How to type the registered trademark symbol on a Mac
The registered trademark symbol on a Mac is Option + R. Hold Option, press R and ® appears in any app on the US layout. It pairs with Option + 2 for ™ and Option + G for ©.
Quick answer
Press Option + R → ®
Step by step
Type the brand name
The mark follows the name directly, with no space.
Hold Option and press R
The registered sign appears at the cursor.
Superscript it if needed
In Pages or Word, select ® and apply superscript so it sits above the line.
Raising ® above the baseline
Most fonts draw ® as large as a capital letter, which can look heavy. In Pages, select it and choose Format → Font → Baseline → Superscript (Control + Command + +). In Word for Mac the shortcut is Command + Shift + =. Superscript is formatting, so it disappears in plain-text places such as a product title field or a tweet.
® or ™?
Use ® only for a trademark that a national office has registered. For a brand you claim but have not registered, use ™ (Option + 2); our trademark symbol on Mac page covers it. In the US and many other countries, marking an unregistered name with ® can count as false advertising, so it is worth checking before you publish.
When Option + R does not work
A few apps grab Option + R for their own commands, and non-US layouts may place ® on another key. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search “registered”, or copy ® from the registered trademark symbol page. You can also create a text replacement so that “(r)” becomes ®, which mirrors what Word does on Windows.
On the web
In HTML, write ® or paste the character into a UTF-8 page, and wrap it in <sup> if you want it raised. The other brand and copyright marks are collected in legal symbols.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mac shortcut for ®?
Option + R on the US layout.
How do I make ® superscript on a Mac?
Select it and press Control + Command + + in Pages, or Command + Shift + = in Word for Mac.
Should I use ® or ™ for my brand?
® only after the trademark is registered; ™ for a claimed but unregistered mark.