How to Type a Pi 𝜋 on Windows, Mac, Android, & iPhone

Typing π on your keyboard might seem as challenging as using pi in an equation! But typing the pi symbol isn't as complicated as it looks, whether you have a Mac or a PC. If you want to know how to type the pi symbol in a few seconds or less, just follow these quick steps.

The Easiest Ways to Type Pi

On Windows, Press Windows key + . (period) to open character picker, click the symbol tab, go to the Language symbols tab, and click 𝜋.
You can also copy and paste the π symbol or use the alt code 227.
On a Mac, press the Option key and the P key at the same time.
On Android, the pi symbol is in the top row of the symbol keyboard in Gboard. On iOS, you'll need to add the Greek keyboard to type a pi.

Method 1

Method 1 of 6:

Windows Character Picker

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1
Press ⊞ Win+.. Pressing the Windows key and the period (.) at the same time opens the character picker, which allows you to insert a pi and other symbols into any app that allows typing—even your web browser!^{[1]
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- You can also easily copy and paste this pi symbol to use anywhere: 𝜋
It's the fifth tab in the character picker—look for the icon with 4 symbols. This opens a palette of different symbols.

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Select the Language symbols tab. While you'd expect pi to be in the math symbols section, it's considered a language symbol in the Windows character picker.
- If you don't see this tab at the top of the window, click the right-pointing arrow at the window's top-right corner until the tab is visible.
If you haven't already, click the place in your document or browser where you want to place the symbol, then click it in the character picker to insert it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 6:

Windows Alt Codes

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Press the Num Lock key on your keyboard. If your keyboard has a 10-digit keypad on the right, you can type the pi symbol quickly using a special alt code. To get started, just press Num Lock, NmLk, or similar to activate the numeric keypad. If your Num Lock key shares function with another key, you may need to press Fn at the same time as the Num Lock key.
- if your keyboard doesn't have a numeric keypad, you may still have a hidden numeric keypad—look for numbers at the bottoms of the m, j, k, l, u, i, o, 7, 8, and 9 keys. If you see small numbers in the corners, this is your numeric keypad, and you can make those keys enter numbers by pressing the Num Lock key.
- If your Num Lock key shares function with another key, you may need to press Fn at the same time as the Num Lock key.
Make sure you're typing this code on the numeric keypad, not the numbered keys at the top of the keyboard. Once typed, you'll see the pi 𝜋 symbol where you typed.

Method 3

Method 3 of 6:

Mac

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Continue holding down the key.
This inserts the pi π symbol into your document, message, or virtually any application on your Mac.

Method 4

Method 4 of 6:

Android

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If you're using Gboard (the default keyboard on most Android phones and tablets), typing the pi symbol is easy.
It's the ?123 at the bottom-left corner.
It's the =/< at the bottom-left.
You'll see it near the top of the symbol keyboard.

Method 5

Method 5 of 6:

iPhone/iPad

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You'll need to enable the Greek keyboard to type a pi symbol on your iPhone or iPad. General is in the third group of settings.
It's in the sixth group of settings.
This displays the keyboards you've already installed.
Once selected, you'll return to your list of keyboards, where you'll now see "Greek" as an option.
Now that the Greek keyboard is enabled, typing a pi is easy.
If you only have your standard language and the emoji keyboard installed, you'll just need to tap it twice.
Once you do this, you'll see the traditional pi symbol in the top row of Greek letters.
Now that you've typed a pi symbol, tap the globe key again to return to your usual keyboard language.

Method 6

Method 6 of 6:

Linux

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This key combination tells Linux that the following characters will be hex code for the desired character in Unicode.
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You will now see the pi symbol where you typed the code.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I type it on a smart phone?

Community Answer

For an iPhone, go to the keyboard settings and add the Greek language keyboard. Now, when you're typing something, click the globe in the bottom left hand corner of the screen so the keyboard changes to Greek. The pi symbol will be shown on the virtual keyboard.

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Question

How can I type a pi symbol on an iPad?

Community Answer

You can add the Greek language on any iOS devices. Go to Settings, General, Keyboard, and Keyboard again. Then, select Add new keyboard and find Greek in the other iPhone languages. Then, when you need to type it, hold down the keyboard's globe icon and choose Greek. Finally, you'll see the pi symbol.

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Question

How do I type the Pi symbol on a laptop running Ubuntu without a number pad?

Community Answer

The easiest (but most tedious) way is to search Pi and see if you can copy and paste it to where you need it to be.

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