How to Make the Plus and Minus Sign on Windows

Struggling to find the plus/minus symbol to use in a spreadsheet, document or presentation? Find out here how to make the plus and minus sign ( ± ) on Windows using emoji panel, on-screen keyboard, “Alt” code and more.

First, Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down

Autumn leaves are falling down
Falling down, falling down.
The earth will speed up round and round
Round and round, round and round.

If you’re looking for a nursery rhyme, the earth’s rotational speed will surely deliver.

For as the leaves glide to the ground in fall, the planet’s mass switches a bit closer to its center, and—like for the ubiquitously spinning figure skater—its rotation will accelerate.

The effect is, on aggregate and relative to all other influences, about ±0. Let’s see how to write that:

How to Make the Plus and Minus Sign ( ± ) on Windows

Using the Windows Emoji Panel

On a Mac? How to Insert the Plus or Minus Symbol on a Mac Keyboard

Using the On-Screen Touch Keyboard

To find and insert the plus/minus sign ± using the Windows touch keyboard:

1. Bring up the Windows touch keyboard using the Touch keyboard button in the system tray.
2. Pick the default layout for the touch keyboard.
   Here’s how: Click the settings gear in the on-screen keyboard’s top left corner and choose Keyboard layout | Default from the menu.
3. Choose &123.
4. Now click or tap and hold the + key.
5. Highlight ± and let go to insert the symbol.

Using Character Map to Copy Plus and Minus for inserting

To produce the plus or minus sign (±) as well as the minus or plus sign (∓) using Windows character map:

1. Open Character Map.
   Here’s how: Press the Windows key, for example, start typing character map and choose the Character Map application in results.
2. Type plus-minus in the Search for : field.
   No “Search for”: If you do not see the Search for : search field, check Advanced view first.
   Minus or plus: For the minus or plus symbol, type minus-or-plus instead.
3. Double-click the ± sign (or ∓ for the minus or plus sign).
   No symbols: If you do not see the desired sign, do choose a font which includes the respective symbols, e.g., Lucida Sans Unicode.
4. Click Copy.
5. Paste the plus/minus sign at the desired location in your text.
   Also for pasting: You can also copy the signs right here for pasting; see below.

Using the Plus/Minus Sign Windows “Alt” Code

To input the plus and minus sign (±} using an “Alt” code using the Windows keyboard and number pad:

1. Position the text cursor where you want to insert the plus/minus sign.
2. Enable the number keypad.
   Here’s how: Press NumLock to turn on the keyboard’s number keypad.
3. Press and hold the Alt key.
4. Now press 0 1 7 7 on the number keypad.
5. Release the key Alt.

Copying and Pasting the Plus and Minus Sign

Use the table below to copy the plus and minus signs for pasting anywhere as text.

plus or minus sign ±	copy
minus or plus sign ∓	copy

How to Make the Plus and Minus Sign on Windows: FAQ

Can I insert the plus/minus symbol using the Windows keyboard directly?

No, not easily.

The standard English-language keyboard layouts for Windows (including the US-International layout) do not include the plus/minus sign (or the minus-or-plus sign).

(How to make the plus and minus sign tested with Windows 11 Version 22H2; first published May 2024)