Looking at a price tag or date split across lines in your report — exactly where the break grates most? Non-breaking spaces that keep those key elements together and let your texts flow cleaner and more elegantly. Find out here how to enter a non-breaking space (NBSP) on Windows ⤓.
On This Page
How to Enter a Non-Breaking Space on Windows
Using Character Map (Universal and a Bit Cumbersome)
Time needed: 1 minute
To insert a nonbreaking space character anywhere on Windows using Character Map:
- Open Character Map.
Here’s how: Press Windows to open the Start menu and start typing
character map, then click Character Map in search results. - Select Arial under Font :.
Other fonts: You can select other fonts as well, of course, provided the font includes the non-breaking space Unicode character (as Lucida Sans does, for example).
- Check Advanced view.
- Now type
no-breakunder Search for :. - Double-click the U+00A0: No-Break Space character.
- Click Copy under Characters to copy:.
- Now paste the nonbreaking space character where you want to use it.
Broke the code of unbreakable space?
Tips help fuel these email and tech how-tos.
Using the Windows Non-breaking Space Alt Code (Requires Number Keypad)
To input a non-breaking space using the number keypad and a Windows Alt code:
- Put the text cursor where you want to insert the non-breaking space.
- Turn on the numeric keypad using the NumLock key.
- Press and hold the Alt key.
- Now press 0 1 6 0 on the number keypad.
- Release the Alt key.
Using Word? How to Enter a Non-Breaking Space in Word
On a Mac? How to Insert a Non-breaking Space on a Mac
Using the Hexadecimal Unicode Codepoint in WordPad (Interesting)
You can also create a non-breaking space (for copy and pasting perhaps) in Word or WordPad.
To input a no-break space using Unicode:
- Create a new document in Microsoft Word or WordPad.
- Type
00A0. - Press Alt X immediately afterwards.
Word: This works in both WordPad and Word; Word for Windows also offers easier ways to insert non-breaking space.
Using No-Break Space Copy and Paste (Quick and Easy)
To paste non-breaking spaces, use the following buttons:
Non-breaking space | |
Narrow non-breaking space |
Trying to line up columns in plain text? How to Align Numbers Perfectly in Any Text: Unicode Monospace
How to Enter a Non-Breaking Space on Windows: FAQ
Can I enter a non-breaking space using the Emoji panel or on-screen keyboard?
No.
The Windows emoji panel and the on-screen and touch keyboards do not include non-breaking spaces.
What is the difference between a non-breaking space and a narrow non-breaking space?
Their difference is the width.
- The no-break space is as wide as a regular space. Use it to separate words that you do not want to be separated with a line break or between certain punctuation (such as the section symbol) and its referent, for instance.
- The narrow no-break space is not actually a narrow version of the non-breaking space, but you can use it as such, e.g., to separate numbers from their units (21 °C) or to group numbers (184 000 000) without the risk of a line or page break.
(Tested with Windows 11 Version 22H2–25H2 and Windows 10; first published September 2021, last updated May 2026)