Ever tried typing 37°C and spent five minutes hunting for that tiny circle? Yeah, me too. Last winter when I was writing a baking blog, I needed °F for oven temperatures and almost rage-quit because my laptop refused to cooperate. That's why I'm dumping everything I've learned about getting the degree sign on keyboard – no fluff, just what works.
Why This Tiny Symbol Causes Big Headaches
Funny how something so small can be so annoying. Whether you're typing temperatures for a recipe (450°F anyone?), math angles, or weather reports, that degree symbol matters. Problem is, most keyboards don't have a dedicated key for it. Even after years as a tech writer, I still curse when Alt codes fail me on cheap keyboards.
Windows Degree Symbol Hacks
Windows users, listen up. That numpad is your best friend here. On my Dell laptop, I use this daily:
The Classic Alt Code Method
Hold Alt + type 0176 on numpad. Release Alt → ° appears. But here's the catch: Must use numpad, not top-row numbers! If your laptop lacks numpad (like my travel Lenovo), try these:
| Method | Steps | Works When... |
|---|---|---|
| Character Map | Search "charmap" > find ° > copy/paste | You're desperate (slow but reliable) |
| Keyboard Shortcut | Win + . > Symbols tab > Punctuation | Windows 10/11 (my personal go-to now) |
Mac Shortcuts That Actually Work
Mac folks have it easier. At my coworking space, I constantly steal my colleague's MacBook just for this:
The Magic Key Combo
Press Option + Shift + 8. Instantly get °. Consistent across apps – unlike Windows. Alternatives:
- Emoji Viewer: Control + Command + Space > search "degree"
- Hidden Menu: Edit > Emoji & Symbols in menu bar (cumbersome for frequent use)
Mobile Tricks for Phones/Tablets
Needing a degree sign on keyboard while texting? On iPhone:
- Tap 123 key
- Long-press 0 (zero)
- Slide to select °
Android varies by keyboard. On Samsung:
- Tap ?!# key > then =\<
- Find ° in symbols (often row 2)
Pro tip: Create text replacement (iOS: Settings > General > Keyboards). I set "deg" to auto-convert to °. Lifesaver!
Software-Specific Degree Symbol Shortcuts
Programs like Word have hidden tricks. These saved me during thesis writing:
Microsoft Word/Excel
Type 00B0 then press Alt + X. Boom – converts to °. Or use Insert > Symbol. Bonus: AutoCorrect can replace "deg" with °.
Google Docs Shortcuts
No direct shortcut (annoying!). Workaround: Insert > Special Characters > search "degree". Or install "AutoCorrect" add-on.
Universal Copy-Paste Workarounds
When all else fails, cheat:
| Symbol | Copy-Friendly Version |
|---|---|
| Degree symbol | ° |
| Temperature examples | 25°C | 77°F |
Bookmark this page and steal these anytime. I keep a sticky note with ° on my monitor – no shame!
Degree Symbol FAQs: Real Questions I Get
Q: Why won’t Alt+0176 work on my laptop?
A: Likely no numpad. Try Fn + Alt + MJ76 (weird but works on some HPs). Or use Windows key + period method.
Q: Can I type the degree symbol without numpad?
A: Absolutely. Use on-screen keyboard (Win+Ctrl+O) or character map. Chrome extensions like "Symbol Keyboard" also help.
Q: How about Linux systems?
A: Ctrl + Shift + U then type 00B0. Requires Unicode input enabled.
Q: Is there a difference between ° and º?
A: YES! The second is masculine ordinal (Spanish). Using º for temperatures looks amateurish. Trust me, I've been called out.
Cheat Sheet: Degree Symbol Methods Ranked
After testing all methods, here's my brutally honest ranking:
| Method | Speed | Difficulty | Device Compatibility | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac: Option+Shift+8 | Instant | ⭐ | Mac only | ★★★★★ |
| Windows: Win+. | 3 seconds | ⭐⭐ | Win 10/11 | ★★★★☆ |
| Alt+0176 (Windows) | 5 seconds | ⭐⭐⭐ | Windows with numpad | ★★★☆☆ |
| Mobile long-press | 2 seconds | ⭐ | iOS/Android | ★★★★★ |
| Character Map | 15+ seconds | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | All Windows | ★★☆☆☆ (last resort!) |
Pro Tips from My Own Screwups
- Keyboard layout matters: On UK keyboards, try AltGr + ⇧ Shift + ;
- Web forms sometimes block special chars: Use ° in HTML code
- Font compatibility: Some fonts render ° as a square. Switch to Arial/Helvetica
Remember when I said I rage-quit over this? Now I teach people how to find the degree sign on keyboard like it's muscle memory. Whether you're updating weather apps or doing math homework, these tricks actually work in real life – not just in theory. Go try one right now!
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