How to Type the Hashtag Symbol (#) on Keyboard

The hashtag symbol is this character: #

It is also called the number sign, pound sign, or hash sign.

You will often see it on social media, phone keypads, spreadsheets, coding, forms, invoices, and numbered lists.

Examples:

#1
#2026
#Marketing
#TravelTips
Order #4582
Color code: #FFFFFF

In this guide, you’ll learn how to type the hashtag symbol on Windows, Mac, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Chromebook, iPhone, Android, HTML, and more.

Quick Answer: How to Type the Hashtag Symbol

On most English keyboards, you can type the hashtag symbol by pressing:

Shift + 3

To type it:

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Hold down the Shift key.
3. Press the 3 key.
4. Release both keys.

You should get: #

On some UK keyboards, the hashtag symbol may have its own key, or you may need to use:

AltGr + 3

The shortcut depends on your keyboard layout.

Hashtag Symbol Quick Reference

Symbol	Name	Common Keyboard Shortcut	Windows Alt Code	Unicode	HTML Code
#	Hashtag / Number Sign / Hash Sign	Shift + 3	Alt + 35	U+0023	#

You can paste it into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, social media, emails, websites, and most apps.

Use:

Windows: Ctrl + V
Mac: Command + V
Phone: Tap and hold, then choose Paste

Copy and paste is useful if your keyboard layout is different or the shortcut is not working.

What Is the Hashtag Symbol?

The hashtag symbol is a punctuation and special character that looks like two vertical lines crossing two horizontal lines:

#

It has many names and uses.

Name	Where It Is Commonly Used
Hashtag	Social media, tags, trends
Number sign	Numbered items, labels, forms
Pound sign	Phone keypads, especially in the United States
Hash sign	Computing and technical writing
Octothorpe	Technical or historical name

The same symbol can have different meanings depending on where it is used.

Hashtag vs Number Sign vs Pound Sign

The symbol is the same: #

But people call it different names in different situations.

Hashtag

On social media, it is usually called a hashtag.

Examples:

#football
#smallbusiness
#learnexcel
#MondayMotivation

A hashtag is used to group posts around a topic.

Number Sign

When the symbol appears before a number, it is often called a number sign.

Examples:

#1
Order #250
Invoice #1034
Room #12

In this case, it usually means “number.”

Pound Sign

On a phone keypad, the same symbol is often called the pound sign.

Example:

“Press the pound key after entering your PIN.”

This usually means press:

#

Hash Sign

In computing and programming, many people call it the hash sign.

Examples:

#include
# comment
#FFFFFF

Method 1: Type the Hashtag Symbol on Windows

On most Windows keyboards, use:

Shift + 3

To type the hashtag symbol:

1. Click where you want to insert the symbol.
2. Hold down Shift.
3. Press the 3 key.
4. Release both keys.

You should get: #

This works in most apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, browsers, email, Notepad, Google Docs, and social media websites.

Method 2: Type the Hashtag Symbol on Mac

On many Mac keyboards, the hashtag symbol is also typed with:

Shift + 3

To type it:

1. Click where you want the hashtag symbol.
2. Hold Shift.
3. Press 3.

You should get: #

However, the shortcut can vary depending on your keyboard layout.

On some Mac keyboard layouts, especially some UK layouts, you may need:

Option + 3

If Shift + 3 gives you a different symbol, try Option + 3.

Method 3: Type the Hashtag Symbol on a UK Keyboard

On many UK keyboards, the hashtag symbol may not be in the same place as it is on a US keyboard.

Common options include:

AltGr + 3

or

Option + 3 on some Mac layouts

or a dedicated # key near the Enter key, depending on your keyboard.

Try these:

1. Press Shift + 3.
2. If that does not work, try AltGr + 3.
3. If you are on Mac, try Option + 3.
4. Look for a key on your keyboard that shows #.

Keyboard layouts are not all the same, so the exact shortcut depends on your device and language setting.

Method 4: Type the Hashtag Symbol Using Alt Code on Windows

The Windows Alt code for the hashtag symbol is:

Alt + 35

To type the hashtag symbol using Alt code:

1. Turn on Num Lock.
2. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
3. Hold down the Alt key.
4. Type 35 on the numeric keypad.
5. Release the Alt key.

You should get: #

Important: Use the numeric keypad for this method. The number row at the top of your keyboard may not work.

Hashtag Symbol Alt Code Table

Symbol	Name	Alt Code
#	Hashtag / Number Sign	Alt + 35

Method 5: Type the Hashtag Symbol in Microsoft Word

In Microsoft Word, the easiest method is usually: Shift + 3

Option 1: Use the Keyboard Shortcut

To type the hashtag symbol in Word:

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Hold Shift.
3. Press 3.

This inserts: #

Option 2: Use the Alt Code in Word

You can also use: Alt + 35

To use it:

1. Turn on Num Lock.
2. Hold Alt.
3. Type 35 on the numeric keypad.
4. Release Alt.

You should get: #

Option 3: Use Unicode in Word

The Unicode for the hashtag symbol is: 0023

To use it in Microsoft Word:

1. Type 0023.
2. Press Alt + X.

Word should convert it into: #

This method is useful if you are working with Unicode values or if your keyboard shortcut is not working.

Option 4: Insert Hashtag Symbol Using Symbol Menu in Word

You can also insert the hashtag symbol through the Symbol menu.

To do this:

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Go to the Insert tab.
3. Click Symbol.
4. Click More Symbols.
5. Choose a normal font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
6. Look for the # symbol.
7. Select it and click Insert.
8. Click Close.

This method is slower, but it is useful if you want to find symbols visually.

Method 6: Type the Hashtag Symbol in Excel

In Excel, the hashtag symbol is used in several ways.

You can type it normally with: Shift + 3

Examples:

#1
Order #204
Invoice #1007

To type it in a cell:

1. Click inside the cell.
2. Hold Shift.
3. Press 3.

You should get: #

Why Do Hashtags Appear in Excel?

Sometimes Excel shows hash symbols like this: #####

This usually does not mean you typed a hashtag. It often means the column is too narrow to display the value.

For example, if a date or number is too wide for the column, Excel may show: #####

How to Fix ##### in Excel

To fix it:

1. Move your mouse to the right edge of the column header.
2. Double-click the edge to AutoFit the column width.

Or:

1. Click the column.
2. Go to Home.
3. Click Format.
4. Choose AutoFit Column Width.

If the cell contains a negative date or time, Excel may also show hash symbols. In that case, check the value or formula.

Hashtag Symbol in Excel Formulas

In newer versions of Excel, the hashtag symbol may also appear in formulas connected to dynamic arrays and special references.

Examples: A1#

This can refer to a spilled range from a dynamic array formula.

You may also see formula errors that begin with #, such as:

#VALUE!
#DIV/0!
#N/A
#REF!
#NAME?
#NUM!

These are Excel error messages, not normal hashtags.

Method 7: Type the Hashtag Symbol in PowerPoint

In PowerPoint, use:

Shift + 3

To type it:

1. Click inside a text box.
2. Hold Shift.
3. Press 3.

You can use the hashtag symbol in slide titles, labels, social media slides, campaign tags, and presentations.

Examples:

#Teamwork
Campaign: #CleanCity
Customer #125

Method 8: Type the Hashtag Symbol in Google Docs

To type the hashtag symbol in Google Docs:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Click where you want the symbol.
3. Press Shift + 3.

You should get: #

If your keyboard layout is different, copy and paste the symbol from this page: #

Insert Hashtag Symbol Using Google Docs Special Characters

You can also use the Special Characters tool:

1. Go to Insert.
2. Click Special characters.
3. Search for number sign or hash.
4. Click the # symbol.

Method 9: Type the Hashtag Symbol in Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, type the hashtag symbol with: Shift + 3

Examples:

#1
Order #300
#Marketing

Google Sheets may also show errors that begin with #, such as:

#DIV/0!
#VALUE!
#N/A
#REF!

These are spreadsheet errors, not social media hashtags.

Method 10: Type the Hashtag Symbol on Chromebook

On most Chromebooks, use:

Shift + 3

To type it:

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Hold Shift.
3. Press 3.

You should get: #

If your Chromebook uses a different keyboard layout, check the symbol shown on the 3 key or use copy and paste.

Chromebook Unicode Method

The Unicode for hashtag / number sign is: 0023

To type it on Chromebook using Unicode:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U.
2. Type 23.
3. Press Enter or Space.

This should insert: #

For everyday use, Shift + 3 is much faster.

Method 11: Type the Hashtag Symbol on iPhone and iPad

To type the hashtag symbol on iPhone or iPad:

1. Tap where you want to type.
2. Tap the 123 key.
3. Look for the # symbol.
4. Tap #.

If you do not see it on the first symbols keyboard, tap the extra symbols key, often shown as #+=.

You can use it for social media hashtags, notes, messages, emails, and forms.

Examples:

#family
#business
Order #103

Method 12: Type the Hashtag Symbol on Android

To type the hashtag symbol on Android:

1. Tap where you want to type.
2. Tap ?123 or the numbers/symbols key.
3. Find the # symbol.
4. Tap it.

On some Android keyboards, you may need to tap an extra symbols key to find it.

This works in WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, email, notes, and other apps.

Method 13: Type the Hashtag Symbol in HTML

In HTML, you can type the hashtag symbol directly: #

You can also use an HTML code.

Symbol	HTML Decimal Code	HTML Hex Code
#	#	#

Example:

Order #123

This displays as:

Order #123

In normal HTML text, you can usually type the symbol directly. But HTML codes are useful when you want to be extra precise.

Method 14: Type the Hashtag Symbol in CSS

In CSS, the hashtag symbol is very common. It is used for color codes and ID selectors.

Hashtag in CSS Color Codes

Example:

color: #000000;

This means black.

Another example:

background-color: #FFFFFF;

This means white.

Hashtag in CSS ID Selectors

Example:

#header {
  background-color: #f2f2f2;
}

Here, #header targets an element with the ID of header.

To type the symbol, use: Shift + 3

Method 15: Type the Hashtag Symbol in JavaScript

In JavaScript, the hashtag symbol may appear inside strings, URLs, selectors, or color codes.

Example:

const tag = "#learning";

Example with a CSS selector:

document.querySelector("#header");

Example with a color value:

const color = "#FF0000";

To type it, use: Shift + 3

Method 16: Type the Hashtag Symbol in Python

In Python, the hashtag symbol is used for comments.

Example:

# This is a comment
print("Hello")

Anything after # on that line is treated as a comment, unless the symbol is inside a string.

Example inside a string:

tag = "#Python"
print(tag)

To type the hashtag symbol in Python, use: Shift + 3

Method 17: Type the Hashtag Symbol in URLs

The hashtag symbol is used in URLs to point to a section of a page.

Example:

example.com/page#section1

The part after the hashtag is called a fragment or anchor.

For example:

#comments

may take the visitor to the comments section of a page.

To type it, use: Shift + 3

Method 18: Type Hashtags on Social Media

On social media, the hashtag symbol is used before a word or phrase to create a clickable tag.

Examples:

#Travel
#SmallBusiness
#GraphicDesign
#LearnExcel
#MotivationMonday

To type a hashtag:

1. Type #.
2. Type the word or phrase without spaces.

Correct:

#DigitalMarketing

Not correct as one hashtag:

#Digital Marketing

If you add a space, only the first word may become part of the hashtag.

Can a Hashtag Have Spaces?

No. A hashtag usually cannot contain spaces.

For example:

#SmallBusinessTips

works as one hashtag.

But:

#Small Business Tips

will usually break after the first word.

If you want several words in one hashtag, write them together:

#SmallBusinessTips

You can also use capital letters to make the words easier to read:

#HowToTypeAnything

This is easier to read than:

#howtotypeanything

Can a Hashtag Have Numbers?

Yes. Hashtags can include numbers.

Examples:

#2026
#Top10
#ClassOf2026
#5Tips

But a hashtag made only of punctuation will usually not work well.

Hashtag vs Sharp Sign in Music

The hashtag symbol looks similar to the sharp sign used in music, but they are not the same.

Hashtag / number sign: #

Music sharp sign: ♯

Examples:

C# is often typed with the hashtag symbol in plain text.

But the proper music sharp sign is:

C♯

Symbol	Name	Unicode
#	Hashtag / Number Sign	U+0023
♯	Music Sharp Sign	U+266F

For casual typing, people often use #. For proper music notation, use ♯.

Hashtag vs Pound Currency Symbol

The hashtag symbol is sometimes called the pound sign in the United States, especially on phone keypads.

But it is not the same as the British pound currency symbol.

Hashtag / pound key: #

British pound currency symbol: £

Examples:

Press the pound key: #

Price in pounds: £50

So if someone says “pound sign,” check the context. On a phone, they probably mean #. In money, they probably mean £.

Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I Type the Hashtag Symbol?

1. Shift + 3 Gives a Different Symbol

Your keyboard layout may be different.

Try:

AltGr + 3 on some Windows keyboards
Option + 3 on some Mac keyboards
A dedicated # key if your keyboard has one

You can also copy and paste: #

2. The Hashtag Key Is Not Working

Try using another method:

Alt + 35 on Windows
Copy and paste #
Use the on-screen keyboard
Check your keyboard layout settings

3. I Get £ Instead of

On some UK keyboards, Shift + 3 may give you: £

If that happens, look for the # key elsewhere on your keyboard or try: AltGr + 3

On Mac, try: Option + 3

4. My Hashtag Does Not Work on Social Media

Make sure there is no space after the hashtag symbol.

Correct: #BusinessTips

Wrong: # Business Tips

Also avoid special punctuation inside the hashtag.

5. Excel Shows ##### Instead of My Number

This usually means the column is too narrow.

Make the column wider or use AutoFit Column Width.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Hashtag Symbol

What is the hashtag symbol?

The hashtag symbol is: #

It is also called the number sign, hash sign, or pound sign.

How do I type the hashtag symbol on keyboard?

On most keyboards, press:

Shift + 3

How do I type hashtag on Windows?

On Windows, press: Shift + 3

You can also use: Alt + 35

How do I type hashtag on Mac?

On many Mac keyboards, press: Shift + 3

On some keyboard layouts, try: Option + 3

What is the Alt code for hashtag?

The Alt code for the hashtag symbol is: Alt + 35

What is the Unicode for hashtag?

The Unicode for the hashtag symbol is: U+0023

In Microsoft Word, type: 0023

Then press: Alt + X

What is the HTML code for hashtag?

The HTML code is: #

You can also use: #

Is hashtag the same as number sign?

Yes, it is the same character: #

It is called a hashtag on social media and a number sign in many other contexts.

Is hashtag the same as pound sign?

In some contexts, yes. On phone keypads, # is often called the pound sign.

But it is not the same as the British pound currency symbol: £

Is hashtag the same as sharp sign?

No. The hashtag symbol is: #

The music sharp sign is: ♯

They look similar, but they are different symbols.

How do I type hashtag on iPhone?

Tap 123, then tap #. If you do not see it, tap the extra symbols key.

How do I type hashtag on Android?

Tap ?123 or the symbols key, then tap #.

Why does Excel show #####?

Excel usually shows ##### when the column is too narrow to display the value. Make the column wider to fix it.

Conclusion

The hashtag symbol is: #

The easiest way to type it on most keyboards is: Shift + 3

On Windows, you can also use: Alt + 35

In Microsoft Word, you can type: 0023, Then press: Alt + X

On phones, open the numbers or symbols keyboard and tap: #

The hashtag symbol is used for social media tags, numbers, phone keypads, coding, color codes, URLs, and spreadsheet errors. Just remember that while it is often called hashtag, number sign, pound sign, or hash sign, it is usually the same character.