How to type the pound sign on Android
To type the pound sign on Android keyboards such as Gboard or Samsung Keyboard, tap the ?123 button to view numbers and symbols, touch and hold the $ (dollar) key to open the currency menu, and slide your finger across to £.
Quick answer
Tap ?123 → long-press $ → slide your finger to £ and release.
Step by step
Switch to symbols
Tap the ?123 key (or !#1 on Samsung devices) in the bottom-left corner of your on-screen keyboard.
Long-press the dollar key
Press and hold the $ key until a horizontal palette of international currency symbols pops up.
Slide to select £
Drag your finger along the pop-up until the £ sign is highlighted.
Lift your finger
Release your touch to insert the pound sign into your text field.
Typing £ with Google Gboard
Google Gboard is installed on most modern Android devices. After tapping ?123 to open the numbers layout, long-pressing the dollar sign ($) displays a pop-up tray containing the British pound (£), euro (€), yen (¥), and cent (¢). Alternatively, you can tap the =< button located on the left side of Gboard to view the second symbol page, where the £ sign has its own individual key. For more tips on mastering Google's keyboard, see our Android symbols guide.
Typing £ on Samsung Galaxy devices
On Samsung smartphones, the default Samsung Keyboard functions similarly. Tap !#1 to switch to numeric mode, then long-press the dollar sign to reveal the £ symbol. You can also tap the 1/2 button above the bottom row to toggle between symbol pages. If you use the pound sign regularly, Samsung Keyboard allows you to customize the punctuation keys flanking the spacebar: go to Keyboard settings → Layout → Custom symbols and swap an unused mark for £.
Adding a text shortcut in Gboard
If you calculate expenses in British pounds or invoice UK customers often, you can create a personal dictionary shortcut in Gboard. Go to Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard → Dictionary → Personal dictionary. Tap the plus icon (+), paste £ into the Phrase line, and set the shortcut to gbp. Whenever you type that short code in an email or text message, Gboard will present £ in the predictive suggestion strip above your keyboard.
Clipboard pinning and cross-platform tips
Android includes a built-in clipboard history tool that can keep currency symbols handy. Copy the pound sign from our pound sign symbol page, open your keyboard's clipboard panel, find the copied symbol, and tap the pin icon so it never gets deleted. If you also type on desktop computers or Apple devices, read our guides on typing the pound sign on Windows and the pound sign on iPhone, or browse the complete currency symbols collection.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the pound sign on Android keyboards?
Tap ?123, then long-press the $ key to open the currency popup, or tap =\< to find £ directly on the second symbols page.
How do I type £ on a Samsung Galaxy keyboard?
Tap !#1 to switch to numbers, touch and hold the $ key, and drag your finger to £. You can also find it on page 2 of the symbol drawer.
Can I make £ the default currency sign on Android?
Yes. If you add English (UK) as an input language in your keyboard settings, £ replaces $ as the default symbol key.