Need to type √ in a message, document, or homework answer? Start by copying the character below, or use the shortcut for your device. For an expression with a bar over the numbers, head to the equation methods.
Copy and paste √ for the quickest result
Use these steps in a text field that accepts the square root symbol.
- 1.Select this character: √.
- 2.Press Ctrl+C on Windows or Chromebook, or Command+C on Mac. On iPhone or iPad, adjust the selection handles and tap Copy.
- 3.Click or tap where you want the symbol.
- 4.Press Ctrl+V on Windows or Chromebook, or Command+V on Mac. On iPhone or iPad, tap Paste.
On Windows, open the Symbols panel
Windows 11 has a built-in symbol picker that works without a numeric keypad. Use it to insert √ without copying the character from another page.
Click your destination text field, then press Windows+period. Select Symbols, then select √ from the available symbols.
Have a numeric keypad? Alt+251 produces √ in applications using an OEM code page that maps 251 to this symbol, including CP437. The number row above the letters does not work for this method.
Turn on Num Lock. Hold Alt while typing 251 on the numeric keypad. Release Alt.
Use 251 without a leading zero. Alt+0251 is not interchangeable, and Alt+8730 is not a universal Windows shortcut. If you get a different character, select √ through the Symbols panel instead.
Find the square root symbol on a Mac
Place your cursor where you want √, then press Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer. Search for square root, then click √ in the compact viewer, or double-click it in the expanded viewer.
To open the same viewer through a menu, choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols. For keyboard entry in Grapher, press Option+V. Apple documents this shortcut for Grapher; in other apps, it depends on the active keyboard layout and whether the app intercepts the keys.
Tip: With √ selected in the expanded viewer, choose Add to Favorites to find it quickly next time.
Type 221A in Word for Windows
Desktop Word for Windows converts the symbol's Unicode code into √ without a numeric keypad.
- 1.Click where the symbol belongs in your document.
- 2.Type 221A.
- 3.Select only 221A if the preceding text contains hexadecimal characters, such as letters A through F or digits.
- 4.Press Alt+X to convert the code into √.
Make an iPhone or iPad keyboard shortcut
Use text replacement when you type √ repeatedly on an iPhone or iPad. A trigger such as srtsym inserts the character in apps that support keyboard replacements.
Copy this character: √. Open Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap +, then paste √ into Phrase.
Enter srtsym in Shortcut, then tap Save. Type srtsym in your destination app. Accept the replacement. If the app does not support it, use the copy-and-paste steps above.
Keep √ ready on an Android keyboard
A pinned Gboard clipboard entry saves you from copying √ each time.
Copy √ from existing text, then open the destination text field to bring up Gboard. Tap Clipboard at the top of the keyboard. Touch and hold the √ clipboard entry.
Choose Pin. Tap the entry under Pinned whenever you want to insert it.
For Samsung Keyboard, open Settings > General management > Samsung Keyboard settings. Enable Predictive text. Open Text shortcuts, or More typing options > Text shortcuts on models with that menu arrangement.
Tap +. Enter srtsym in Shortcut. Paste √ into Expanded phrase. Tap Add.
Type srtsym in your destination field. Select √ from the prediction bar.
When your document needs a full square root
The plain character √ works in ordinary text. An equation editor creates a radical with a bar extending over its contents, giving you a formatted expression.
In desktop Word for Windows, press Alt+= to create an equation. Type \sqrt. Press Space to insert the square-root symbol within the equation.
For a formatted root containing a number, select UnicodeMath as Word's equation input format. Enter \sqrt(9) in the equation. Press Space to build the expression.
In desktop Word for Mac, press Control+= to create an equation. Type \sqrt. Press Space.
For just the plain symbol in Google Docs or Slides on a computer, choose Insert > Symbols > Special characters. Enter the Unicode value 221A, or browse the categories. Click √.
For a formatted root in Google Docs, choose Insert > Symbols > Equation. Open Math operators. Select the square-root operator. Enter the number or expression under the radical.
If a keyboard equation method fails in Word for Windows, open Insert > Equation > Insert New Equation. Then try selecting the square-root radical template in the equation's Structures gallery.
Chromebook and Ubuntu Unicode entry
ChromeOS fields using the native character composer and compatible Ubuntu/GNOME apps accept √ through its hexadecimal Unicode value, 221A. This shortcut depends on the app's input handling and does not work in every field.
On a Chromebook, turn off Caps Lock if it is enabled. Click the destination text field, then press and release Ctrl+Shift+U. Type 221A, then press Enter or Space to insert √. In Ubuntu/GNOME apps that support Unicode entry, use the same Ctrl+Shift+U, 221A, and Enter or Space sequence.
If the Chromebook shortcut fails, copy this character: √. Press Ctrl+V in the destination field. To retrieve a recent copy instead, press Search+V or Launcher+V. Select the √ clipboard entry.
For an Ubuntu alternative, open Activities. Search for Characters, then open Characters. Search for square root.
Select √. Copy the selected character. Paste it into your destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I save √ in Windows clipboard history?
Press Windows+V. Choose Turn on if prompted. Copy √, then open clipboard history again and pin its entry to retain it across restarts. Select the saved entry whenever you need it.
Where does Alt+8730 work?
Alt+8730 inserts √ in compatible RichEdit controls that implement Microsoft's Unicode override. Ordinary Windows Alt-code handling processes large values differently, so the shortcut does not produce √ in every text field.
How do I display √ in an Excel or Google Sheets cell?
In supported Excel desktop editions, enter =UNICHAR(8730) in a cell. In Google Sheets, enter =CHAR(8730). Confirm the formula to display √. These formulas return the character rather than calculate a square root.
How do I paste √ without bringing its original formatting?
On a Chromebook, paste with Ctrl+Shift+V. On Mac, use Option+Shift+Command+V to paste with the destination's formatting in apps that support it.