How to type Alt+0189
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0189 on the numeric keypad. The number row above the letters will not work.
- Release Alt. The one half symbol ½ appears.
The leading zero matters. Alt+0189 uses the Windows-1252 code page. Without the zero, Alt+171 on the classic CP437 table also gives ½, but that is a coincidence of the two tables rather than the rule, so learn the four-digit version.
On a laptop without a numpad
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, pick the Symbols tab and search for "one half". Or open Character Map from the Start menu. In Microsoft Word you can type 00BD followed by Alt+X. Some laptops have a hidden numpad on the J, K, L, U, I and O keys that activates with Fn.
On a Mac
Alt codes do not exist on macOS and this symbol has no dedicated shortcut. Open the Character Viewer with Control+⌘+Space, search for "one half" and double-click it.
In HTML and code
Use ½ in HTML, "\00BD" in CSS and "\u00BD" in JavaScript. See the One Half Symbol guide for every platform.
Frequently asked questions
What does Alt+0189 type?+
Alt+0189 types the one half symbol, ½ (Unicode U+00BD). Hold Alt, type 0189 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
Why do I need the leading zero?+
Alt+0189 uses the Windows-1252 code page, which is selected by the leading zero. Without the zero, Windows reads the CP437 table and may type a different character.
Alt+0189 does not work. Why?+
Check that Num Lock is on and that you are using the numeric keypad rather than the number row. Laptops without a numpad cannot enter Alt codes: use Win + . for the symbol panel, Character Map, or copy the symbol from this page.
How do I type ½ on a Mac?+
Alt codes do not work on macOS. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "one half", and double-click the symbol, or copy it from this page.