How to write a number icon on the Android keyboard

Smartphone users are often faced with the need to indicate a phone number, apartment or page in a document, but cannot find the corresponding symbol on the virtual keyboard. Number icon (No.) or hash (#) are missing on the main default layout, which creates confusion. Operating system developers Android and shell manufacturers hide special characters in secondary menus to save screen space.

In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for entering these characters on popular keyboards. You'll learn how to access hidden characters in Gboard, Samsung Keyboard and other standard input applications. We will also consider universal methods that work on any device, regardless of the smartphone model.

Sometimes users need not just a symbol, but its correct spelling in the context of an address or technical documentation. Understanding the logic behind the placement of characters on the touchpad will speed up your work with text. Let's move on to specific instructions for different use cases.

Using the standard Gboard keyboard

The keyboard Gboard from Google is installed by default on most modern devices. To find the license plate sign, you need to switch to the symbol panel. Click on the key ?123 in the lower left corner of the screen. On the panel that opens, you will see a hash #, but the classic No. sign is not here.

To access additional symbols, press the button =\<located next to the numbers. There are many special characters hidden in this menu, including ampersand, paragraph, and others. The license plate sign is often located here or is accessible through a long press on the pound key.

Try holding your finger on the button # for a few seconds. A pop-up window will appear with alternative options, which may include the symbol you need. If the icon does not appear, check your input language settings, as the layout depends on the selected system language.

Interface Gboard is constantly updated, and the layout of elements may change slightly in new versions of the application. If you do not find the symbol in the standard way, try updating the application through the store Google Play to the latest version.

Inputting symbols on the Samsung Keyboard

Smartphone owners Samsung Galaxy use a proprietary keyboard, the logic of which is slightly different from the stock one. To enter special characters, press the button 123 to go to numbers. Next, you need to click on the button Sym (or the icon with an arrow and symbols) to open an additional page.

On the symbols page Sym there is often a sign №. If it is not on the visible part of the screen, scroll through the panel by swiping left or right. In some versions of the shell One UI this symbol is hidden in the menu called up by long pressing the key #.

• 📱 Press 123 to go to numbers.
• 🔣 Press Sym to open special characters.
• 👆 Press # to call up alternative options.
• 🔍 Look for the icon on the second page of symbols.

If you often use this symbol, it makes sense to add it to the quick access panel or use the custom dictionary function. This will allow you to insert a character with one touch in the future, saving time when typing.

Universal method through digital codes (Alt code)

There is a system method for entering special characters that works on many Android devices, especially those with a connected physical keyboard or that support entering codes. This method is based on the use of ASCII codes or Unicode. The number sign uses a code 8470.

To use this method, make sure you have special character input enabled. Some note-taking apps or browsers allow you to enter a sequence of characters that is automatically converted into a character. However, this rarely works on a standard on-screen keyboard without third-party software.

⚠️ Attention: The Alt codes method does not work on all virtual keyboards by default. It is most effective when connecting an external Bluetooth keyboard to a tablet or smartphone.

A more reliable method is to use the clipboard. You can copy the symbol # from this article or any other source and paste it where you want. Create a note with frequently used symbols so that you always have them at hand.

Symbol for copying: No.

Some advanced clipboard managers allow you to save copy history. This is a convenient tool for those who regularly work with documents and addresses on a mobile device.

Setting up a custom dictionary for quick input

The most effective way to solve the problem is to create your own abbreviation. Almost any modern keyboard (Gboard, Samsung, SwiftKey) has a “Personal Dictionary” or “Text Replacement” function. You can configure it so that when you enter, for example, two characters of the number ##, the system automatically replaces them with one beautiful character №.

To configure, go to Settings your smartphone, then select the section System or General settings. Find Language and input and select the active keyboard. In the keyboard menu, look for the section Dictionary or Text replacements.

Action	Menu path (example for Gboard)	Result
Opening settings	Settings → System → Language and input	List of keyboards
Selecting a dictionary	Gboard → Settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary	List of languages
Adding words	Click "+" in the corner of the screen	Input fields
Entering an abbreviation	In the "Abbreviation" field, enter ##	Ready for replacement

Insert the symbol №in the "Word" field, and enter a convenient combination in the "Abbreviation" field, for example nomer or ##. Now, when you type this abbreviation, the keyboard will offer to replace it with the desired character.

Using third-party applications and emoji

If the built-in tools are not satisfactory, you can use the Emoji panel. Although the number sign is not technically an emoji, it is often present in the "Symbols" or "Objects" sections of the standard Android emoji panel. Click on the emoticon icon on the keyboard and look for the desired symbol in the categories.

There are also special keyboard applications aimed at entering special characters, such as Special Characters Keyboard. They provide easy access to thousands of symbols, including mathematical symbols, currencies, and typographic symbols.

However, installing third-party keyboards requires granting permissions to access the text you enter. This may raise questions from data security's point of view. Use such applications only from trusted developers and carefully read reviews.

⚠️ Attention: Third-party keyboards may collect statistics about your input. Don't use unverified apps to enter passwords or sensitive information.

An alternative is to use clipboard widgets, which allow you to store a set of frequently used phrases and symbols on your desktop. This is safe and does not require changing the main keyboard.

Solving problems with symbol display

Sometimes a symbol is entered correctly, but is displayed as a square or a question mark. This means that the font used in a particular application does not support this glyph. This problem is more common in older versions of applications or specific instant messengers.

Try changing the font in the smartphone display settings to standard Roboto or System Default. Custom fonts downloaded from themes may not have full support for Unicode characters, including the number sign.

Why does the sign turn into a square?

This occurs when the device font does not have a graphic style for a specific character code. The system replaces the missing glyph with a standard error marker. The solution is to update the font or application in which you type.

The problem may also be on the side of the message recipient. If you sent a message with the sign No., and the interlocutor sees a square, it means that his device has an outdated version of the operating system or font.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Where Is there a number icon on the iPhone keyboard?

On iOS the logic is similar: press 123, then #+=. The # sign is usually found on the second page of characters or is accessible through a long key press #.

Can you put a number sign using voice input?

Yes, try saying "number sign" or "number". Google Assistant and other speech recognition systems often understand this command and insert the character. № automatically.

Why is there no Sym button on my Android?

In new versions of Android and shells, the button may have a different name or be replaced with an arrow for switching symbol pages. Look for a button with an icon ?123 or arrows.

How to enter a number sign on a physical keyboard?

If a physical keyboard is connected, use the combination Alt + 8 + 4 + 7 + 0 (on the number pad) or look for the symbol on the number 3 or 6 key, depending on layouts.

Is it safe to copy characters from the Internet?

Yes, copying text characters is absolutely safe. This is plain text that does not contain executable code or viruses.