Quick answer
Copy ≈, or press Option + X on a Mac with the U.S. layout. In Microsoft Word for Windows, type 2248 and press Alt + X. On a Windows laptop, Character Map or copy and paste is more dependable than the often-cited Alt + 247.
The fastest way to insert ≈
The approximately equal symbol, ≈, signals an approximation rather than exact equality: π ≈ 3.14. Copy the character above if you need it once. If you type it often, use the method for your device or app.
| Where you are typing | Dependable method |
|---|---|
| Windows laptop or desktop | Copy ≈ or use Character Map |
| Mac with a U.S. keyboard layout | Press Option + X |
| Microsoft Word for Windows | Type 2248, then press Alt + X |
| Google Docs | Insert → Symbols → Special characters; enter 2248 |
| Excel or Google Sheets | Paste ≈ as text, or use =UNICHAR(8776) |
| iPhone, Android, or Chromebook | Copy ≈ and paste it into your app |
Type ≈ on Windows, including laptops without a number pad
For an occasional sign, copy ≈ and paste it where you need it. For a built-in Windows method, open Character Map from Start. Choose a font that includes math symbols, enable Advanced view, search for almost equal to, then select, copy, and paste the sign. You can also open the Windows symbols panel with Windows + . and look through its math symbols; the available picker can vary by Windows version.
Some guides list Alt + 247 as the approximate sign shortcut. That number comes from an older character set and is not a dependable Unicode input method. The character produced by a number-pad Alt sequence without a leading zero can vary with the active code page. It also needs a numeric keypad, which many laptops lack. If it produces something other than ≈, use Character Map or copy the actual character instead. Our Windows Alt-code guide explains why these codes differ.
Type ≈ on a Mac
With the U.S. Mac keyboard layout, press Option + X. If your layout is different or an app intercepts the shortcut, open Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for almost equal to, and insert ≈. This also lets you check that you selected the two-wavy-line sign rather than a similar math symbol.
Insert ≈ in Word, Google Docs, and spreadsheets
In Microsoft Word for Windows, type the hexadecimal Unicode value 2248 immediately before the cursor and press Alt + X. Word changes that value to ≈. This is a Word feature, so it should not be treated as a shortcut that works in every Windows text field. You can also use Word’s Insert → Symbol menu.
In Google Docs, choose Insert → Symbols → Special characters, enter the Unicode value 2248 in the picker, and click ≈. Google Sheets does not have the same direct special-character picker, so copy ≈ into a cell or use =UNICHAR(8776) to display it. The same formula works in Excel. The number 8776 is the decimal value of Unicode U+2248.
A visible ≈ is text, not a spreadsheet comparison operator. If you need to test whether two numbers are within a tolerance of 0.01, use =ABS(A1-B1)<=0.01. That returns TRUE or FALSE; adding ≈ between cell references will not perform the test.
Phone and Chromebook methods
On iPhone or Android, copy ≈ and paste it into your message or document. Phone keyboards differ, so a long-press on = is not a reliable instruction for every keyboard. If you use the sign frequently, a personal text-replacement shortcut can save repeated copying where your keyboard supports it.
On a Chromebook, copy ≈, or use the Google Docs special-character picker when writing in Docs. A Windows Alt code is not a Chromebook shortcut.
What ≈ means, and which lookalike to use
Unicode names ≈ ALMOST EQUAL TO (U+2248). In π ≈ 3.14, the right side is a rounded value. Compare these characters before copying one into an equation:
| Sign | Meaning in ordinary use | Example |
|---|---|---|
= |
Exactly equal | 2 + 2 = 4 |
≈ |
Approximately equal | π ≈ 3.14 |
≠ |
Not equal | π ≠ 3.14 |
≅ |
A different relation, often used for congruence | △ABC ≅ △DEF |
~ |
Tilde; meaning depends on context | Informal “about” in some writing |
If you mean a not-equal sign, use ≠, not ≈. For the exact constant, see the pi symbol guide.
Unicode, HTML, and LaTeX
The character ≈ is Unicode U+2248. In a UTF-8 web page, you can write it directly. HTML also accepts ≈, ≈, or ≈. In LaTeX math mode, \approx produces ≈. These are ways to represent or typeset the same sign; none is a universal physical keyboard shortcut.
If the sign comes out wrong
- Alt + 247 gives a different character: the legacy code-page method is the likely cause. Copy ≈ or use Word’s
2248+Alt+Xconversion. - Option + X gives a different character: check the Mac input source and use Character Viewer for the active layout.
- The pasted sign shows as a box: try a font with mathematical symbols. Confirm that the copied character is still
U+2248. - A spreadsheet formula errors: keep ≈ in display text; use a numeric tolerance formula for calculations.
References and compatibility
The methods and character identity above were checked against these sources. Keyboard layouts and app menus can change, so use the copy-and-paste fallback when your setup differs.
Editorial note: Shortcuts can vary by keyboard layout and app. Check the stated platform and use the copy-and-paste fallback when needed. Report a correction with your device, layout, and application; see our editorial policy for limitations.