Quick Answer
On a Mac, press Option + forward slash to type the division symbol. On Windows with a numeric keypad, hold Alt and type 0247. On phones, long press the hyphen or slash on the symbol layer to reveal the division option.
If neither shortcut is available, type 00F7 in any Linux or Chromebook field after pressing Ctrl + Shift + U, then press Enter.
What the symbol is called
The division sign is officially called the obelus. The mark has been used in print since the 1600s and was adopted into Unicode as code point U+00F7. The shape (a horizontal line between two dots) is supposed to be a visual reminder of a fraction.
In modern math notation, the slash (/) and the long horizontal fraction bar are preferred for serious work. The obelus survives in primary school textbooks, calculator displays, and everyday writing where the slash would be ambiguous.
The fast reference table
- Windows numeric keypad: Alt + 0247
- Mac: Option + forward slash
- iPhone or iPad: tap 123, then #+= layer, long press the hyphen or equals key
- Android (Gboard): tap ?123, then =< for the secondary panel
- Microsoft Word: type 00F7 then press Alt + X
- Google Docs: Insert, Special characters, search "division"
- Linux or Chromebook: Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00f7, press Enter
How to type the division symbol on Windows
Method 1: the Alt code
The Alt code is the fastest method on any keyboard with a numeric pad.
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold the left Alt key.
- Type 0247 on the numeric keypad (not the top row).
- Release Alt and the symbol appears.
The shorter code Alt + 246 also works on most Windows installs and is useful when you cannot remember the four digit version.
Method 2: the emoji and symbol picker
Laptops without a numeric pad can use the built in picker.
- Press Windows + period (or Windows + semicolon).
- Click the omega tab for symbols.
- Browse to the math symbols category and click the division sign.
Method 3: Microsoft Word hex conversion
Inside Word, OneNote, and most Office apps, type 00F7 and press Alt + X. The four characters convert into the division symbol.
How to type the division symbol on Mac
Apple gives the division symbol one of the most intuitive shortcuts on the entire keyboard.
- Hold Option and press the forward slash key.
The shortcut works in every Mac app: Pages, Notes, Mail, Safari, Excel, Word for Mac, and every modern web editor. If nothing happens, your keyboard layout is set to a region without the standard Option mapping. Switch to U.S. or British under System Settings, Keyboard, Input Sources.
How to type the division symbol on iPhone and Android
iOS
- Tap 123 in the lower left of the on screen keyboard.
- Tap #+= to reach the secondary symbol page.
- Press and hold the equals or hyphen key.
- The division symbol slides up in the popup. Drag your finger onto it.
Android
Gboard puts the division symbol on the secondary symbol panel.
- Tap ?123 to switch to numbers.
- Tap =< to open the secondary characters page.
- The division symbol sits in the math row. Tap once to insert.
For frequent use, save a text replacement that turns "divv" into the symbol. The setting lives under Settings, Personal Dictionary on Android, or Settings, General, Keyboard, Text Replacement on iOS.
Inside Microsoft Word and Google Docs
Word
Two reliable methods on top of the OS shortcuts.
- Type 00F7 then press Alt + X.
- Open the Insert tab, click Symbol, choose More Symbols, and double click the division sign.
Google Docs
Open Insert, choose Special characters, type "division" or "obelus" in the search bar, and click the result. Docs remembers your last few choices and surfaces them in the recent grid.
Linux and Chromebook
The Unicode shortcut works on every modern distribution and on ChromeOS.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + U.
- Type 00f7.
- Press Enter or Spacebar.
HTML and CSS
The HTML entity ÷ renders as the division symbol. The numeric entities ÷ and ÷ produce the same character. In CSS content properties, the Unicode escape \00F7 inserts the symbol via pseudo elements like ::before or ::after.
The division symbol versus the slash
For most digital math, the forward slash (/) is more practical. Spreadsheets, programming languages, and search engines all accept the slash as the standard division operator. The obelus is best reserved for human readable writing where the slash might be confused with a fraction, a date separator, or a directory path.
Style guides for primary school maths books, scientific calculators, and weather and cooking conversion tools still prefer the obelus because it reads more clearly to non technical audiences.
Troubleshooting
The symbol shows as a hollow box
Your font lacks the U+00F7 glyph. Switch to a modern system font (Segoe UI, San Francisco, Roboto, Noto Sans). All of them include the division mark.
Alt + 0247 inserts a different character
Num Lock is off, you are pressing the top row numbers instead of the numeric pad, or a third party key remapping app is intercepting. Disable Razer Synapse, Logitech G Hub, or AutoHotkey scripts and test again.
Option + slash prints a backslash on my Mac
Your active layout is not the standard U.S. or British. Open System Settings, Keyboard, Input Sources, and add a standard English layout.
FAQs
What is the Unicode point for the division symbol?
U+00F7, decimal 247. The HTML entity is ÷.
Can I use the division symbol in Excel formulas?
No. Excel only recognises the forward slash for division in formulas. The obelus can sit in cell text as a display character but Excel will not parse it as an operator.
Is there a separate symbol for long division?
Yes. The long division sign uses the right facing tick combined with a horizontal bar. It is rendered with a combination of characters or with a dedicated math font, and is far less common in everyday typing.
The takeaway
The division symbol is one shortcut away on every modern device. Option + slash on Mac, Alt + 0247 on Windows, and a long press on every phone. Pick the method that matches your daily setup and the symbol becomes invisible muscle memory.
