How to type ¹ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+0185.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0185 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The superscript one symbol ¹ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "superscript one". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ¹, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ¹ on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ¹ on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "superscript one" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ¹ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ¹, 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 ¹ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;superscript in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ¹ anywhere.
How to type ¹ 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 ¹ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ¹ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 00B9 where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ¹.
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 00B9 in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(185) returns the symbol.
How to type ¹ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "superscript one" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(185).
¹ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ¹ |
| HTML decimal | ¹ |
| HTML hex | ¹ |
CSS content | "\00B9" |
| JavaScript | "\u00B9" |
| Python | "\u00B9" |
| LaTeX | ^1 |
| URL encoded | %C2%B9 |
Because ¹ is a standard Unicode character (U+00B9), 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 superscript one symbol is used
It appears in footnotes and citations, such as 'See note¹', and in math or science for ordinal-style notation. It is also used in unit expressions like m¹ for exponents, though true exponents usually use full-size numbers in equations.
Frequently asked questions
What does ¹ mean in a footnote? +
It marks a reference point in text that corresponds to a numbered note or citation elsewhere on the page, usually at the bottom or in an endnotes list.
Is ¹ the same as a regular exponent? +
It can represent an exponent visually, but in formal math notation exponents are typically written with regular-sized numbers in a proper equation format, not this fixed Unicode character.
What is the Alt code for the superscript one symbol? +
The Alt code for ¹ is Alt+0185. Hold Alt, type 0185 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ¹ on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ¹. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "superscript one", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the superscript one symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ¹ 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 ¹? +
Use ¹ in HTML. The numeric form ¹ works too. In CSS use content: "\00B9" and in JavaScript use "\u00B9".