You're typing a weather report or maybe a math equation, and suddenly you need that little circle for temperatures or angles. Where the heck is it? I remember the first time this happened to me – I must've wasted ten minutes hunting through menus before finally Googling it. Turns out, making the degree symbol on a Mac isn't obvious, but it's dead simple once you know the tricks.
Whether you're working on a school project, drafting an email about tomorrow's forecast, or entering coordinates, knowing how to make the degree symbol on Mac saves serious time. I'll show you every practical method I've tested, including some clever workarounds when the usual shortcuts fail. No jargon, no fluff – just what actually works based on real daily use.
The Fastest Way: Keyboard Shortcuts
Let's cut to the chase. The quickest method to make the degree symbol on Mac is using keyboard shortcuts. But here's the thing – it varies slightly depending on your keyboard type:
For Standard US Keyboards
Press simultaneously: Option + Shift + 8
This instantly gives you the ° symbol. I use this multiple times daily when reporting temperatures in my gardening notes. Muscle memory kicks in after a while.
Funny story – when I first learned this, I kept hitting Option+8 without Shift and getting this: ∞. Took me three tries to realize my mistake!
For International Keyboards
UK/European layouts: Option + 0 (zero)
Nordic layouts: Option + Shift + '
My Swedish colleague confirmed this works on her MacBook when we collaborated on a climate research doc last winter.
Keyboard Confession: The Option key might be labeled "Alt" on some keyboards – same key, different name. Took me months to realize this when switching between PCs and Macs.
Alternative Methods When Shortcuts Fail
Sometimes shortcuts don't work because of software glitches or weird keyboard mappings. Here are backup methods I've personally used:
Character Viewer: Your Hidden Symbol Library
This saved me during my master's thesis when shortcuts suddenly stopped working in Pages. Here's how to access it:
- Place cursor where you want the symbol
- Open Edit menu > Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space)
- In search box, type "degree"
- Double-click the ° symbol to insert
The Character Viewer is clunky for frequent use but invaluable when you need obscure symbols. Bonus: it shows both temperature (°C/°F) and arcdegree symbols.
| Application | Access Method | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Insert > Symbols > More Symbols | Has separate degree character in "Latin-1 Supplement" |
| Google Docs | Insert > Special Characters | Search "degree" or code 00B0 |
| Web Browsers | Character Viewer only | Keyboard shortcuts may not work in some form fields |
Auto-Text Replacement: The Lazy Genius Method
If you constantly need to make the degree symbol on Mac like I do for weather reports, set this up once and thank yourself later:
- Open System Settings > Keyboard
- Select "Text Replacements"
- Click +
- In "Replace" field: type shortcut (e.g., @@deg)
- In "With" field: paste the ° symbol (copy it from somewhere first)
Now whenever you type @@deg, it auto-converts to °. I use this more than the actual shortcut now – especially helpful when typing on my iPhone where the degree symbol is buried.
Troubleshooting: When Nothing Works
We've all been there – the shortcut should work but doesn't. Based on helping dozens of colleagues, here's what usually fixes it:
Problem: Option+Shift+8 produces nothing or wrong symbol
Fix: Check your keyboard layout in System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. If you see multiple layouts, remove extras.
Last month, my friend upgraded to Ventura and suddenly couldn't make the degree symbol on his MacBook Pro. Turns out he had accidentally enabled "Dvorak" layout during setup. Switched back to ABC – problem solved.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Shortcut types ∞ instead of ° | Forgot the Shift key | Use Option+Shift+8 not Option+8 |
| Shortcut types nothing | App-specific conflict | Try Character Viewer method instead |
| Symbol appears as empty box | Font doesn't support character | Switch font to Arial or Helvetica |
Special Cases: Programming and Technical Work
If you're coding, things get trickier. During my web development phase, I learned:
HTML Entities
For web content, use these code alternatives:
- ° → °
- ° → °
Terminal and Code Editors
In VS Code or Terminal:
- Press Control + Command + Space
- Search for "degree"
- Select symbol from Character Viewer
Annoyingly, the standard Option+Shift+8 shortcut often fails here. I wish Apple would fix this inconsistency.
Degree Symbol Variations Explained
Not all degree symbols are equal! Depending on context:
| Symbol | Name | Common Uses | How to Type on Mac |
|---|---|---|---|
| ° | Degree symbol | Temperatures, angles | Option+Shift+8 |
| ℃ | Degree Celsius | Temperature metrics | Character Viewer only |
| ℉ | Degree Fahrenheit | US temperature reports | Character Viewer only |
FAQs: Real Questions from Real Users
Why doesn't Option+0 work on my Mac?
Probably because you're using a US keyboard layout instead of European. Check in System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. Honestly, Apple should make this more consistent across regions.
Can I type the degree symbol without the Option key?
Yes! Three workarounds:
- Use Character Viewer (Control+Command+Space)
- Copy/paste from existing document
- Enable "Show Keyboard Viewer" to click the symbol
How to type °C or °F properly?
Option+Shift+8 then type C or F. Don't use the combined ℃/℉ symbols – they render inconsistently across systems. Learned this the hard way when my weather blog showed question marks on Android devices.
Why does the symbol look wrong in some fonts?
Some decorative fonts don't include the degree character. If you see □ instead of °, switch to standard fonts like Helvetica or Arial. Garamond tends to handle it well too.
Can I create a custom keyboard shortcut just for °?
Absolutely! Use System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts:
- Select App Shortcuts
- Click +
- Application: All Applications
- Menu Title: Exactly "°" (copy-paste the symbol)
- Assign your preferred shortcut like Option+D
Method Comparison Table
| Method | Speed | Difficulty | Works Everywhere? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Option+Shift+8 | Instant | Easy (once memorized) | Most applications | Regular users |
| Character Viewer | Slow | Moderate | All applications | Occasional use |
| Text Replacement | Instant after setup | Setup required | All Apple apps | Frequent typers |
| Keyboard Viewer | Slow | Easy | All applications | Visual learners |
| Copy/Paste | Variable | Simple | Universal | Emergency use |
Pro Tips from Daily Use
After years of typing technical documents:
- Create a Text Replacement shortcut like @@d for degree symbol – faster than memorizing Option combos
- In Word/Pages, add ° to your Quick Access toolbar
- Bookmark a page with the symbol to copy when all else fails
- For numeric keypad users: Alt+0176 (Windows) won't work on Mac keyboards
The degree symbol seems minor until you need it constantly. What method works best depends entirely on your workflow. For most people, learning Option+Shift+8 solves 90% of cases instantly. When it doesn't, the Character Viewer is your safety net.
Still stuck? Paste this: °
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