How to type the copyright symbol
Use the shortcut for the device or app you have open, or copy the symbol above.
- Windows (numeric keypad)
- Hold Alt and type 0169 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt
- Windows (laptop)
- Press Ctrl + Alt + C in Word, or type 00A9 then Alt + X in Word
- Mac
- Option + G on a US keyboard layout
- iPhone / iPad
- Copy © from this page, or add a Text Replacement in Settings → General → Keyboard (for example (c) for ©)
- Android
- Open the keyboard symbol pages (?123, then =\<) to look for ©, or copy it from this page
- Google Docs
- Insert → Special characters and search for copyright, or type (c) and let Docs substitute it
- Microsoft Word
- Ctrl + Alt + C on Windows, Option + G on Mac, or Insert → Symbol
What is the copyright symbol?
The copyright symbol © is Unicode U+00A9 COPYRIGHT SIGN, a letter C inside a circle. It marks a work as protected by copyright and appears in notices on websites, books, software, and images.
How to type the copyright symbol and use it in a notice
Pick the shortcut for the device you are on. Windows with a numeric keypad: hold Alt and type 0169. Mac: Option + G. Word on Windows also accepts Ctrl + Alt + C, and Google Docs has Insert → Special characters. On a phone, the copy button above is the quickest route, and a Text Replacement on iPhone or a symbol-page lookup on Android covers repeat use.
A typical notice has three parts: the symbol, the year the work was first published, and the owner’s name, for example © 2026 Example Studio. Sites often place it in the footer and add the phrase “All rights reserved” after it. Year ranges such as © 2024–2026 are common for sites updated over time. This page copies the symbol only, and it is not legal advice, so check the rules in your country for exact wording.
On a web page, write © or © in HTML, or paste the character itself into a UTF-8 file. In CSS content, use the escape \00A9. Templates and CMS footers can generate the year automatically so the notice stays current. The glyph is a single character, encoded in UTF-8 as the two bytes C2 A9.
The same circled mark appears in neighboring symbols with different jobs. ® (U+00AE) marks a registered trademark, ™ (U+2122) marks a trademark claim, and ℗ (U+2117) marks a sound recording. Use © for the written, visual, or software work itself, and pick the matching mark for the other cases. Copy any of them from the related characters row above.
Plain-text stand-ins such as (c) or a bracketed letter C work in a pinch, but the real character reads more clearly, stays searchable, and is the form most style guides ask for. Pasting © into email, chat, a PDF, or a spreadsheet keeps the notice as text rather than an image. If a box appears in its place, change the font, since nearly every system font includes the glyph.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alt code for the copyright symbol?
On Windows with a numeric keypad, hold Alt and type 0169, then release Alt to get ©.
How do I type © on a Mac?
Press Option + G on a US keyboard layout. Other layouts may use a different key, and the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space) is a backup.
How do I type the copyright symbol on iPhone or Android?
Copy it from this page and paste it. For repeat use, add a Text Replacement on iPhone, or open the keyboard symbol pages on Android.
What is the HTML code for the copyright symbol?
Use © or © in HTML. In CSS, the escape is \00A9.
What is the difference between ©, ®, and ™?
© marks copyright in a creative work, ® marks a registered trademark, and ™ marks a trademark claim. Each is its own Unicode character.
Is the copyright symbol free to use?
Yes. It is a standard Unicode character, free to copy and paste with no account required.