How to type ♫ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+14.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 14 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The beamed eighth notes symbol ♫ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "beamed eighth notes". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ♫, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ♫ on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ♫ on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "beamed eighth notes" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ♫ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ♫, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ♫ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;beamed in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ♫ anywhere.
How to type ♫ on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ♫ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ♫ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 266B where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ♫.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 266B in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(9835) returns the symbol.
How to type ♫ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "beamed eighth notes" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(9835).
♫ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ♫ |
| HTML decimal | ♫ |
| HTML hex | ♫ |
CSS content | "\266B" |
| JavaScript | "\u266B" |
| Python | "\u266B" |
| URL encoded | %E2%99%AB |
Because ♫ is a standard Unicode character (U+266B), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the beamed eighth notes symbol is used
People use it in texts and social media captions to signal that music is playing, like "♫ Now playing: Bohemian Rhapsody" or "♫♫♫" next to a playlist link. It's often confused with the single eighth note ♪, which represents just one note rather than a pair.
Frequently asked questions
What does ♫ mean in texting? +
It signals that music is involved, such as listening to a song, sharing a playlist, or captioning a video with sound.
What is the difference between ♪ and ♫? +
♪ is a single eighth note, while ♫ shows two eighth notes joined by a beam, often used to suggest a fuller musical phrase.
What is the Alt code for the beamed eighth notes symbol? +
The Alt code for ♫ is Alt+14. Hold Alt, type 14 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ♫ on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ♫. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "beamed eighth notes", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the beamed eighth notes symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ♫ by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for ♫? +
Use ♫ in HTML. In CSS use content: "\266B" and in JavaScript use "\u266B".