How to Type the Registered Symbol (®) on Any Device
The registered trademark symbol (®) shows up everywhere — on product packaging, websites, legal documents, and brand assets. But unless you know the shortcut, typing it isn't obvious. There's no dedicated key for ® on any standard keyboard, so the method you use depends entirely on your device, operating system, and context.
Here's a complete breakdown of every reliable way to insert the registered symbol, across all major platforms.
What the Registered Symbol Actually Is
The ® symbol is a Unicode character with the code point U+00AE. It signals that a trademark has been officially registered with a government authority (such as the USPTO in the United States). In HTML, it renders using the entity ® or the numeric reference ®.
Understanding its technical identity matters because it shapes how you insert it — whether you're writing code, drafting a document, or posting on social media.
How to Type ® on Windows
Windows offers several methods, and which one is fastest depends on how often you need the symbol.
Keyboard shortcut (Alt code): Hold Alt and type 0174 on the numeric keypad (not the number row). Release Alt and ® appears. This only works with Num Lock on and requires a full keyboard with a numpad.
Character Map: Search for "Character Map" in the Start menu. Find ®, click Copy, then paste it wherever you need it. Slow, but reliable when shortcuts fail.
AutoCorrect in Microsoft Office: Word and Outlook automatically convert (r) into ® as you type. This is a built-in AutoCorrect rule — no setup required. It won't work outside Office apps unless you configure it manually.
Copy-paste from anywhere: The simplest universal fallback: copy ® from this page or any reliable source and paste it where you need it.
How to Type ® on macOS
Mac keyboards make special characters significantly more accessible.
Keyboard shortcut: Press Option + R. That's it — ® appears instantly in any app. This is the fastest method on Mac and works system-wide, including in browsers, notes, and design tools.
Character Viewer: Go to Edit → Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space). Search "registered" and double-click the symbol to insert it.
How to Type ® on iPhone and iPad
On iOS, the registered symbol isn't visible on the default keyboard, but it's accessible.
Long-press method: Tap and hold the TM key on the symbols keyboard (tap 123, then #+=). A pop-up shows ®, ™, and © — slide to ® and release. This is the intended mobile method.
Text replacement shortcut: Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement. Add a phrase like rr that auto-expands to ®. Once set, you'll never have to hunt for it again.
How to Type ® on Android
Android keyboard layouts vary by manufacturer and app, so there's no single universal shortcut. 🔍
Long-press method: On many Android keyboards (including Gboard), long-press the letter R or look in the symbols panel. The ® symbol often appears in the special characters section alongside © and ™.
Gboard specifically: Tap ?123 → =< → scroll to find ®. You can also use Gboard's emoji/symbol search to find it by typing "registered."
Copy-paste: When keyboard navigation is tedious, copying from a browser search is often faster than digging through symbol menus.
How to Insert ® in HTML and Web Development
For developers and designers, the cleanest approach depends on the context.
| Method | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HTML named entity | ® | Most readable, widely supported |
| HTML numeric (decimal) | ® | Works in all HTML versions |
| HTML numeric (hex) | ® | Common in modern codebases |
| Direct Unicode | ® | Fine in UTF-8 encoded files |
| CSS content property | content: " 0AE" | For pseudo-elements |
For most web projects using UTF-8 encoding (which is standard), pasting ® directly into your HTML or using ® are both perfectly acceptable. The entity approach is preferred in legacy environments or when character encoding can't be guaranteed.
How to Type ® in Design Tools
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign: Use Type → Glyphs panel to search for and insert ®. On Mac, Option + R works directly in text frames. On Windows, use the Alt code or copy-paste.
Figma: Paste ® directly or use the macOS shortcut. Figma handles Unicode characters natively in text layers.
Variables That Affect Which Method Works Best
The "right" method shifts depending on several factors:
- Keyboard type — Laptops without a numpad can't use Windows Alt codes reliably
- Operating system — Mac's
Option + Rhas no Windows equivalent - App context — Office's AutoCorrect doesn't carry over to browsers or design tools
- Frequency of use — Occasional use favors copy-paste; frequent use rewards learning a keyboard shortcut or setting up text replacement
- Technical environment — Web developers need to think about encoding and HTML context, not just visual insertion
A graphic designer working primarily on Mac has a very different fastest path than a Windows-based content writer who mostly works in Google Docs — and both differ from a developer embedding ® in a React component. ®
The method that saves the most time is the one that fits naturally into your existing workflow and tools.