Superscript Two or Squared Alt Code (²) (Windows Keyboard Shortcut)

The Symbol for Squared alt Code is 0178.

You can simply use this Alt code to type the Superscript Two sign by pressing and holding the Alt key while typing the Alt code (0178) with the 10-key numeric keypad.

Alt codes are used to type symbols and characters that do not have a dedicated key on the keyboard.

In this guide, I’m going to show you how to type the Squared symbol with your keyboard using this Alt code method.

Just so you know, before you can use the Alt code method to type anything, your keyboard must have the 10-key numeric keypad.

Some laptop users may notice that their keyboards doesn’t have this extended number pad. If that’s you, don’t worry. In the upcoming sections, I’m going to address how to use the Squared alt code on a laptop without the 10-key Numpad.

How to type Squared on Keyboard

Without any further ado, these are the steps you may use to type this symbol (²) on your keyboard.

• Open your text editor where you need to type the Squared symbol.
• Place your insertion pointer where you need the symbol.
• Press and hold down the Alt key.
• Whilst holding down the Alt key, type the Squared Alt Code (0178).
• After typing the code, release the Alt key.

As soon as you release the Alt key, the Squared symbol you want will immediately appear exactly where you placed the cursor.

Rules for using Squared Alt Code

• You must press and hold down the Alt key before typing the code.
• You must use the numeric keypad on the right of the keyboard to type the alt code.
• Since you are using the 10-key numeric keypad, the NumLock must be turned on. Turning off the NumLock will disable the number keys which cannot type any numbers when disabled.
• If you are using a laptop without the numeric keypad, you should first turn on the hidden numeric keypad. With most laptops, you can turn on this by pressing Fn + NmLk keys simultaneously. Not all laptops have a hidden numeric keypad. If it seems missing in yours, then you cannot use the alt code method to type symbols unless you connect an external keyboard that has a numeric keypad, or use the on-screen keyboard (as shown in the next section).
• You should also understand that not all symbols can be typed with the alt code depending on the text editor you are working on. Some of the alt codes work only in Microsoft Word. However, the Squared symbol Alt code works anywhere on Windows such as text editors, on the web, forms, and so on.

How to Use Squared Alt Code on a Laptop

Some laptops are too small to have a separate numeric keypad on the right. Some are bigger in size but are designed without this number pad.

And as I already mentioned, to use the Squared Alt code method, your keyboard needs to have this numeric keypad.

Some laptop numeric keypads are embedded/hidden within the main keyboard where the right-hand fingers types.

Note: Whilst some laptops have this 10-key number pad inside the main keyboard, some don’t have anything like that. If that’s your laptop, then you’ll need to attach an external keyboard that contains a numeric keypad or move on to the next section where I addressed how to use the on-screen keyboard to perform this task.

With that being said, obey the following steps to use the Squared Alt Code on supported laptops:

• Step 1: Check and confirm that your laptop has either a separate numeric keypad or the hidden one as shown in the picture below.

• Step 2: Enable your Num Lock. Somewhere on your keyboard has the Num Lock key (It might be called NumLock, or NumLk, or Num, or even ScrLk). Press Fn and this key simultaneously to enable the Num Lock.
•  Step 3: Hold down the Alt key.
• Step 5: Whilst holding down the Alt key, press the Squared Alt code (0178).
• Step 6: Release the Alt key after typing the code.

As soon as you let go of the Alt key, the Squared symbol will immediately appear exactly where you placed the cursor.

And there you have it; a step-by-step guide to use the Squared Alt code on a laptop without the separate numeric keypad.

If your laptop still fails you, the next section may save the day.

How to use Squared Alt Code on keyboards without numpad

If your laptop or keyboard doesn’t have a numeric keypad, you can leverage the Windows on-screen keyboard to type the Squared symbol using the Alt code. Either that, or there is no other way to use Alt codes on keyboards without the 10-key Numpad.

Thus, to use the onscreen keyboard for this task, obey the below instructions.

• Step 1: Launch the onscreen keyboard.

• Step 2: Make sure to click on the NumLock key to activate it.
• Step 3: Now that you have the on-screen keyboard with the Numpad, press and hold down the Alt key.
• Step 4: Whilst holding down the Alt key, type the Squared Alt code by clicking the code (0178) in the Number pad on the onscreen keyboard.
• Step 5: Release the alt code after typing the symbol.

As soon as you release the Alt key, the Squared symbol will be inserted exactly where you placed the insertion pointer.

Conclusion

These are the various ways one can use the Squared Alt code on the keyboard.

I believe that using the onscreen keyboard will help you a lot if your laptop doesn’t have a numeric keypad.

It is also worth mentioning that Alt codes are for Windows only. They don’t work on Mac as it also has its own shortcuts.

That’s it for this article.

Thanks so much for reading this blog.