system keyboard, including WhatsApp, Mail and Notes.
What shortcut should I use for ±?
Pick something you never type by accident, such as pm+ or +-+. Avoid plain words, or they will be replaced in normal writing.