How to type ▒ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+177.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 177 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The medium shade symbol ▒ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "medium shade". 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 "medium shade" 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 ;medium 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 2592 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 2592 in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(9618) returns the symbol.
How to type ▒ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "medium shade" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(9618).
▒ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ▒ |
| HTML decimal | ▒ |
| HTML hex | ▒ |
CSS content | "\2592" |
| JavaScript | "\u2592" |
| Python | "\u2592" |
| URL encoded | %E2%96%92 |
Because ▒ is a standard Unicode character (U+2592), 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 medium shade symbol is used
Used in ASCII/text art, terminal UIs, and retro game graphics to create shading gradients, often alongside ░ (Light Shade) and ▓ (Dark Shade) for depth effects, like building a progress bar '▓▓▒▒░░'.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ░, ▒, and ▓? +
They represent increasing density of shading: ░ is light shade (25%), ▒ is medium shade (50%), and ▓ is dark shade (75%), used together to simulate gradients in text-based graphics.
Why does ▒ look different in some fonts? +
Because it's a block element character, its exact dot pattern and density can render differently depending on the font and whether it supports box-drawing glyphs consistently.
What is the Alt code for the medium shade symbol? +
The Alt code for ▒ is Alt+177. Hold Alt, type 177 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 "medium shade", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the medium shade 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. The numeric form ▒ works too. In CSS use content: "\2592" and in JavaScript use "\u2592".