How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone: Every Method Explained
Whether you're texting a weather update, sharing a recipe temperature, or writing a scientific note, knowing how to insert the degree symbol (°) on your iPhone is one of those small skills that saves real frustration. The good news: your iPhone keyboard already has it built in — you just need to know where to look.
The Fastest Method: Long-Press the Zero Key
The quickest way to get the degree symbol on iPhone requires no settings changes, no third-party apps, and works on every iOS version in recent memory.
Here's how:
- Open any app where you can type — Messages, Notes, Mail, etc.
- Tap the text field to bring up the keyboard
- Long-press the "0" (zero) key
- A small popup will appear showing the degree symbol °
- Slide your finger onto it and release
That's it. The character inserts instantly. This works on both the standard iPhone keyboard and the numeric keyboard that appears in some apps.
This method is built into iOS — no configuration required, no special mode to activate. Most iPhone users never discover it because Apple doesn't surface it anywhere obvious.
Using the Emoji & Symbols Keyboard
If you're working in an app that supports rich text — like Notes, Pages, or an email client — you can also access the degree symbol through the special characters menu:
- Tap and hold in a text field until the cursor appears
- Tap the globe icon or emoji icon on the keyboard to switch to emoji mode
- In the emoji keyboard, tap the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top
- Type "degree" into the search bar
- The ° symbol will appear as a result — tap to insert
This route takes longer than the zero long-press, but it's useful to know if you're hunting for related special characters at the same time.
The Text Replacement Shortcut Method
If you type the degree symbol frequently — say, you're a chef, a scientist, or someone who shares weather data regularly — the Text Replacement feature in iOS lets you create a custom keyboard shortcut.
How to set it up:
- Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
- Tap the + button in the top right
- In the Phrase field, paste or type the ° symbol
- In the Shortcut field, type something easy to remember — like
degor*deg - Save it
From that point on, typing your chosen shortcut anywhere on your iPhone will auto-replace it with °. This approach is especially useful when you need the symbol repeatedly across different apps without breaking your typing flow.
Copy-Paste from a Reference Source
This is the least elegant method, but worth mentioning: ° copy it from here and paste it wherever you need it. If you're reading this on your iPhone, you can long-press the symbol, tap "Copy," and paste it into any text field.
It's a one-time workaround, not a workflow — but it gets the job done in a pinch.
Does the Method Change Between iPhone Models or iOS Versions?
The long-press zero method has been consistent across iOS for many years and works on every current iPhone model — from older SE versions to the latest Pro line. Apple hasn't moved this character or changed how hidden keyboard characters work in any major iOS update.
That said, a few variables can affect your experience:
| Variable | How It Affects Things |
|---|---|
| Third-party keyboards | Apps like Gboard or SwiftKey have different long-press layouts — ° may be in a different position or absent |
| iOS version | Very old iOS versions may have minor differences, though the zero long-press has been stable for a long time |
| App type | Some apps with custom text fields don't support special character insertion at all |
| iPad vs iPhone | iPad keyboards have a slightly different layout but the same zero long-press method applies |
If you're using a third-party keyboard and the long-press zero isn't showing °, switching temporarily to the Apple default keyboard will restore access.
What About Siri or Voice Dictation?
Voice input handles this differently. If you use dictation (the microphone icon on the keyboard), you can say "degree sign" and iOS will attempt to insert ° — though results can vary depending on context and dictation accuracy. It works reasonably well in isolation but can be inconsistent in the middle of a longer sentence.
Siri itself isn't designed for character insertion tasks, so it's not a practical path here.
When the Symbol Matters (and When It Doesn't)
🌡️ In casual texting, many people just write "72F" or "22C" and the meaning is clear. But in professional documents, recipes, scientific writing, or anything that may be printed or published, using the actual ° symbol matters — both for readability and for how the text is processed by other systems.
The degree symbol is not the same as the masculine ordinal indicator (º) or the superscript letter "o" — though they look similar on screen. In technical or exported documents, using the correct Unicode character (U+00B0) ensures compatibility. The long-press zero method on iPhone inserts the correct character automatically.
The Variables That Determine Which Method Works Best for You
How often you need the degree symbol, which apps you use most, whether you've installed a third-party keyboard, and how you prefer to work all shape which approach will feel natural. Someone who types it once a month has very different needs from someone inserting it dozens of times a day across multiple apps.
Your own usage patterns — not just the available methods — are what determine which of these paths is actually worth building into your habit.