how to type square root

June 28, 2026

You can type the square root symbol √ in a few quick ways, depending on your device.

Quick Scoop: How to Type √

1. On Windows (keyboard shortcut)

Make sure Num Lock is on.
Hold Alt and type 251 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt → √ appears.

If that doesn’t work in a specific app, try:

Type 221A
Then press Alt + X → it turns into √.

2. On Mac

Press Option + V → √.

This works in most Mac apps (Notes, Pages, Word, browsers, etc.).

3. In Microsoft Word / Excel

You have several options:

Use the built‑in symbol:
- Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols…
- Set subset to Mathematical Operators
- Click the √ symbol and Insert.

In Equation mode:
- Insert → Equation (or press the equation shortcut shown in your version).
- Type \sqrt and press Space → √ or a square-root structure appears.

4. On phones (iPhone / Android)

Common options:

Long‑press certain keys (often v on some keyboards) to see extra symbols and choose √.

Open the symbols / math section on your keyboard and look for √.

Copy this symbol once: √ , then:
- On iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement → “+”
  - Phrase: √
  - Shortcut: for example sqr
  - Now typing sqr auto‑expands to √.

* On Android: similar “text shortcut” / “personal dictionary” feature, depending on keyboard app.

5. If nothing else works

Simply copy this: √ and paste it where you need.

Or use any “symbol copy” site that lets you click to copy √ and then paste.

Mini story-style example

Imagine you’re writing homework on a Windows laptop and need 25\sqrt{25}25. You press and hold Alt, type 251 on the numeric keypad, release, and get √25 = 5 in seconds—no menus, no mouse.

TL;DR:

Windows: Alt + 251 (Num Lock on).

Mac: Option + V.

Word/Excel: Insert → Symbol → √ or \sqrt + Space in Equation.

Phone: use symbol keyboard, long‑press keys, or text‑replacement shortcut with √.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.