How to Type the Multiplication Sign (×) on a Keyboard

Not the letter x — here’s how to type the actual symbol on every platform

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The multiplication sign × (Unicode U+00D7) looks like the letter x but it’s a distinct mathematical symbol.

Using an actual x in equations and documents looks sloppy and can cause confusion — particularly in technical writing, spreadsheets, and anything that will be read carefully.

Every platform has a way to type the real symbol, and on most of them it’s faster than it looks once you know the method.

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The Two Symbols Worth Knowing

× — the multiplication sign (U+00D7). Used in mathematical expressions, dimensions (5 × 3 cm), and product notation.

· — the middle dot or interpunct (U+00B7). Sometimes used as an alternative multiplication symbol in European notation and physics.

The methods below focus on × since that’s what most people are looking for.

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Windows

Method 1: Alt Code

Hold Alt and type 0215 on the numeric keypad. Release Alt and × appears.

• Num Lock must be on
• Use the numeric keypad only — not the number row at the top
• Doesn’t work on laptops without a dedicated numpad

Method 2: Character Map

Search for Character Map in the Start menu. Find the × symbol, click it, copy to clipboard, and paste. Slow for regular use but works on any Windows machine.

Method 3: Microsoft Word Auto

In Word, type (x) — Word’s AutoCorrect may not handle this one automatically, but you can set it up manually. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, find ×, click AutoCorrect, and set a trigger like *x* or xx to expand to × automatically.

Method 4: System-Wide Text Expander

Use PhraseExpress, AutoHotkey, or Espanso to set a trigger like xx or *x that expands to × across every application. Set it up once and it works in browsers, email, spreadsheets, and everywhere else.

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Mac

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut

Press Option + 8 to type × directly.

This is the method to remember on Mac. It works in every application — browsers, documents, email — with no setup required.

Method 2: Character Viewer

Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer. Search for “multiplication” and double-click to insert.

Method 3: Text Replacement

Go to System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements and map a trigger like xx or *x to ×. Works system-wide in every app.

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iPhone and iPad

Method 1: Character Long Press

There’s no direct long-press shortcut for × on the standard iOS keyboard. The most practical method is a text replacement.

Method 2: Text Replacement

Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement. Add × as the phrase and a trigger like xx as the shortcut. After setup it auto-expands in any text field across iOS.

Method 3: Copy From a Document

Type × once using any method on another device, send it to yourself, and keep it accessible to copy when needed on iOS.

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Android

Method 1: Symbol Keyboard

On most Android keyboards including Gboard, tap ?123 to switch to numbers and symbols. Look for × on the symbols pages — it’s usually on the second symbols screen accessible via the =< key or similar.

Method 2: Gboard Symbol Search

In Gboard, tap the G logo and use the search function. Type “multiplication” and the × symbol appears as an insertable option.

Method 3: Long Press (Some Keyboards)

Some Android keyboards show × as a long-press option on the x key. Try holding the x key and see if a popup with × appears.

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Chromebook

Method 1: Unicode Input

Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00d7, then press Enter or Space. The × symbol appears at your cursor.

Method 2: Special Characters

Press Search + Shift + Space to open the emoji and special characters picker. Search “multiplication” and select the symbol.

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Linux

Method 1: Unicode Input

Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00d7, then press Enter. Works consistently across most Linux distributions and desktop environments.

Method 2: Compose Key

With a Compose key configured, the sequence is Compose + x + x to produce ×. Enable the Compose key in your keyboard settings first if it isn’t already active.

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Microsoft Word (Any Platform)

Method 1: Alt + X

Type 00D7 then immediately press Alt + X. Word converts the code to × instantly.

Method 2: Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Search for “multiplication” or browse to Latin-1 Supplement in the character set. Select × and insert. Set up an AutoCorrect entry from this dialog for future use.

Method 3: Alt Code

Hold Alt and type 0215 on the numpad — same as the standard Windows method.

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Google Docs

Option + 8 on Mac works inside Google Docs just like anywhere else. On Windows, the Alt code works inside Docs as well.

Alternatively, go to Insert → Special Characters, search for “multiplication sign,” and click to insert. For regular use, a text replacement at the OS level — Mac’s Text Replacements or a Windows text expander — is more efficient than using the Insert menu each time.

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Quick Reference Table

Platform	Fastest Method	Shortcut
Windows	Alt code (numpad)	Alt + 0215
Mac	Keyboard shortcut	Option + 8
iPhone / iPad	Text replacement	Set xx → × in settings
Android	Symbol keyboard	?123 → symbols page
Chromebook	Unicode input	Ctrl + Shift + U, 00d7
Linux	Unicode input	Ctrl + Shift + U, 00d7
Microsoft Word	Code conversion	Type 00D7 then Alt + X

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The Bottom Line

On Mac, Option + 8 is so fast there’s nothing else to think about. On Windows, the Alt + 0215 numpad code works reliably with a dedicated numpad, and the Alt + X method in Word is the cleanest approach for document work. On mobile, a text replacement shortcut is the one-time investment that pays off every time after.

If you write equations, technical specifications, or product dimensions regularly, setting up a text expander shortcut is worth the two minutes — typing xx and getting × automatically is faster than any other method on any platform.

The letter x is not the multiplication sign — once you have the shortcut set up, using the real symbol takes no more effort than the fake one.