Typing the # (hash/number) key on Mac OS X

by Matthew Ogston on September 23, 2007

Fumbling around on my shiny MacBook keyboard it’s sometimes hard to adjust from using a UK Windows keyboard. For a start, the @ and ” keys have been swapped around on the MacBook. But even more annoying is that the # key is not visible anywhere on the keys. So, after searching around i’ve now discovered the to type #, i must type the Alt (a.k.a. the Option key) and ‘3′ together. Simple huh?

  • Suckdjs
    # works
  • Andie.
    thanks - still helping people 6 years later...
  • I've just started using a MAC keyboard and found through trial and error that if you hold down ctrl + alt and press 3 you get a # sign.
  • Greg
    Thankyou for this one. Being a newly Twitter lover I have needed the hash key and have until this point been using the on screen keyboard to do it. Soooo fiddle-y :P
  • Aylmerhall
    But doesn't work in Gedit app (works in everything else...)
  • dancecraze5
    Thanks man, I can finally use Twitter now!!! :D
  • You've saved my life! :) I couldn't even google " where is the # key on a mac!" 


    www.google-wizard.co.uk
  • What other Mac OSX shortcuts are driving you mad? If enough people request it, i'll compile a list of all the Mac shortcuts in one place. Leave your comment if you want it.
  • iggy 345
    thanks
  • Louise Groves
    fabulous thanks, I was just on Twitter and thought I must be going crazy as could find no # key on my keyboard!
  • Thank you so much I was getting really frustrated with that one
  • Karl Horning
    ####################### It works! #######################
  • VinceG
    ##### Wehey.... Thank you. Now I've got it. Cheers.
  • # Ooooooh!!! You ROCK!!! Thank you. That's had me stumped all day! Haha....
  • Bidemek
    Very helpful. Cheers
  • Ayser_yucel
    ANNOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYING T,T
  • JohnW
    anyone know what the ⌥ key is?
  • It's the ALT key, normally between the CMD and Control (CTRL) key.
  • Deveraux
    Nice one. Thank you mate :)
  • Eyebatgirl
    thank you!
  • Face
    thanks. its been bugging me for while now. Especially when on twitter
  • Ryan
    thanks :)
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