How to Type Square Root on PC or Mac

This wikiHow teaches you how to type the square root symbol (√) into a typing app, including Microsoft Word, on Windows and macOS. If you're using Microsoft Word, you can easily insert the square root symbol by selecting it from a menu. In other apps, you can use a quick keyboard shortcut in either Windows or macOS.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Using Microsoft Word

  1. Open your Microsoft Word document. You can do this by double-clicking the file on your computer.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 1 Version 2.jpg
    • This method will work on Windows and macOS.
  2. Click the mouse where you want to type the symbol.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 2 Version 2.jpg
  3. Click the menu. It’s at the top of Word.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 3 Version 2.jpg
  4. Click .
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 4 Version 2.jpg
  5. Click .
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 5 Version 2.jpg
  6. Click the “subset” drop-down menu.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 6 Version 2.jpg
  7. Click . A list of math symbols will appear.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 7 Version 2.jpg
  8. Click the Square Root symbol. If you don't see it, you may have to scroll up a little. Clicking the symbol in the list inserts it into your word document.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 8 Version 2.jpg

[Edit]Using a Windows Keyboard Shortcut

  1. Find your numeric keypad. First, if your keyboard has a separate section on the right side containing 10 numeric keys, you're good to go! If you're using a laptop or an external keyboard that doesn't have a separate numeric keypad section, you may still have a "soft" numeric keypad:
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 9 Version 2.jpg
    • Take a look at the right side of your keyboard, particularly the following keys: 7, 8, 9, U, I, O, J, K, L, M. Do you see smaller numbers printed on these keys? If so, you have a "soft" numeric keypad, which you can activate by using the Number Lock key.
    • Some newer laptops don't have a numeric keypad at all. If this is the case for you, you'll need to try another method.
  2. Turn on Number Lock (if you have a soft numeric keypad). Whether you have a physical 10-key numeric keypad or a soft numeric keypad, you should have a key called Num Lock, NumLk, or similar somewhere in the upper-right area of the keyboard. Sometimes you'll find this key in another place, but start looking there. Once you find it, press it to activate Number Lock.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 10 Version 2.jpg
    • If your Num Lock key is shared with another key, such as Screen Lock, you may have to hold down the Fn key as you click it to activate Number Lock.
    • To test that Number Lock is working, press the U key—if you see a 4 instead of a U, it's working! If not, try pressing Num Lock again.
  3. Open the document in which you want to insert the square root symbol. You can use this method in any Windows app that allows typing, including your web browser.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 11 Version 2.jpg
  4. Click the location where you want to insert the symbol.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 12 Version 2.jpg
  5. Press and hold and type , then , and then . If you're using a soft numeric keypad, type K, (for 2), I (for 5) and then J (for 1). Lift your finger from Alt after you type the 1—the square root symbol should appear.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 13 Version 2.jpg
    • Do not use the keys in the number row at the top of the keyboard—this will not work! You have to use the numeric keypad, whether it's physical or a soft keypad.
  6. Press the key to turn it off. Now that you have a square root symbol, you can turn off Number Lock. This is especially important if you have a soft numeric keypad, as you'll wind up accidentally typing numbers otherwise.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 14 Version 2.jpg

[Edit]Using Windows Character Map

  1. Open the document in which you want to insert the square root symbol. You can use this method in any Windows app that allows typing, including your web browser. This is a great alternative to using a keyboard shortcut if you aren't able to do so.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 15.jpg
  2. Open the Character Map. An easy way to do this is to type into the Windows search bar (next to the Start menu), and then click Character Map in the search results.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 16.jpg
  3. Check the box next to "Advanced view." It's in the lower-left corner of the Character Map.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 17.jpg
  4. Type into the "Search for" field. This field is at the bottom of the window.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 18.jpg
  5. Press or click . Now you'll see the square root symbol at the upper-left corner of the app.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 19.jpg
  6. Double-click the square root symbol. This places the symbol into the "Characters to copy" box.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 20.jpg
  7. Click . The square root symbol is now copied to your computer's clipboard.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 21.jpg
  8. Click the place in your document where you want to insert the symbol. This sets the cursor at the correct place.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 22.jpg
  9. Press to paste the copied symbol. You can also paste it by right-clicking near the cursor and selecting Paste. The square root symbol now appears in your document.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 23.jpg

[Edit]Using a Mac Keyboard Shortcut

  1. Open the document in which you want to insert the square root symbol. You can use this method in any Mac app that allows typing, including your web browser.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 24.jpg
  2. Click the location where you want to insert the square root symbol.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 25.jpg
  3. Press . This inserts the square root symbol.
    Type Square Root on PC or Mac Step 14.jpg
    • If you're using the Grapher app, press Shift + Option + V instead.[1]

[Edit]Tips

  • You can also just copy and paste the square root symbol from this article into your document. Just highlight the symbol √ with your mouse, right-click it, and then select Copy. Now, right-click the desired location and select Paste to insert the symbol.

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

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