The hash symbolization – also known as the pounding / number sign , or even theoctothorp(e)as Macworld lector Keith bespeak out – was one of the more seldom used extra characters until Twitter and Instagram came along . Now you’re able to hardly avoid the symbol widely know as the hashtag and ubiquitous on social media .
Where is the Hash Key?
If you have an Apple keyboard , with a U.S. keyboard layout , things are simple . To typewrite a hashtag sign , hitShift + 3 .
Apple
How to type a hashtag sign (#) in the U.K.
The ‘ hidden ’ keys on a U.K. Apple keyboard
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Because U.S. readers have less need for the pound sign , the hashish sign gets eminent billing : it ’s the secondary pick for the 3 key . But on U.K. keyboards that space is reserved for £ , so type Shift + 3 will give you £ .
You’ll notice that the euro sign has also disappeared.
To type a hashtag on a Mac keyboard with a U.K. layout , pressOption + 3 . ( TheOption keyis sometimes jazz as Alt , by the elbow room . )
On some old keyboards you ’ll find that the phone number 3 key only has the pound sign . Do n’t be put off : pressingOption + 3will still work on such keyboards . It ’s just that in those days , the hash sign was n’t viewed as such an important character . ( You may also find that your older Mac keyboard judge the Option key as Alt . )
Want to revise your keyboard ? Take a look at our in - depth buying guide to thebest Mac keyboard , and you ’ll soon have memory access to properly - label Option and hash keys .
You’ll notice that the euro sign has also disappeared.
I’m not typing in English! Where is my Hashkey?
But my Mac keyboardhasa hash key… and it doesn’t work!
It type a backslash symbol ( or \ ) , right ? And when you prevail shimmy , it types a vertical line ( or | ) ? In that case , our guess would be that you ’re unknowingly using a PC keyboard .
David Price / Foundry
Some PC keyboards in the U.K. have a consecrated haschisch key on the right , above Shift , and to the left of Return . If this keyboard was connected to a Windows machine , make this button would generate a # ( and a ~ when used with sack ) . But because you ’ve colligate a microcomputer keyboard to a Mac – which is possible , and will work OK a lot of the time – the departure in layout confuse macOS .
The ‘hidden’ keys on a U.K. Apple keyboard
Unfortunately , your Mac is misinterpreting the keyboard ’s hashish symbol as a backslash . We ’d advocate that you get a right Mac keyboard . , but in the meantime , you could type hashtags using your PC keyboard / Mac combo by pressingAlt + 3 .
For more keyboard tips , seeHow to type Æ , € , # , @ , © and other special characters on a Mac .
U.K. keyboards have to relegate the # to the number 3’s Option slot, because we need the Shift slot for our glorious British pound sign.
Alt? This isn’t Windows Vista, you know.
A handy key for hashtags and tildes.
