How to Get the Degree Symbol on iPhone

Whether you're typing a temperature reading, writing about geography, or formatting a math equation, the degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that isn't immediately obvious on the iPhone keyboard. It's not on the main layout — but it's easier to access than most people realize, and there are a few different ways to get it depending on how you type.

Where the Degree Symbol Actually Lives on the iPhone Keyboard

Apple doesn't display the degree symbol on any primary keyboard view. Instead, it's tucked inside the numbers and symbols panel, accessible through a long-press gesture on a specific key.

Here's the most reliable method:

1. Tap any text field to bring up the keyboard
2. Tap the "123" key to switch to the numbers view
3. Find the zero (0) key
4. Press and hold the zero key — a small pop-up will appear
5. Slide your finger to the ° symbol and release

That's it. The degree symbol will be inserted directly into your text. This works in any app — Messages, Notes, Mail, Safari search bars, and third-party apps alike.

Why the Zero Key? 🌡️

Apple associates the degree symbol with the zero key because of visual and contextual logic — a degree symbol looks like a small zero, and temperatures are frequently written as combinations of numbers and the ° character. The same press-and-hold behavior applies to other keys on the iPhone keyboard that have hidden characters (like accented letters when you hold down vowels).

This is part of iOS's extended character system, which keeps the primary keyboard clean while still giving users access to hundreds of special characters through gestures rather than separate menus.

Other Methods for Typing the Degree Symbol

Using the Emoji & Symbols Keyboard

If you'd rather browse characters visually:

1. Tap and hold the globe icon (or emoji icon) on the keyboard
2. Select "Emoji" or access the character viewer
3. Search for "degree" in the search bar

This method is less efficient for quick typing but useful if you're not sure which key a symbol is hidden under.

Creating a Text Replacement Shortcut

If you type the degree symbol frequently — say, you're a chef, meteorologist, or science writer — text replacement turns a short abbreviation into the full symbol automatically:

1. Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
2. Tap the + button
3. In the Phrase field, paste or insert °
4. In the Shortcut field, type something memorable like deg or *d
5. Save

From then on, typing your shortcut in any text field will trigger an autocorrect suggestion for °. You can confirm it with the spacebar or by tapping the suggestion.

Copy and Paste

The simplest fallback: search "degree symbol" in Safari, copy the ° character from any result, and paste it wherever you need it. Not elegant for repeated use, but perfectly functional for one-off needs.

Variables That Affect Your Experience

Not every iPhone keyboard behaves identically, and a few factors shape which method works best for you:

If you're using the default Apple iOS keyboard on a relatively current iOS version, the zero key long-press is consistent and reliable. If you've installed a third-party keyboard, you'll need to check that keyboard's specific character access method.

The Degree Symbol Across Different Use Cases

How often you need this symbol — and in what context — matters more than it might seem:

Casual users typing an occasional weather text probably won't need anything beyond the long-press method. It takes about two seconds once you know it exists.

Frequent writers or professionals who embed ° regularly in documents, spreadsheets, or emails will benefit from setting up a text replacement shortcut. The time savings compound quickly across dozens of daily uses.

Students or technical writers working across multiple devices should note that text replacement shortcuts set on iPhone do sync via iCloud to other Apple devices, including iPad and Mac — though they behave slightly differently on macOS.

Third-party app users who spend most of their time in tools like Notion, Google Docs, or productivity apps should verify whether those apps have their own symbol insertion tools, which sometimes make this faster than the system keyboard.

What's Consistent — and What Isn't ✅

The zero key long-press works universally on the default iOS keyboard and has remained consistent across recent iOS versions. It doesn't require any setup, works offline, and produces a clean Unicode degree symbol that renders correctly in virtually every app and platform.

Text replacement shortcuts are powerful but require initial setup and depend on iCloud sync working correctly across devices. They're a small investment that pays off with repeated use.

The right approach really comes down to how often you need the symbol, which apps you spend the most time in, and whether you're using Apple's built-in keyboard or a third-party alternative — details that only you know about your own setup.