How to Type the Mu Symbol μ on Keyboard: Windows, Mac, Word, Excel, Google Docs & Phone

The mu symbol looks like this: μ.

Mu is a Greek letter, but it is also commonly used in science, statistics, measurements, physics, engineering, and mathematics. It can represent the population mean in statistics, the micro prefix in measurements, and different variables in formulas.

You may see it in examples like:

μ = 25

μm

μg

μL

This guide will show you how to type the mu symbol on Windows, Mac, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Google Sheets, iPhone, Android, Chromebook, HTML, and web pages.

You can copy and paste the mu symbol from this page, or you can use the keyboard shortcuts and symbol tools explained below.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer: How to Type the Mu Symbol

The fastest way to type the mu symbol depends on your device or app.

Device or App	Shortcut or Method	Result
Windows	Hold Alt and type 230 on the numeric keypad	μ
Microsoft Word	Type 03BC, then press Alt + X	μ
Microsoft Word Equation	Type \mu, then press Space	μ
Mac	Use Character Viewer or copy and paste	μ
Google Docs	Go to Insert > Special characters and search for mu	μ
HTML	Use `μ` or `μ`	μ
Unicode	U+03BC	μ

Copy the Mu Symbol

Click any mu symbol, micro sign, Greek letter, or code below to copy it, then paste it into Word, Excel, Google Docs, your website, or any other app.

Mu symbols

Common mu unit examples

Related Greek letters

Web codes for mu

What Is the Mu Symbol?

The mu symbol is a Greek letter.

The lowercase mu symbol is:

The uppercase mu symbol is:

Mu is the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet. In English, it is written as the word mu, but in mathematics, statistics, science, and measurement, the symbol μ is commonly used.

You may see mu in:

Statistics
Mathematics
Physics
Engineering
Chemistry
Biology
Measurements
Academic writing
Scientific reports

For example:

μ = 10

or:

μm

or:

μg

Mu Symbol Quick Reference

Item	Lowercase Mu	Uppercase Mu	Micro Sign
Symbol	μ	Μ	µ
Name	Greek small letter mu	Greek capital letter mu	Micro sign
Unicode	U+03BC	U+039C	U+00B5
Word Unicode Shortcut	03BC, then Alt + X	039C, then Alt + X	00B5, then Alt + X
Windows Alt Code	Alt + 230	—	Alt + 0181
HTML Entity	`μ`	`Μ`	`µ`
HTML Decimal Code	`μ`	`Μ`	`µ`
HTML Hex Code	`μ`	`Μ`	`µ`

Important: The Greek lowercase mu μ and the micro sign µ look very similar. In many cases, they look almost the same. For Greek letters and statistics, use μ. For the micro prefix in units, μ is widely used, but you may also see the dedicated micro sign µ.

Mu Symbol vs Micro Sign

The mu symbol μ and the micro sign µ are easy to confuse because they look very similar.

Symbol	Name	Unicode	Common Use
μ	Greek small letter mu	U+03BC	Greek letter, statistics, formulas, science
µ	Micro sign	U+00B5	Micro prefix in units, especially older or unit-focused text

For most normal writing, the Greek mu μ is the safest choice. It works well for statistics, formulas, and scientific writing.

For measurement units, you may see either form:

μm or µm

Both are commonly understood as micrometer, but if you are following a strict style guide, use the version your textbook, teacher, journal, or software requires.

Method 1: Type the Mu Symbol on Windows Using Alt Code

On Windows, you can type the lowercase mu symbol using an Alt code.

The common Alt code for lowercase mu is:

Alt + 230

This can work in many Windows apps, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Notepad, and some text boxes.

Steps to type μ on Windows

Click where you want to insert the mu symbol.
Turn on Num Lock.
Hold down the Alt key.
While holding Alt, type 230 using the numeric keypad.
Release the Alt key.

You should get:

Important note about Alt codes

Alt codes usually require the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard.

The number row above the letters may not work.

So this should work:

Alt + 230 using the numeric keypad

But this may not work:

Alt + 230 using the top number row

Alt code for the micro sign

If you specifically need the micro sign µ, use:

Alt + 0181

Steps:

Hold Alt.
Type 0181 on the numeric keypad.
Release Alt.

You should get: µ

What if my laptop has no numeric keypad?

If your laptop does not have a numeric keypad, use one of these methods instead:

Copy and paste μ
Use Microsoft Word’s Unicode shortcut: 03BC, then Alt + X
Use Insert Symbol in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
Use Windows Character Map
Use Google Docs Special characters

Method 2: Type the Mu Symbol in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word gives you several reliable ways to insert the mu symbol.

The best methods are:

Use the Unicode shortcut: 03BC, then Alt + X
Use Insert > Symbol
Use the Equation tool
Use the Windows Alt code
Copy and paste the symbol

Option A: Use the Word Unicode Shortcut

This is one of the best ways to type the mu symbol in Microsoft Word on Windows.

The Unicode for lowercase mu is:

03BC

Steps

Open Microsoft Word.
Click where you want the mu symbol.
Type 03BC.
Press Alt + X.

Word will convert 03BC into: μ

For uppercase mu

The Unicode for uppercase mu is:

039C

To type uppercase mu in Word:

Type 039C.
Press Alt + X.

You should get: Μ

For the micro sign

The Unicode for the micro sign is:

00B5

To type it in Word:

Type 00B5.
Press Alt + X.

You should get: µ

Option B: Use Insert Symbol in Word

You can also insert mu from Word’s Symbol menu.

Steps

Open Microsoft Word.
Click where you want the mu symbol.
Go to the Insert tab.
Click Symbol.
Click More Symbols if needed.
In the font box, choose normal text or a common font.
In the subset box, choose Greek and Coptic.
Find and select μ.
Click Insert.
Click Close.

This method is good if you do not want to remember any code.

Tip: If you specifically need the micro sign µ, look in the Latin-1 Supplement subset instead, or search for the micro sign if your Symbol window supports search.

Option C: Use the Equation Tool in Word

If you are writing a formula, the Equation tool may be the best option.

Steps

Open Microsoft Word.
Go to the Insert tab.
Click Equation.
Type \mu inside the equation box.
Press Space.

Word should convert it into: μ

This method is especially useful when mu is part of a mathematical or statistical equation.

Example

Type this inside a Word equation:

\mu

Then press Space.

You get: μ

Option D: Use Alt + 230 in Word

You can also use the Windows Alt code inside Word.

Click where you want the mu symbol.
Turn on Num Lock.
Hold Alt.
Type 230 on the numeric keypad.
Release Alt.

You should get: μ

Method 3: Type the Mu Symbol in Excel

You can insert the mu symbol in Excel using several methods.

The easiest options are:

Copy and paste μ
Use Alt + 230 on Windows
Use Insert > Symbol
Use the UNICHAR function in formulas

Option A: Use Alt Code in Excel on Windows

Click the cell where you want the mu symbol.
Turn on Num Lock.
Hold Alt.
Type 230 on the numeric keypad.
Release Alt.

The mu symbol should appear in the cell: μ

Option B: Use Insert Symbol in Excel

Click the cell where you want the mu symbol.
Go to the Insert tab.
Click Symbol.
In the subset box, choose Greek and Coptic.
Select μ.
Click Insert.
Close the Symbol window.

This is a reliable method if the Alt code does not work.

Option C: Use the UNICHAR Function in Excel

In Excel, you can also use the UNICHAR function.

The Unicode decimal number for lowercase mu is:

956

So you can type this formula into a cell:

=UNICHAR(956)

This returns:

For uppercase mu, use:

=UNICHAR(924)

This returns: Μ

For the micro sign, use:

=UNICHAR(181)

This returns: µ

This method is useful if you want Excel to generate the symbol as part of a formula.

Option D: Add Mu to Measurement Units in Excel

Mu is often used in measurement units such as:

μm

μg

μL

To type one of these in Excel, insert the mu symbol first, then type the unit letter after it.

Examples:

Unit	Meaning
μm	micrometer
μg	microgram
μL	microliter
μs	microsecond
μA	microampere
μF	microfarad

Method 4: Type the Mu Symbol in PowerPoint

PowerPoint supports the same basic methods as Word and Excel.

You can use:

Alt + 230 on Windows
Insert > Symbol
Copy and paste
Equation tool, if you are creating a formula

Use Alt Code in PowerPoint on Windows

Click inside a text box.
Turn on Num Lock.
Hold Alt.
Type 230 on the numeric keypad.
Release Alt.

You should get: μ

Use Insert Symbol in PowerPoint

Click inside your text box.
Go to Insert.
Click Symbol.
Choose Greek and Coptic from the subset list.
Select μ.
Click Insert.

Use Equation in PowerPoint

If you are writing a formula:

Go to Insert.
Click Equation.
Type \mu.
Press Space.

PowerPoint should convert it into: μ

Method 5: Type the Mu Symbol on Mac

Mac does not have a simple universal keyboard shortcut for Greek mu in every app.

The easiest methods on Mac are:

Copy and paste μ
Use Character Viewer
Use the Equation tool in Word or PowerPoint
Use a text replacement shortcut

Option A: Copy and Paste on Mac

Copy this symbol: μ

Then paste it where you need it using:

Command + V

Option B: Use Character Viewer on Mac

Mac has a built-in Character Viewer that lets you search for Greek letters and symbols.

Steps

Click where you want the mu symbol.
Press Control + Command + Space.
The Character Viewer will open.
Search for mu.
Double-click μ to insert it.

You can also search for micro if you need the micro sign µ.

Option C: Create a Text Replacement Shortcut on Mac

If you type mu often, you can create a shortcut.

For example:

mux → μ

Steps

Open System Settings.
Go to Keyboard.
Find Text Replacements.
Add a new replacement.
In the shortcut field, type mux.
In the replacement field, paste μ.
Save it.

Now, when you type mux, your Mac can replace it with μ.

Use a shortcut that you do not normally type by accident.

Method 6: Type the Mu Symbol in Google Docs

Google Docs makes it easy to insert the mu symbol using Special characters.

Option A: Use Insert Special Characters

Open Google Docs.
Click where you want the mu symbol.
Go to Insert.
Click Special characters.
In the search box, type mu.
Click the μ symbol.

Google Docs will insert mu into your document.

Option B: Search for Micro in Google Docs

If you specifically need the micro sign µ, you can also search for:

micro

Then choose the symbol that matches your need.

Option C: Copy and Paste in Google Docs

Copy this symbol: μ

Then paste it into Google Docs using:

Ctrl + V on Windows

or:

Command + V on Mac

Option D: Create a Mu Shortcut in Google Docs

If you type mu often, you can create a substitution.

For example:

mux → μ

Steps

Open Google Docs.
Go to Tools.
Click Preferences.
Go to Substitutions.
Add your shortcut in the left box, such as mux.
Paste μ in the right box.
Click OK.

Now Google Docs can replace your shortcut with the mu symbol.

Method 7: Type the Mu Symbol in Google Sheets

Google Sheets does not have the same Special characters menu as Google Docs in the same way, so the easiest method is usually copy and paste.

Copy and paste method

Copy this symbol: μ
Open Google Sheets.
Click the cell where you want it.
Press Ctrl + V or Command + V.

Use Alt Code on Windows

If you are using Google Sheets on Windows:

Click the cell.
Hold Alt.
Type 230 on the numeric keypad.
Release Alt.

You should get: μ

Use UNICHAR in Google Sheets

Google Sheets supports the UNICHAR function.

To return lowercase mu, type:

=UNICHAR(956)

To return uppercase mu, type:

=UNICHAR(924)

To return the micro sign, type:

=UNICHAR(181)

Method 8: Use Windows Character Map

Character Map is a built-in Windows tool that lets you copy symbols and special characters.

Steps

Click the Windows search box.
Type Character Map.
Open the Character Map app.
Choose a common font, such as Arial or Times New Roman.
Look for μ.
Click the symbol.
Click Select.
Click Copy.
Paste it into your document.

This method is useful if Alt codes are not working.

Method 9: Use Windows Emoji and Symbols Panel

You can also try the Windows emoji and symbols panel.

Steps

Click where you want to insert mu.
Press Windows key + .You can also try Windows key + ;.
Go to the symbols section.
Look for Greek letters or search if available.
Select μ.

If you cannot find mu there, use Character Map or copy and paste instead.

Method 10: Type the Mu Symbol on iPhone and iPad

The easiest way to type mu on iPhone or iPad is to copy and paste it.

Copy this: μ

Then paste it into your message, note, document, or browser.

Create a Text Replacement Shortcut on iPhone

If you use mu often, create a text replacement.

For example:

mux → μ

Steps

Open Settings.
Tap General.
Tap Keyboard.
Tap Text Replacement.
Tap the + button.
In the Phrase box, paste μ.
In the Shortcut box, type mux.
Tap Save.

Now, when you type mux, your iPhone can suggest or insert μ.

Method 11: Type the Mu Symbol on Android

On Android, the exact method depends on your keyboard app.

The easiest method is copy and paste.

Copy this: μ

Then paste it where you need it.

Try the symbols keyboard

Some Android keyboards include Greek letters in their symbol sections.

Try this:

Open your keyboard.
Tap the ?123 or symbols key.
Look for more symbol pages.
If you see μ, tap it.

If you cannot find it, copy and paste is usually faster.

Create a personal dictionary shortcut

Some Android keyboards allow custom shortcuts.

You can create:

mux → μ

The exact steps depend on your Android phone and keyboard app.

Method 12: Type the Mu Symbol on Chromebook

On Chromebook, the fastest method is usually copy and paste.

Copy this: μ

Then paste it into your document or text box.

If you are using Google Docs on Chromebook, you can use:

Insert > Special characters > search mu

Then click the mu symbol.

Method 13: Type the Mu Symbol in HTML

If you are writing HTML, you can use the mu symbol directly, or you can use an HTML entity.

Lowercase mu

Use:

μ

Example:

&mu; = 25

Result:

μ = 25

Uppercase mu

Use:

Μ

Example:

&Mu;

Result: Μ

Micro sign

Use:

µ

Example:

10&micro;m

Result:

10µm

Decimal HTML code

Lowercase mu:

&#956;

Uppercase mu:

&#924;

Micro sign:

&#181;

Hex HTML code

Lowercase mu:

&#x03BC;

Uppercase mu:

&#x039C;

Micro sign:

&#x00B5;

Method 14: Type the Mu Symbol in CSS

If you are adding mu with CSS, you can use the Unicode escape.

Lowercase mu:

.example::after {
  content: "\03BC";
}

Uppercase mu:

.example::after {
  content: "\039C";
}

Micro sign:

.example::after {
  content: "\00B5";
}

For normal writing, it is usually better to type or paste the symbol directly in your text or use HTML.

Method 15: Type the Mu Symbol in JavaScript

In JavaScript, you can use the symbol directly:

const mu = "μ";

Or you can use the Unicode escape:

const mu = "\u03BC";

For uppercase mu:

const uppercaseMu = "\u039C";

For the micro sign:

const micro = "\u00B5";

Method 16: Type Mu in LaTeX

If you are writing in LaTeX, use:

\mu

This gives: μ

For uppercase mu, LaTeX usually uses the normal capital letter M, because uppercase mu looks like the Latin capital M in many fonts.

Example:

\mu = 25

Lowercase Mu μ vs Uppercase Mu Μ vs Micro Sign µ

There are three characters that users may confuse.

Symbol	Name	Unicode	Common Use
μ	Greek small letter mu	U+03BC	Greek letter, statistics, formulas
Μ	Greek capital letter mu	U+039C	Uppercase Greek mu
µ	Micro sign	U+00B5	Micro prefix in units

The lowercase mu μ is the one most people are looking for when they search for “mu symbol.”

The uppercase mu Μ looks like the English capital letter M in many fonts. They may look the same, but they are different Unicode characters.

The micro sign µ is a separate symbol that is commonly used for micro units, such as µm, µg, and µL.

If you are not sure which one to use, use μ for Greek letter mu and statistics. For measurement units, check the exact style your document or software requires.

Common Uses of the Mu Symbol

The mu symbol is used in many fields.

In statistics

Mu μ often represents the population mean.

Example:

μ = 50

This means the population mean is 50.

In measurements

Mu or the micro sign is commonly used for the micro prefix, meaning one millionth.

Examples:

Unit	Meaning
μm	micrometer
μg	microgram
μL	microliter
μs	microsecond
μA	microampere
μF	microfarad

In physics and engineering

Mu can be used as a variable or symbol in formulas.

Examples include:

coefficient of friction
magnetic permeability
reduced mass
micro prefix in units

In mathematics

Mu can be used as a variable in equations and formulas.

Example:

μ = x + 2

In chemistry and biology

Mu may appear in measurement units, scientific notation, and lab values.

Examples:

μg/mL

μmol/L

μL sample

Mu Symbol and Related Greek Letters

If you are typing mu, you may also need other Greek letters.

Symbol	Name	Unicode
α	Alpha	U+03B1
β	Beta	U+03B2
γ	Gamma	U+03B3
δ	Delta	U+03B4
θ	Theta	U+03B8
λ	Lambda	U+03BB
μ	Mu	U+03BC
π	Pi	U+03C0
σ	Sigma	U+03C3
Ω	Omega	U+03A9

Troubleshooting: Mu Symbol Not Working

If you cannot type the mu symbol, here are the common problems and fixes.

Problem 1: Alt + 230 is not working

This usually happens because the numeric keypad is not being used.

Fix

Use the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard, and make sure Num Lock is turned on.

If your laptop does not have a numeric keypad, use:

Copy and paste μ
Word Unicode shortcut: 03BC, then Alt + X
Insert Symbol
Character Map
Google Docs Special characters

Problem 2: I typed 03BC but it did not change into μ

The 03BC + Alt + X method works mainly in Microsoft Word on Windows.

It may not work in every app.

Fix

Use it inside Microsoft Word, or use copy and paste in other apps.

Problem 3: Mu and micro sign look the same

This is normal.

The Greek mu μ and micro sign µ look very similar in many fonts.

They are different Unicode characters, but both are commonly seen in science and measurement contexts.

Problem 4: Uppercase mu looks like M

This is normal.

Greek uppercase mu Μ often looks like the English capital letter M.

They are different characters, but many fonts display them almost the same way.

Problem 5: Mu appears as a box or strange character

This usually means the font or app does not support the character properly.

Fix

Try changing the font to a common font such as:

Arial
Calibri
Times New Roman
Cambria
Helvetica
Verdana

Problem 6: I need mu in an equation, not normal text

If you are writing a formula in Word or PowerPoint, use the Equation tool.

Inside the equation box, type:

\mu

Then press Space.

This gives a better math-style mu symbol.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Mu Symbol

What is the mu symbol?

The mu symbol is a Greek letter. The lowercase mu is μ, and the uppercase mu is Μ. The symbol µ is the micro sign, which looks very similar to lowercase mu.

How do I type mu on Windows?

On Windows, hold Alt and type 230 using the numeric keypad, then release Alt.

This should give you: μ

What is the Alt code for mu?

The common Windows Alt code for lowercase mu is:

Alt + 230

The Alt code for the micro sign is:

Alt + 0181

What is the Unicode for mu?

The Unicode for lowercase Greek mu is:

U+03BC

The Unicode for uppercase Greek mu is:

U+039C

The Unicode for the micro sign is:

U+00B5

How do I type mu in Microsoft Word?

In Microsoft Word on Windows, type:

03BC

Then press:

Alt + X

Word will convert it into: μ

You can also use Insert > Symbol or the Equation tool.

How do I type mu in Excel?

In Excel, you can use Alt + 230 on Windows, use Insert > Symbol, or type this formula:

=UNICHAR(956)

This returns: μ

How do I type the micro sign in Excel?

To generate the micro sign in Excel, use:

=UNICHAR(181)

This returns: µ

You can also use Alt + 0181 on Windows.

How do I type mu in Google Docs?

In Google Docs:

Go to Insert.
Click Special characters.
Search for mu.
Click μ.

How do I type mu on Mac?

On Mac, use Character Viewer:

Press Control + Command + Space.
Search for mu.
Double-click μ.

You can also copy and paste the mu symbol from this page.

How do I type mu on iPhone?

The easiest way is to copy and paste: μ

If you use it often, create a text replacement shortcut such as:

mux → μ

How do I type mu on Android?

The easiest way is to copy and paste: μ

Some Android keyboards may also include mu under their symbols or Greek letters section.

What is the HTML code for mu?

For lowercase Greek mu, use:

μ

You can also use:

μ

or:

μ

For the micro sign, use:

µ

Is mu the same as the micro sign?

No. The Greek mu μ and the micro sign µ are different Unicode characters, although they look very similar.

For Greek letter mu and statistics, use μ. For micro units, you may see either μ or µ, depending on the source or style guide.

Is mu used for mean?

Yes. In statistics, lowercase mu μ commonly represents the population mean.

What does μm mean?

μm means micrometer. It is a unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter.

What does μg mean?

μg means microgram. It is a unit of mass equal to one millionth of a gram.

Best Method to Use

If you only need the mu symbol once, copy and paste it:

If you are using Windows with a numeric keypad, use:

Alt + 230

If you are using Microsoft Word, use:

03BC, then Alt + X

If you are using Google Docs, use:

Insert > Special characters > search mu

If you are using Excel, use:

Alt + 230, Insert Symbol, or:

=UNICHAR(956)

If you use mu often, create a text replacement shortcut such as:

mux → μ

Conclusion

The mu symbol μ is useful in statistics, math, physics, engineering, measurements, chemistry, biology, and scientific writing.

The easiest way to type it depends on where you are working:

Windows: Alt + 230
Microsoft Word: 03BC, then Alt + X
Word Equation: type \mu, then press Space
Excel: Alt + 230, Insert Symbol, or =UNICHAR(956)
Google Docs: Insert > Special characters > search mu
Mac: Character Viewer or copy/paste
HTML: μ
Any device: copy and paste μ

If you specifically need the micro sign, use µ instead. But for Greek letter mu and most statistics or formula uses, μ is the symbol you want.