Greek
How to type Alpha (α)
Copy the character, or use the shortcut that matches your keyboard and app.
Windows
Hold Alt and type 224 on the numeric keypad.
Mac
Character Viewer → alpha
Microsoft Word
Type 03B1 then Alt + X
Google Docs
Insert → Special characters → alpha
How to insert it
Copy
Click the keycap, then paste with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V.
Alt code
Num Lock on, hold Alt, type 224, release Alt.
Code
Use the Unicode, HTML, CSS, or JS value below in documents and stylesheets.
- Unicode
U+03B1- HTML decimal
α- HTML hex
α- CSS
\03B1- JavaScript
\u{03B1}- Alt code
Alt + 224
Related
About the Alpha
The Alpha (α, U+03B1) the first letter of the Greek alphabet — and a workhorse symbol in mathematics, physics, and engineering.
Greek letters pull double duty as technical symbols across mathematics, physics, and engineering, which is why they're searched far more often than a 24-letter alphabet would suggest.
If you type α regularly, stop copying it. On Windows, hold Alt and type 224 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer and find it instantly. In Word, type 3b1 and press Alt+X. The full code list is in the reference table below.
In Unicode it lives in the Greek and Coptic block, so it behaves the same everywhere Unicode is supported — which today means virtually every device, app, and browser. Related symbols: Omega, Pi, Beta.
Alpha quick reference
| Symbol | α |
|---|---|
| Name | Alpha |
| Unicode | U+03B1 |
| Alt code | Alt + 224 |
| HTML decimal | α |
| HTML hex | α |
| HTML entity | α |
| CSS | \03B1 |
| JavaScript | \u03B1 |
| URL encoded | %CE%B1 |
Compatibility: Displays correctly on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac.
How to type α on your phone
iPhone / iPad
iPhones have no Alt codes. The fastest way is to copy the symbol above and paste it where you need it. To reuse it often, save it as a text replacement: go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, tap +, paste the symbol into Phrase and give it a Shortcut.
Android
On Gboard, tap ?123 then =\< to open the symbols keyboard — many symbols hide under a long-press on related keys. Otherwise just copy the symbol above and paste it; it works in every app.