How to Type the @ (At) Symbol on Any Keyboard
On a US keyboard, you type the at sign (@) by holding Shift and pressing 2. On a UK keyboard, it is Shift plus the apostrophe key, the one next to Enter. On a Mac or a Chromebook with a US or UK keyboard, it is Shift + 2. On a phone, open the symbols keyboard (?123 or 123); when you type into an email field, the @ usually appears right next to the space bar.
If Shift + 2 gives you a quotation mark (") instead, your computer thinks you have a UK keyboard. Below you'll find every common layout, how to fix the mix-up, and the other symbols that move between US and UK keyboards.
Where the @ is on each keyboard
| Keyboard | How to type @ |
|---|---|
| US keyboard (Windows, Linux or Chromebook) | Shift + 2 |
| UK keyboard (Windows, Linux or Chromebook) | Shift + ' (the key next to Enter) |
| Mac with a US or UK Apple keyboard | Shift + 2 |
| Any Windows keyboard with a number pad | Hold Alt and type 6 4 on the number pad |
| Spanish keyboard | AltGr + 2 (or Ctrl + Alt + 2 on Windows) |
| Latin American keyboard | AltGr + Q |
| Android or iPhone | Tap ?123 or 123; in email fields the @ key is usually shown next to the space bar |
How to tell which keyboard you have
Look at the 2 key. If it shows an @ above the number, you have a US layout. If it shows a quotation mark (") instead, and there is an @ on the apostrophe key next to Enter, you have a UK layout. A UK keyboard also has a tall Enter key and a £ sign on the 3.
Shift + 2 types " instead of @: how to fix it
- Your system is set to the wrong layout. This is the most common cause: a US keyboard with Windows set to UK English, or the other way round. On Windows, go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region, open your language's options and keep only the keyboard that matches the keys you see. On a Mac, check System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input. On a Chromebook, open Settings → Device → Keyboard and inputs.
- You switched layouts by accident. Windows switches keyboards with Windows + Space (and sometimes Alt + Shift). If the @ suddenly moves, press the same shortcut again or pick the right layout from the taskbar.
- Alt + 64 does nothing. It only works with the number pad, not the number row, and Num Lock must be on. Most laptops without a number pad can't use it.
- You're in a remote desktop or virtual machine. The remote computer's layout wins. Try the US and UK combinations until one works.
Other symbols that move between US and UK keyboards
| Symbol | US keyboard | UK keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| " (quotation mark) | Shift + ' (next to Enter) | Shift + 2 |
| # (hash) | Shift + 3 | The # key next to Enter |
| £ (pound) | Hold Alt and type 0163 on the number pad (Windows) | Shift + 3 |
| € (euro) | Hold Alt and type 0128 on the number pad (Windows) | AltGr + 4 |
| ~ (tilde) | Shift + ` (left of 1) | Shift + # (next to Enter) |
| \ (backslash) | The \ key above Enter | The \ key left of Z |
| | (pipe) | Shift + \ | Shift + \ |
Typing @ without looking at the keyboard
The @ is one of the keys people look for most, because you use it every day (email addresses, usernames, mentions) but always with Shift. If you touch type, use the opposite hand for Shift: on a US keyboard, the right little finger holds the right Shift while the left ring finger presses 2. On a UK keyboard, the left little finger holds Shift and the right little finger reaches for the apostrophe key. It feels awkward for a few days, then it becomes automatic.
If you want to build that habit, our guide on how to type without looking at the keyboard walks through the full method, and you can practice free, with no sign-up, in our typing exercises.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my keyboard type " when I press Shift + 2?
Because your computer is set to a UK layout. Either use Shift + the apostrophe key next to Enter, or switch the layout to US English in your language settings so the keys match what is printed on them.
How do I type @ on a laptop without a number pad?
Use the keyboard combination for your layout: Shift + 2 on a US keyboard, Shift + ' on a UK keyboard. The Alt + 64 shortcut needs a number pad.
What is the @ symbol called?
In English it is called the "at sign" or simply "at", because in email addresses it reads as "user at domain".