How to Type the Colon Symbol (:) on Keyboard

The colon symbol is this punctuation mark:

:

It is made of two dots, one above the other. You will see it in time, ratios, lists, titles, Bible references, coding, spreadsheets, and many everyday documents.

For example:

10:30
1:2 ratio
Chapter 4: Introduction
John 3:16
A1:B10

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

Quick Answer: How to Type the Colon Symbol

The fastest way to type the colon symbol is to press:

Shift + Semicolon

On most English keyboards, the semicolon key is the key with these two symbols:

; :

To type the colon:

1. Hold down Shift.
2. Press the semicolon key.
3. Release both keys.

You should get this:

:

This works on most Windows keyboards, Mac keyboards, laptops, Chromebooks, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, emails, browsers, and many other apps.

Colon Symbol Quick Reference

Symbol	Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Alt Code	Unicode	HTML Code
:	Colon	Shift + ;	Alt + 58	U+003A	: or :

You can paste it anywhere using:

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

Copy and paste is useful if your keyboard key is not working, your keyboard layout is different, or you simply want the fastest option.

What Is the Colon Symbol Used For?

The colon is a punctuation mark used to introduce, separate, or connect information.

Common uses include:

Use	Example
Time	7:30
Ratios	2:1
Lists	You need: paper, pen, and ruler.
Titles and subtitles	Keyboard Symbols: Complete Guide
Bible references	John 3:16
Spreadsheets	A1:B10
Coding	key: value
Dialogue or labels	Name: John

The colon is not the same as the semicolon. The colon looks like this:

:

The semicolon looks like this:

;

They are typed from the same keyboard key on many keyboards, but they are different symbols.

Method 1: Type the Colon Symbol Using the Keyboard

This is the easiest and most common method.

On most English keyboards, the colon is on the same key as the semicolon.

How to Type Colon on Windows

To type the colon symbol on a Windows keyboard:

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

You should see:

:

The semicolon key is usually to the right of the L key.

How to Type Colon on Mac

To type the colon symbol on a Mac keyboard:

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

You should get:

:

This works in Pages, Notes, Safari, Chrome, Microsoft Word for Mac, Google Docs, email apps, and most Mac programs.

How to Type Colon on a Laptop

On most laptops, the method is the same:

Shift + ;

You do not need a numeric keypad for the normal colon shortcut.

Just hold Shift and press the key that has both the semicolon and colon on it.

Method 2: Type the Colon Symbol Using Alt Code on Windows

You can also type the colon symbol using its Windows Alt code.

The Alt code for the colon symbol is:

Alt + 58

To type the colon symbol using Alt code:

1. Turn on Num Lock.
2. Place your cursor where you want the colon.
3. Hold down the Alt key.
4. Type 58 on the numeric keypad.
5. Release the Alt key.

You should get:

:

Important: Alt codes usually require the numeric keypad. The number row at the top of the keyboard may not work for this method.

Colon Alt Code Table

Symbol	Name	Alt Code
:	Colon	Alt + 58

This method is useful if your keyboard layout is unusual or if the normal shortcut is not working.

Method 3: Type the Colon Symbol in Microsoft Word

In Microsoft Word, the fastest method is still:

Shift + ;

But Word also gives you other ways to insert the colon symbol.

Option 1: Use the Keyboard Shortcut in Word

To type the colon in Word:

1. Click where you want the colon.
2. Hold Shift.
3. Press the semicolon key.

This inserts:

:

This is the best method for most users.

Option 2: Use the Alt Code in Word

You can also use the Alt code in Word:

1. Turn on Num Lock.
2. Hold Alt.
3. Type 58 on the numeric keypad.
4. Release Alt.

This gives you the colon symbol.

Option 3: Use Unicode in Word

The Unicode for the colon symbol is:

003A

To use it in Microsoft Word:

1. Type 003A.
2. Press Alt + X.

Word should convert it into:

:

This method is more useful for special symbols, but it also works for the colon.

Note: If the code is beside other letters or numbers, Word may not convert it correctly. To avoid this, type a space before the code, convert it, then remove the space if needed.

Option 4: Insert Colon Using Symbol Menu in Word

The colon is easy to type from the keyboard, so you usually do not need the Symbol menu. But you can still find it there.

To insert the colon symbol from the Symbol menu:

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

This method is slower, but it is helpful if you are learning where symbols are found in Word.

Method 4: Type the Colon Symbol in Excel

In Excel, the colon has a special meaning. It is used to show a range of cells.

For example:

A1:B10

This means the range from cell A1 to cell B10.

Type a Normal Colon in Excel

To type a normal colon in Excel:

1. Click inside a cell.
2. Hold Shift.
3. Press the semicolon key.

You will get:

:

For example, you can type:

Time: 10:30

Use Colon in Excel Formulas

In Excel formulas, the colon is used to join the first and last cell in a range.

Example:

=SUM(A1:A10)

This formula adds all values from A1 to A10.

Another example:

=AVERAGE(B2:B20)

This finds the average from B2 to B20.

Important Note About Colon in Excel

If you type a colon inside a formula, Excel may treat it as a range operator.

For example:

=SUM(A1:B10)

This does not mean normal text. It means “all cells from A1 to B10.”

If you want the colon as plain text inside a cell, just type it normally without starting with an equals sign.

Example:

Meeting time: 2:30 PM

Method 5: Type the Colon Symbol in PowerPoint

In PowerPoint, use the same keyboard shortcut:

Shift + ;

To type the colon in PowerPoint:

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

You can use it in slide titles, labels, times, lists, and captions.

Examples:

Topic: Keyboard Shortcuts
Time: 9:00 AM
Ratio: 16:9

You can also use Insert > Symbol in PowerPoint if needed, but the keyboard shortcut is much faster.

Method 6: Type the Colon Symbol in Google Docs

To type the colon symbol in Google Docs:

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

This will insert:

:

Google Docs also supports copy and paste, so you can copy the colon from this page and paste it into your document.

Insert Colon Using Google Docs Special Characters

You can also use the Special Characters tool:

1. Go to Insert.
2. Click Special characters.
3. Search for colon.
4. Click the colon symbol to insert it.

This is not necessary for normal typing, but it can help if your keyboard shortcut is not working.

Method 7: Type the Colon Symbol in Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, the colon also works like Excel. It is used in cell ranges.

Example:

A1:A20

To type a colon in Google Sheets:

1. Click inside a cell.
2. Press Shift + ;.

You can use it as plain text:

Time: 8:45

Or inside formulas:

=SUM(A1:A10)

Remember: in formulas, the colon usually means a cell range.

Method 8: Type the Colon Symbol on Chromebook

On most Chromebooks, the colon shortcut is:

Shift + ;

To type it:

1. Place your cursor where you want the colon.
2. Hold Shift.
3. Press the semicolon key.

You should get:

:

Chromebook Unicode Method

On some Chromebooks, you can also use Unicode input.

The Unicode for colon is:

003A

To type it:

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

This should insert:

:

For everyday use, Shift + ; is much easier.

Method 9: Type the Colon Symbol on iPhone and iPad

To type the colon symbol on iPhone or iPad:

1. Tap where you want to type.
2. Tap the 123 key to open the numbers and symbols keyboard.
3. Look for the colon symbol.
4. Tap :.

On many iPhone keyboards, the colon is shown on the first symbol screen. If you do not see it, tap the extra symbol key such as #+=.

Method 10: Type the Colon Symbol on Android

To type the colon symbol on Android:

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

The exact keyboard may look different depending on whether you use Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, SwiftKey, or another keyboard app.

On most Android keyboards, the colon is found in the numbers and punctuation section.

Method 11: Type the Colon Symbol in HTML

If you are writing HTML, you can type the colon directly:

:

You can also use HTML codes.

Symbol	HTML Entity	HTML Decimal Code	HTML Hex Code
:	:	:	:

Examples:

Time: 10:30

This displays as:

Time: 10:30

You usually do not need to use an HTML code for a normal colon. Typing the colon directly is fine in most cases.

Method 12: Type the Colon Symbol in CSS

In CSS, the colon is used often.

For example:

color: red;

In this example, the colon separates the CSS property from the value.

Example:

font-size: 18px;

You type it with:

Shift + ;

Common CSS examples:

background-color: white;
margin: 20px;
padding: 10px;
border-radius: 8px;

Method 13: Type the Colon Symbol in JavaScript

In JavaScript, the colon is used in objects, labels, and other structures.

Example:

const person = { name: "John", age: 30 };

The colon separates a property name from its value.

In this example:

name: "John"

The colon means the value of name is "John".

You type the colon with:

Shift + ;

Method 14: Type the Colon Symbol in Python

In Python, the colon is very important. It is used after conditions, loops, functions, and classes.

Examples:

if age > 18:
for item in list:
def my_function():
class Student:

To type the colon in Python:

1. Hold Shift.
2. Press the semicolon key.

Python often requires a colon at the end of certain lines. If you forget it, your code may show an error.

Method 15: Type the Colon Symbol in URLs and Web Addresses

The colon appears in web addresses, especially after the protocol.

Examples:

https://example.comhttp://example.com

In these examples, the colon comes after http or https.

You type it with:

Shift + ;

Be careful not to confuse the colon with the semicolon. A normal website address uses:

https://

Not:

https;//

Method 16: Type the Colon Symbol in Time

The colon is commonly used to separate hours and minutes.

Examples:

7:30
10:45 AM
12:00 PM
23:15

To type a time with a colon:

1. Type the hour.
2. Press Shift + ;.
3. Type the minutes.

Example:

10:30

In Excel and Google Sheets, times like 10:30 may be automatically recognized as time values.

Method 17: Type the Colon Symbol in Ratios

The colon is also used in ratios.

Examples:

1:1
2:1
3:2
16:9

A ratio like 16:9 is commonly used for screen sizes and video formats.

To type it:

1. Type the first number.
2. Type the colon using Shift + ;.
3. Type the second number.

Example:

16:9

Method 18: Type the Colon Symbol in Bible References

The colon is used in Bible references to separate the chapter from the verse.

Examples:

John 3:16
Psalm 23:1
Romans 8:28

To type a Bible reference:

1. Type the book name.
2. Type the chapter number.
3. Type the colon using Shift + ;.
4. Type the verse number.

Example:

John 3:16

Colon vs Semicolon: What Is the Difference?

The colon and semicolon are different punctuation marks.

Symbol	Name	How It Looks	Common Use
:	Colon	Two dots	Introduces or separates information
;	Semicolon	Dot above comma	Connects closely related clauses or separates complex list items

The colon is typed with:

Shift + ;

The semicolon is typed by pressing the semicolon key without Shift.

Examples:

Colon:

You need three items: paper, pen, and ruler.

Semicolon:

I wanted to go; however, it started raining.

Colon vs Double Colon

A normal colon has two dots:

:

A double colon has two colons together:

::

The double colon is used in some programming languages and technical writing.

Examples:

std::cout
::before
::after

To type a double colon, simply type the colon twice:

1. Press Shift + ;
2. Press Shift + ; again

You will get:

::

Colon vs Ratio Symbol

For normal typing, the colon is commonly used as a ratio symbol.

Example:

2:1

There is also a dedicated ratio symbol:

∶

It looks similar to a colon, but it is not the same character.

For most documents, school work, websites, and spreadsheets, the normal colon is the correct and easiest choice.

Use:

2:1

Not:

2∶1

Unless your style guide or technical document specifically requires the dedicated ratio symbol.

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

If the colon is not appearing, try the fixes below.

1. Make Sure You Are Holding Shift

If you press the semicolon key alone, you will get:

;

To get the colon, you must hold Shift.

Shortcut:

Shift + ;

2. Check Your Keyboard Layout

Some keyboard layouts place the colon in a different position.

For example, non-English keyboards may not use the same key arrangement as US or UK keyboards.

If Shift + ; does not work, check the symbol printed on your keyboard or open your on-screen keyboard.

3. Try Copy and Paste

If your key is not working, copy the colon from here:

:

Then paste it where you need it.

4. Use the On-Screen Keyboard on Windows

To open the on-screen keyboard:

1. Press Windows key.
2. Search for On-Screen Keyboard.
3. Open it.
4. Hold Shift on the on-screen keyboard.
5. Click the colon key.

This is helpful if your physical keyboard key is damaged.

5. Check if You Are in the Right App or Input Field

Some apps use keyboard shortcuts for commands. If your colon is not appearing, click inside the text area again and try the shortcut.

6. Restart Your Keyboard or Device

If your keyboard is behaving strangely, unplug it and plug it back in. If you are using a laptop, restarting the device may help.

Common Colon Symbol Shortcuts

Platform or App	Shortcut or Method
Windows	Shift + ;
Mac	Shift + ;
Laptop	Shift + ;
Chromebook	Shift + ;
Microsoft Word	Shift + ;
Excel	Shift + ;
PowerPoint	Shift + ;
Google Docs	Shift + ;
Google Sheets	Shift + ;
iPhone	123 key, then :
Android	?123 key, then :
Windows Alt Code	Alt + 58
Word Unicode	003A, then Alt + X
HTML	: or :

Frequently Asked Questions About the Colon Symbol

What is the colon symbol?

The colon symbol is a punctuation mark made of two dots:

:

It is used in time, ratios, lists, titles, references, spreadsheets, and coding.

How do I type a colon on the keyboard?

On most keyboards, press:

Shift + ;

This means you hold the Shift key and press the semicolon key.

Where is the colon key on the keyboard?

On many English keyboards, the colon is on the same key as the semicolon. This key is usually to the right of the letter L.

The key often shows both symbols:

; :

Press the key alone to type a semicolon.
Hold Shift and press it to type a colon.

What is the Alt code for colon?

The Alt code for the colon symbol is:

Alt + 58

To use it, hold Alt, type 58 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.

What is the Unicode for colon?

The Unicode for the colon symbol is:

U+003A

In Microsoft Word, you can type:

003A

Then press:

Alt + X

This converts the code into:

:

How do I type colon on Mac?

On Mac, press:

Shift + ;

This works in most Mac apps, including Pages, Notes, Safari, Chrome, Word, and Google Docs.

How do I type colon on iPhone?

On iPhone, tap the 123 key to open the numbers and symbols keyboard, then tap the colon symbol:

:

How do I type colon on Android?

On Android, tap ?123 or the symbols key, then tap the colon symbol:

:

Why do I get a semicolon instead of a colon?

You are probably pressing the semicolon key without holding Shift.

Press:

Shift + ;

To get:

:

Is colon the same as semicolon?

No. They are different symbols.

Colon:

:

Semicolon:

;

The colon has two dots. The semicolon has a dot above a comma.

What does colon mean in Excel?

In Excel, the colon is used to show a range of cells.

Example:

A1:A10

This means all cells from A1 to A10.

What does colon mean in time?

In time, the colon separates hours and minutes.

Example:

10:30

This means 10 hours and 30 minutes.

What does colon mean in a ratio?

In a ratio, the colon separates two numbers being compared.

Example:

2:1

This means “2 to 1.”

Conclusion

The easiest way to type the colon symbol is:

Shift + ;

This works on most Windows keyboards, Mac keyboards, laptops, Chromebooks, and in common apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, and Google Sheets.

You can also use:

Alt + 58 on Windows
003A then Alt + X in Microsoft Word
: or : in HTML
Copy and paste: :

For most people, the normal keyboard shortcut is the best method. Hold Shift, press the semicolon key, and the colon symbol will appear.