How to type the pound sign on iPhone
To type the pound sign on iPhone, switch to the numbers keyboard by tapping 123, touch and hold the $ (dollar sign) key until the hidden currency menu appears, and slide your finger across to £. Release your finger to insert the British pound sign.
Quick answer
Tap 123 → press and hold $ → slide your finger to £ and release.
Step by step
Open the numbers keyboard
Tap the 123 key located in the bottom-left corner of the on-screen keyboard.
Hold the currency key
Touch and hold the $ key for about half a second until a menu of international currencies pops up.
Slide over to £
Without lifting your finger from the display, drag your finger across to highlight the £ sign.
Release your touch
Lift your finger from the screen to enter the pound sign into your text.
The iOS press-and-hold currency menu
The standard on-screen keyboard in iOS is designed to maximize typing space on compact phone screens. As a result, non-local currency signs are grouped beneath the primary currency symbol. When you hold your finger on the dollar key ($) on an American keyboard, iOS displays a pop-up strip featuring the euro (€), British pound (£), Japanese yen (¥), Korean won (₩), Indian rupee (₹), and cent (¢). The iPhone symbols guide details all other hidden characters available through long-pressing number and punctuation keys.
Using a British English keyboard layout
If you live in the United Kingdom or regularly text in pounds sterling, you can configure the British English layout as your primary or secondary keyboard. Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard and select English (UK). On the British keyboard, tapping 123 places the £ sign directly on the primary symbol row where the dollar sign usually sits. You can toggle between your installed keyboards seamlessly by tapping the globe icon next to the spacebar.
Setting up an automatic text expansion
If you prefer keeping your standard US keyboard, creating a Text Replacement shortcut takes only seconds. Copy the £ symbol from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement. Tap the plus button (+), paste £ into the Phrase field, and type an easy shortcut like gbp or ppound into the Shortcut field. Whenever you type that trigger in Messages, Mail, or Safari, iOS replaces it with £. Your shortcuts sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud automatically.
Tips for iPad and Android users
On iPadOS, you can also access the pound sign using Key Flicks: simply swipe down on the key displaying £ as an alternate character. If you use a physical keyboard attached to an iPad, use the Mac shortcut Option + 3. If you also handle Android smartphones, check out our companion guide on typing the pound sign on Android. Learn more about character origins on our pound sign symbol page, and discover other currencies in our currency symbols collection.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the pound sign on the iPhone keyboard?
Tap 123, then touch and hold the $ key until the currency menu opens. Slide your finger over to £ and release.
How do I make £ the default currency button on my iPhone?
Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard and choose English (UK). The £ key replaces $ on the numbers page.
Can I create a text shortcut for £ on iPhone?
Yes. In Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, add £ with a shortcut like gbp. Typing gbp will automatically convert to £.