How do I get a pound or euro symbol? All about the ALT key.

Update 14/01/2010 - I've created a tiny "currency keys" program which, when running allows you to press CTRL+1,2,3,4 or 5 for ¥,€,£,$,¢.
If popular I'll create a little installer for it and make it optional to run at startup. Please leave feedback if you like it.

If you need to use symbols or characters not easily accessible on your keyboard you can access them via your ALT key on any Windows PC.

Just hold the left ALT key and type the number for the symbol using the number pad on the keyboard (rather than the numbers on the top line).

  • Alt 156 - £ (Pound)
  • Alt 0128 - € (Euro)
  • Alt 155 - ¢ (Cent)
  • Alt 157 - ¥ (Yen)

Remember that on laptops the number pad is usually located on the main keyboard in blue numbers and accessed via the matching blue 'Fn' key (typically on the bottom left of the keyboard) .

Function Key

So on laptops it will go something like:-

  • Hold Alt + Fn
  • Type number e.g. 156 for a pound symbol - usually 'jio' on a laptop keyboard
  • Let go of Alt + Fn

There are symbols for languages, drawing, punctuation and lots more. Check out this full list of ALT codes in categories.

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Yep and for all those UK Dell Mini 10 customers who're struggling with £ " and @ - you just need to go into control panel (classic view): regions and languages: and then change everything that says US to UK!

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Excellent! Thank you!eve

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Afraid changing the regions and country setting doesnt always give you the pound sign either. Certainly not on my Acer PC..

Excellent now i can use the £ sign in a few steps wish i had discovered this months ago

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Hey its simple yaar...

switch on the NUM lock. Now use same as the keyboard shortcut. i.e. ALT + 0163.

Thanks
Jaggs

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Brilliant. Thank you for your lovely programme.

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ITS VERY GOOD, JUST GREAT & SIMPLE

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Brilliant!!!

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Thank you it worked perfectly!!!

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Hey! Thanks for the currency keys program! :) Worked great!!

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Brilliant - Thanks.

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Hey guys thanks for update of short cut keys.
But guys/girls if u understand that is damn easy.
Just hold the ALt and start using the numbers from 1,2,3.....
u will find all the numbers, alphabets and symbols.

Sufi/Avi


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