U circumflex alt code and Shortcut for Windows and Mac

Below are the alt codes for both lowercase and uppercase “u” with the circumflex accent.

Description	Symbol	Alt Code
U circumflex – Uppercase	Û	0219
u circumflex – Lowercase	û	0251

To get the u circumflex using the alt code:

1. Place your insertion pointer where you need to insert the u circumflex symbol.
2. Press down the Alt key.
3. Type the u circumflex Alt code (0251 for lowercase and 0219 for uppercase) using the numeric keypad, whilst still holding the Alt key.
4. Then release the Alt key to make the u circumflex sign.

Related Post: How to type Accents using Alt Codes

More About Alt Codes

Alt codes are used to type symbols and characters that do not have a dedicated key on the keyboard in personal computers running the Microsoft Operating systems. You can do this by pressing and holding the Alt key while typing the alt code (a number that identifies the character), using the keyboard numeric keypad.

For Example, to make the u circumflex sign using the lowercase u circumflex Alt code of 0251: first, ensure that your NumLock is turned on, then press and hold the alt key while you type the alt code number that identifies the u circumflex sign, which is 0251, on the numeric keypad. Then release the Alt key.

Other operating systems like the Mac OS have a similar or extended form of this Alt code feature which I’ll explain soon.

Rules for using the U circumflex Alt Code

• You must press and hold the Alt key before typing the Alt code (0251 or 0219) that identifies the û or Û sign respectively.
• You must use the numeric keypad on the right of the keyboard to type the û or Û alt code.
• Since you are using the numeric keypad, the NumLock must be turned on. Turning off the NumLock means the numeric keypad is disabled, and hence no numbers can be typed using the num pad.
• If you are using a laptop without the numeric keypad, you should first turn on the hidden numeric keypad. On most laptops, you can turn this on by pressing Fn+NmLk keys simultaneously. Not all laptops have the hidden numeric keypad. If it seems like you, then you cannot use the alt code method to type either lowercase or uppercase u circumflex sign with your laptop unless you connect an external keyboard that has a numeric keypad.
• You should also understand that not all symbols can be typed with the alt code depending on the document you are working on. Some of the alt codes work only in Microsoft Word. However, the a circumflex alt codes work anywhere on Windows including in your browser.

Using U circumflex Alt code in an Excel function

NOTE: If you are on windows, you can use the alt code method discussed above to type the u circumflex signs anywhere including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The CHAR function discussed in this section is just another way of getting the symbol in Excel using the alt code.

The CHAR function is an Excel function that works with Alt codes. This function is a built-in function that returns the character or symbol based on the alt code or ASCII value.

Obey the following instructions to use the CHAR function to make the u circumflex in Excel.

1. Step #1: Click in the cell that will contain the u circumflex symbol.
2. Step #2: Type =CHAR(0251) for lowercase û or =CHAR(0219) for uppercase Û. The number 0251 is the lowercase alt code for “u circumflex” and 0219 is the uppercase alt code. Don’t forget to bring an equal sign before the formula.
3. Press Enter.

U circumflex alt code for Mac

The u circumflex alt code shortcut for mac is [OPTION]+[i] then u.

Obey the following steps to type any letter with the circumflex accent mark on top of it:

• First of all, press [Option]+[i] on your keyboard.
• Then press the letter to be accented.

For example, to type û (u circumflex), press and release OPTION+i simultaneously, then type u. The letter û should be inserted for you. The same technique can be used to type other circumflex letters such as â, ê, î, and ô.

This is explained below.

The alt code method of typing symbols is very popular on the Windows operating system.

However, the way you use alt codes on Windows is very different from that of Mac. Most people even think that it’s impossible to use alt code shortcuts in Mac.

As you may already know, the standard apple keyboard also has two alt keys. They are named as Options or ⌥ with a small “alt” label. Though, some of the newest Apple keyboards such as the Magic Keyboard no longer include the “alt” label. The Option key also being the Alt key on the apple keyboard means that it can be used as an Alt key with non-Mac software.

Does it mean that you can press down the Option key whilst you press the u circumflex alt code on your Mac keyboard?

The answer is no.

Apple has its way of doing things. So instead of using the alt key with difficult-to-remember number codes like Microsoft Word, they combined the alt key with some other keys that will make shortcuts easy to remember.

So if you want the u circumflex Alt code for Mac, then it is the shortcut you may already know, which is [OPTION]+[i] then u.