How to Type the Exclamation Mark (!) on Keyboard (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android)
The exclamation mark (!) is used in everyday writing (excitement, emphasis), warnings and alerts, and even in commands/coding in some tools.
Quick note: Spanish also uses an inverted exclamation mark (¡) at the start of an exclamation.
1-Minute Answer (Fastest Ways)
- Windows (US keyboard): Shift + 1 → !
- Mac (US keyboard): Shift + 1 → !
- iPhone / Android: tap 123 (or ?123) → tap !
- Chromebook (US keyboard): Shift + 1 → !
Not using a US keyboard?
Look at your keys for a printed ! (usually above another character). Hold Shift and press that key.
Quick Reference (Exclamation Mark)
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | ! |
| Name | Exclamation mark / Exclamation point |
| Unicode | U+0021 |
| ASCII | 33 |
| HTML | ! (but it’s usually safe to type ! directly) |
A) How to Type ! on Windows
Method 1: Standard Windows keyboard method (most common)
- Place your cursor where you want the exclamation mark.
- Hold Shift.
- Press 1 (top number row).
✅ Result: !
If your keyboard layout is different (non-US)
On many keyboards, ! is still on the same key as 1, but not always.
Try this:
- Look closely at the top row of keys and find ! printed on a key.
- Hold Shift and press that key.
Quick check: Is your Shift key working?
Open a blank note/text box and try:
- Type a letter without Shift: a
- Now hold Shift and type: A
If you can’t make uppercase letters, your Shift key (or keyboard settings) is likely the problem (see Troubleshooting below).
B) How to Type ! on Mac
Method 1: Standard Mac keyboard method (most common)
- Place your cursor.
- Hold Shift.
- Press 1.
✅ Result: !
If your Mac keyboard layout is different
- Look for the key that has ! printed on it.
- Hold Shift and press that key.
C) How to Type ! in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
In Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, the exclamation mark is typed the same way:
- Windows: Shift + 1
- Mac: Shift + 1
If ! won’t type inside Word/Excel/PowerPoint, it’s almost never an AutoCorrect or formatting issue for this symbol. It’s usually:
- Shift key problem, or
- Keyboard layout/language mismatch.
(Use the Troubleshooting section below.)
D) How to Type ! in Google Docs and Google Sheets
Same method here too:
- Windows: Shift + 1
- Mac: Shift + 1
- If you’re on mobile: 123 / ?123 → !
If the wrong symbol appears, it’s usually your keyboard language/layout.
E) How to Type ! on iPhone and Android
iPhone
- Tap where you want the symbol.
- Tap 123.
- Tap ! (often near the top row of symbols).
Android
- Tap where you want the symbol.
- Tap ?123 (or 123 depending on your keyboard).
- Tap !.
Tip: If you type a lot of Spanish punctuation (like ¡ and ¿), adding the Spanish keyboard makes it much easier.
F) How to Type ! on a Chromebook
Most Chromebooks use the same shortcut:
- Shift + 1 → !
If it doesn’t work:
- Check your keyboard language (see Troubleshooting).
“!” vs “¡” (Inverted Exclamation)
! = used in English and most languages at the end of an exclamation.
¡ = used in Spanish at the beginning of an exclamation (and you still end with !).
Example: ¡Hola!
Quick ways to type ¡
- Windows (Alt code): Hold Alt and type 0161 on the numeric keypad → ¡
- Mac (US keyboard): Option + 1 → ¡
- iPhone/Android: easiest method is to enable the Spanish keyboard, then find ¡ on the punctuation/symbol screen.
If you have a dedicated page for inverted exclamation (¡), link to it here. If not, this is a great supporting page to create.
Troubleshooting (If ! Won’t Type)
1) Shift key not working
Try these quick checks:
- Try the other Shift key (left Shift vs right Shift).
- Restart your computer.
- If you can, test with an external keyboard (this quickly tells you if it’s a laptop hardware issue).
- If uppercase letters won’t type, Shift is the likely cause.
2) Wrong symbol appears when pressing Shift + 1
This usually means your keyboard layout/language is not what you think.
Fix (Windows idea in plain steps):
- Check the language/keyboard indicator (often near the clock).
- Switch to your expected layout (for example, US or UK).
- Test Shift + 1 again.
Fix (Chromebook idea):
- Go to keyboard/input settings and confirm the correct input language.
3) On some laptops, number row needs Fn (rare)
On a few compact keyboards, the number row may behave differently.
- Try Fn + Shift + (key that has !)
If this feels confusing, the layout/language issue is more likely than Fn.
FAQ (People Also Ask)
How do you type an exclamation mark on a laptop?
Usually: Shift + 1 (on the top number row). If you don’t see it there, look for ! printed on another key and press Shift with that key.
Where is the exclamation mark key?
On most keyboards, it’s on the same key as 1. You type it by holding Shift.
Why won’t my keyboard type !?
Most common reasons:
- Shift key isn’t working
- Your keyboard layout/language is set to a different one (so Shift + 1 outputs something else)
How do I type ¡ (inverted exclamation)?
- Windows: Alt + 0161 (numeric keypad)
- Mac: Option + 1
- Phone: enable Spanish keyboard, then find ¡
What’s the ASCII/Unicode for !?
- ASCII: 33
- Unicode: U+0021
Quick Recap
- Windows/Mac/Chromebook (most keyboards): Shift + 1 → !
- Phone: 123 / ?123 → !
- If it won’t type: test Shift, then check keyboard layout/language
- Spanish uses ¡ at the start of exclamations