Quick Answer
On a Windows keyboard set to English (India), press Ctrl + Alt + 4 or AltGr + 4 to type ₹. If you have a numeric keypad, hold Alt and type 8377 instead.
On a Mac with the Devanagari or English (India) layout, press Option + 4. On any modern phone, tap the 123 key, then long press the dollar sign to reveal the ₹ option.
The fast reference table
This single chart covers every layout most people will ever encounter. Bookmark it if you switch between work, personal, and travel machines.
- Windows (English India layout): Ctrl + Alt + 4 or AltGr + 4
- Windows numeric keypad: Alt + 8377
- Microsoft Word: type 20B9 then press Alt + X
- Mac (English India or Devanagari): Option + 4
- Mac (US layout): Control + Command + Spacebar, search "rupee"
- iPhone or iPad: tap 123, long press the dollar key
- Android (Gboard or Samsung): tap 123, long press the dollar key
- Linux or Chromebook: Ctrl + Shift + U, type 20b9, then press Enter
A little background on the symbol
The Indian Rupee glyph is one of the newest currency marks on Unicode. It was designed by D. Udaya Kumar at IIT Bombay and formally adopted by the Government of India in July 2010. Unicode added it as code point U+20B9 in 2011.
The character blends the Devanagari letter "र" (ra) with the Latin capital R, and the two horizontal lines at the top echo the Indian tricolour. Because adoption is recent, the glyph is missing from older fonts and from many international keyboard layouts that were manufactured before 2011.
How to type the rupee symbol on Windows
Windows gives you three reliable paths. The right one depends on whether your keyboard has a numeric keypad and which regional layout you are using.
Method 1: the India layout shortcut
If your Windows install has the English (India) keyboard added under Settings, Time and Language, Language and Region, then the rupee mark is printed on the 4 key.
- Locate the 4 key on the top number row.
- Press Ctrl + Alt + 4, or hold the right Alt key (AltGr) and press 4.
- The ₹ character appears at the cursor.
Method 2: the universal Alt code
If you have a full size keyboard with a separate ten key numeric pad, the Alt code works on every Windows app from Notepad to Photoshop.
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold the left Alt key.
- Type 8377 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt and the symbol drops in.
The row of numbers above the QWERTY letters will not trigger an Alt code. It has to be the dedicated numpad.
Method 3: the Word hex conversion
Microsoft Word, OneNote, and a few other Office apps accept raw Unicode code points.
- Type 20B9 at the cursor.
- Press Alt + X immediately.
- Word converts the four characters into ₹.
How to type the rupee symbol on a Mac
Apple keeps things consistent. Once the right layout is enabled, a single combo covers everything.
With the English (India) or Devanagari layout
Open System Settings, Keyboard, Input Sources, and add English (India) or Devanagari. Switch to it with Control + Spacebar, then press Option + 4.
On a strict US layout
Option + 4 prints the cent sign (¢) instead. The cleanest workaround is the Character Viewer.
- Press Control + Command + Spacebar.
- Type "rupee" in the search bar.
- Double click ₹ to insert it.
Pin the symbol to your favourites the first time you use it, and it sits one click away forever after.
How to type the rupee symbol on iPhone and Android
Mobile keyboards hide secondary currencies behind a long press on the dollar key.
iOS
- Tap the 123 key in the lower left.
- Press and hold the dollar sign.
- A popup of world currencies appears. Slide your finger onto ₹ and release.
If your iPhone region is set to India under Settings, General, Language and Region, the symbol sits on the main number page with no long press needed.
Android
- Open the symbol layer with the ?123 key.
- If you cannot see the rupee on the page, long press the dollar key to open the currency menu and slide onto ₹.
Gboard users in India can also enable transliteration, which lets you type "rupee" in English and offers ₹ as a suggestion.
Linux and Chromebook
The Unicode entry shortcut works system wide on most distributions and on ChromeOS.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + U.
- Type 20b9.
- Press Enter or Spacebar.
The four hex characters convert into the rupee glyph regardless of your active layout.
Troubleshooting common problems
The symbol shows as a hollow box
Your font does not contain the rupee glyph. Switch to a modern system font like Segoe UI, San Francisco, Roboto, Noto Sans, or Inter and the box turns into the correct character.
My Alt code prints a different character
Some custom layouts and gaming software hijack the Alt key. Disable Razer Synapse, Logitech G Hub, or AutoHotkey scripts temporarily and try again.
The shortcut works in Word but not in my browser
The hex plus Alt + X trick is a Word only feature. In a browser, use the operating system shortcut or the Unicode entry method instead.
FAQs
What is the Unicode code point for the Indian Rupee?
U+20B9. The decimal value is 8377, which is what the Windows Alt code uses.
Is there a HTML entity for the rupee sign?
Yes. Use ₹ or ₹ in your HTML and it renders the symbol on any modern browser.
Can I add a text replacement for the rupee?
Absolutely. Map a short trigger like rs or rup to expand into ₹. The setting lives under System Settings, Keyboard, Text Replacements on Mac and iOS, and inside PowerToys Keyboard Manager on Windows.
The takeaway
The rupee symbol is one combination away once you know your layout. Memorise the shortcut for your daily keyboard, pin a text replacement for the rare cases, and you will never copy paste from a search result again.
