How to Type Euro Symbol (€) on Any Device

The fastest way to type the euro symbol depends on your device: Windows users press Alt + 0128 (on the numeric keypad), Mac users press Option + Shift + 2, and mobile users press and hold the $ key to reveal the € option. If you don’t have a numeric keypad or those shortcuts don’t work, Windows + period (.) opens an emoji picker where you can find it under currency symbols.

The euro symbol appears on some European keyboards as a dedicated key (usually AltGr + E or AltGr + 4), but most keyboards outside Europe require shortcuts or workarounds. Once you know which method works for your setup, typing € becomes second nature.

Why the Euro Symbol Is Tricky to Type

Unlike the dollar sign ($) or pound sign (£) that appear directly on most keyboards, the euro symbol occupies secondary or tertiary positions—if it exists at all. This made sense when keyboards were designed before the euro’s introduction in 1999, but it’s less logical now that the euro is the second-most traded currency globally after the US dollar.

The result: 20 EU countries use the euro daily, but typing its symbol still requires memorizing shortcuts or hunting through character menus. The methods below solve this problem for every major platform.

Windows: Three Ways to Type €

Method 1: Alt Code (Most Reliable)

This works on any Windows computer with a numeric keypad:

Step 1: Make sure Num Lock is on (the Num Lock light should be lit)

Step 2: Hold down the Alt key

Step 3: Type 0128 on the numeric keypad (the separate number pad on the right side of full-size keyboards)

Step 4: Release Alt

The € symbol appears where your cursor is positioned.

Important: This only works with the numeric keypad, not the number row above the letters. Laptops without a numeric keypad need to use Fn + Alt + the laptop’s embedded numeric keys (usually marked on the J, K, L, U, I, O keys), though this varies by laptop model and often doesn’t work reliably.

Method 2: AltGr Shortcut (European Keyboards)

If you have a European keyboard layout (UK, German, French, Spanish, etc.), you likely have an AltGr key (right Alt key):

Option A: Press AltGr + 4

Option B: Press AltGr + E

Which one works depends on your specific keyboard layout. Try both if you have an AltGr key.

Method 3: Windows Emoji Picker (No Numeric Keypad)

This method works on all Windows 10 and 11 computers, including laptops:

Step 1: Press Windows + . (period) or Windows + ; (semicolon)

Step 2: Click the Ω (Omega) symbol icon at the top

Step 3: Select Currency Symbols

Step 4: Click the € symbol

This inserts the euro symbol at your cursor position. It’s slower than keyboard shortcuts but doesn’t require a numeric keypad.

Bonus: Character Map (When Nothing Else Works)

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open Run dialog

Step 2: Type charmap and press Enter

Step 3: Find the € symbol in the grid (or type “Euro” in the search box if available)

Step 4: Click Select, then Copy

Step 5: Paste it into your document with Ctrl + V

Character Map is overkill for regular typing but useful if shortcuts aren’t working due to keyboard layout conflicts. It also works for accessing other currency symbols like the cent symbol (¢) or pound sign when you need them rarely.

Mac: Two Simple Methods

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)

Press Option + Shift + 2 simultaneously.

The € symbol appears instantly. This works across all Mac applications—TextEdit, Pages, Microsoft Word, web browsers, email clients, everything.

On some older Mac keyboards or non-US layouts, Option + 2 (without Shift) might work instead. Try both if one doesn’t work.

Method 2: Character Viewer

Step 1: Press Control + Command + Spacebar

Step 2: Type “euro” in the search box

Step 3: Double-click the € symbol to insert it

The Character Viewer is useful when you need multiple special characters in one session—you can keep it open and insert various symbols without memorizing shortcuts.

Linux: Compose Key and Unicode Methods

Method 1: Compose Key (Most User-Friendly)

If you’ve enabled the Compose key in your keyboard settings:

Step 1: Press your designated Compose key (often right Alt, right Windows key, or Menu key)

Step 2: Type = then E

The € symbol appears. The Compose key method works consistently across Linux distributions once configured.

To Enable Compose Key:

• Ubuntu/GNOME: Settings → Keyboard → Special Character Entry → Compose Key
• KDE: System Settings → Input Devices → Keyboard → Advanced → Position of Compose Key
• Choose which key to use as your Compose key (Right Alt is common)

Method 2: Unicode Direct Input

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + U

Step 2: Type 20AC

Step 3: Press Enter or Space

The € symbol appears. This works in most Linux applications and doesn’t require Compose key setup. The Unicode method also works for any symbol if you know its Unicode value.

Mobile Devices: Press and Hold

Android and iPhone (Same Method)

Step 1: Open your keyboard in any app

Step 2: Switch to the numbers/symbols keyboard (usually a “123” button)

Step 3: Press and hold the $ (dollar sign) key

Step 4: Slide your finger to the € symbol when it appears, or tap it

Different keyboard apps show symbols in different orders, but the euro symbol consistently appears when long-pressing the dollar sign. This also works for other currency symbols like £, ¥, ₹, and ₩.

Some third-party keyboard apps (SwiftKey, Gboard) place the euro symbol in slightly different positions, but the press-and-hold method works universally.

Microsoft Word: Special Shortcuts

Word offers its own euro symbol shortcuts beyond standard Windows methods:

Windows Word Shortcut

Press Ctrl + Alt + E

This works only in Microsoft Word and is faster than Alt codes if you write about European finance frequently.

Mac Word Shortcut

Use the standard Mac shortcut: Option + Shift + 2

Word respects system-wide Mac shortcuts, so no special Word-specific combination is needed.

Insert Symbol Menu (Universal)

Step 1: Click Insert tab

Step 2: Click Symbol → More Symbols

Step 3: Find € in the grid (or type “Euro” in the Character code search)

Step 4: Click Insert

You can also click “Shortcut Key” to assign your own custom shortcut for the euro symbol in Word.

Google Docs: Insert Special Characters

Google Docs doesn’t support keyboard shortcuts for special symbols beyond what your operating system provides (so Mac’s Option + Shift + 2 works, but Windows shortcuts may not).

The Google Docs Method

Step 1: Click Insert → Special characters

Step 2: In the search box, type “euro”

Step 3: Click the € symbol to insert it

Alternatively, draw the symbol in the drawing box that appears—Google’s handwriting recognition usually identifies the euro symbol from a rough sketch.

Copy-Paste Alternative

Keep a reference euro symbol somewhere (a note file, pinned message, or even this page bookmarked) and copy-paste it when needed. Not elegant, but effective if you rarely need the symbol.

HTML and Web Development

HTML Entities

Use either of these in your HTML code, (€) :

€

or (€)

€

Both render as € in the browser. The named entity (€) is more readable in source code, while the numeric entity (€) works even if character encoding isn’t properly set.

CSS Content Property

Insert the euro symbol via CSS using Unicode:

.price::before {
  content: "\20AC";
}

This adds € before any element with the price class without requiring the symbol in your HTML.

JavaScript and Unicode

Reference the euro symbol in JavaScript using Unicode escape:

const euroSymbol = "\u20AC";
console.log(`Price: ${euroSymbol}50`); // Outputs: Price: €50

This works in JavaScript, Python, Java, and most programming languages that support Unicode.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Alt + 0128 Doesn’t Work

Cause: Num Lock is off, you’re using the number row instead of numeric keypad, or your laptop doesn’t have a numeric keypad.

Solution: Check Num Lock status. If you’re on a laptop without a numeric keypad, use the Windows + period emoji picker instead. Some laptops have an embedded numeric keypad activated with Fn + NumLock, but this varies by manufacturer.

Problem: Nothing Happens When I Press Option + Shift + 2 on Mac

Cause: You might have a non-US keyboard layout, or keyboard shortcuts are disabled for that key combination.

Solution: Try Option + 2 (without Shift). Check System Preferences → Keyboard → Input Sources to see your keyboard layout. Some European Mac keyboards use different combinations.

Problem: The Symbol Looks Wrong or Doesn’t Display

Cause: The font you’re using doesn’t include the euro symbol (rare but possible with very old or specialized fonts).

Solution: Switch to a standard font like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Helvetica. All modern fonts include the euro symbol. If you’re viewing text from someone else and see a blank box or wrong character, the issue is on the sender’s end—they may have used unusual encoding.

Problem: Euro Symbol Appears in the Wrong Place

Cause: You’re typing the shortcut but have your cursor positioned incorrectly, or there’s a delay in character insertion.

Solution: Click exactly where you want the symbol before pressing the shortcut. In some applications, especially web browsers, there might be a brief delay—wait a second before assuming the shortcut didn’t work.

When You Need € Frequently: Custom Solutions

AutoHotkey (Windows)

If you type the euro symbol constantly and hate the Alt + 0128 method, AutoHotkey lets you create custom shortcuts:

!e::Send {€}  ; Alt+E types euro symbol

This makes Alt + E type €, which is much faster than Alt + 0128. Download AutoHotkey (free) and create a script file with this line.

Text Replacement (Mac and iOS)

Create a text replacement shortcut:

Mac: System Preferences → Keyboard → Text → Add (+) button

iPhone/iPad: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement

Set it so typing “eur” automatically expands to €. This works system-wide across all apps.

Browser Extensions

If you primarily need the euro symbol for web-based work, browser extensions like “Characters” or “Special Characters” add quick-access buttons for currency symbols and other special characters.

Understanding Unicode: U+20AC

The euro symbol’s official Unicode designation is U+20AC (hexadecimal 20AC = decimal 8364). This matters when:

• Programming and you need to reference the symbol
• Using Unicode input methods
• Troubleshooting why a symbol doesn’t display correctly (checking if the font supports U+20AC)
• Creating custom keyboard layouts

Most people never need to know this, but understanding that every character has a unique Unicode number helps explain why different input methods (Alt codes, Unicode entry, HTML entities) all produce the same symbol.

Euro Symbol vs. Other Currency Symbols

The euro symbol follows the same pattern as other major currency symbols—awkward Windows Alt codes, straightforward Mac shortcuts, and mobile press-and-hold access.

Regional Keyboard Differences

UK Keyboards

UK keyboards typically have the euro symbol printed on the 4 key. Press AltGr + 4 to type it.

German (QWERTZ) Keyboards

German keyboards show the euro symbol on the E key. Press AltGr + E.

French (AZERTY) Keyboards

French keyboards also use AltGr + E, with the symbol marked on the E key.

US International Keyboards

Standard US keyboards don’t have the euro symbol printed anywhere, but it’s still accessible through Alt codes or the emoji picker.

If you frequently type in multiple languages, consider switching your keyboard layout to “US International” which includes dead keys for accents and easier access to European characters including the euro symbol.

The Bottom Line

For most people, memorizing one shortcut is enough: Alt + 0128 on Windows or Option + Shift + 2 on Mac. Keep this page bookmarked if you forget—typing the euro symbol is one of those tasks you do just infrequently enough to forget the exact keys.

Mobile users have it easiest: press and hold the dollar sign on any keyboard. If you’re on a laptop without a numeric keypad, remember Windows + period to open the emoji picker and find the euro symbol under currency symbols.

The euro isn’t going anywhere—it’s used by 340 million Europeans daily and appears in international finance constantly. Learning to type € quickly is a small investment that pays off every time you need to write about European prices, travel costs, or financial data.