Use a numeric keypad
The dedicated keypad sends different key information from the digits above QWERTY letters. For traditional Alt-code entry, the number row is normally not a substitute.
Trademark Symbol Alt Code for Windows
Hold Alt, type 0153 on the Windows numeric keypad, and release Alt to enter ™. The keypad and Num Lock requirements are the reasons this method often fails on compact laptops.
Windows Alt code
Hold Alt → type 0153 → release Alt
Use the numeric keypad, not the number row above the letters. If the machine has no keypad, copy ™ or use Windows Character Map instead.
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Step by step
How to enter ™ with Alt + 0153
- Place the text cursor exactly where the trademark character should appear.
- Confirm that Num Lock is enabled and that your keyboard has an active numeric keypad.
- Press and continue holding either Alt key.
- While holding Alt, type 0, 1, 5, 3 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt. A compatible Windows text field should display the ™ character.
If nothing appears, first test the method in a basic text editor. An application may reserve the shortcut, filter special characters, or use an input mode that handles Alt differently.
Before you type
Alt-code requirements
The code is short, but the legacy Windows input method depends on keyboard hardware and application support.
Enable Num Lock
When Num Lock is off, keypad keys may act as arrows, navigation controls, or other commands. Turn it on before holding Alt and entering the digits.
Keep Alt held down
Press all four digits while continuing to hold Alt. Releasing the key early can cancel the sequence or trigger an application command.
Test application support
Modern Windows software usually accepts the result, but remote desktops, browser-based editors, games, terminal windows, and custom input fields may intercept the keys.
No dedicated keypad?
Type the trademark symbol on a laptop
Many thin laptops and compact keyboards omit a separate number pad. Some models provide an embedded keypad activated with Fn or Num Lock, but the key mapping is specific to the manufacturer. Check the labels on your keys and the computer manual before assuming a hidden keypad exists.
Reliable alternatives
- Copy and paste: use the button at the top of this page. It produces the same Unicode ™ character without hardware-specific steps.
- Windows Character Map: open Character Map, locate the trademark sign, choose Select and Copy, then paste it into your app.
- Insert Symbol: Word and many desktop editors include a symbol browser. Search for “trademark” or Unicode U+2122.
- Word shortcut: supported Windows versions of Microsoft Word commonly accept Ctrl + Alt + T.
- Text replacement: if your application supports automatic replacements, map a unique trigger to ™ for repeated entry.
Avoid enabling undocumented registry changes merely to enter one symbol. Copying or using an application symbol picker is easier to reverse and less likely to affect other keyboard behavior.
Troubleshooting
Why Alt + 0153 may fail
Swipe the table or use arrow keys to see every column.
| What happens | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing appears | Number row used instead of keypad, Num Lock is off, or the app intercepts Alt | Enable Num Lock, test the keypad in a plain editor, or copy ™ |
| A menu opens | Alt was released before all digits were entered | Keep Alt held until the complete 0153 sequence is entered |
| A different character appears | Input method, application, or remote session handles the sequence differently | Use Character Map, Insert Symbol, or paste the Unicode character |
| Works locally but not remotely | The remote-desktop client captures or remaps keyboard input | Copy the character through the remote clipboard or use a symbol picker inside the session |
| The symbol is a blank box | The current font lacks a U+2122 glyph | Choose a font with broader Unicode support |
Code versus character
Alt + 0153 and Unicode U+2122
U+2122 is the Unicode code point assigned to the trade mark sign. It identifies the character consistently across standards and modern software. Alt + 0153 is a Windows keyboard-entry technique that produces that character in compatible applications.
The numbers are different because they describe different things: one identifies a Unicode character, while the other is input interpreted by Windows. Typing 2122 on a keypad is not a universal replacement for Alt + 0153. Some applications offer separate Unicode entry commands, and those commands must be followed according to that application's documentation.
For websites, use a UTF-8 literal ™, the named HTML entity ™, or the decimal character reference ™. These are web-document representations, not instructions for the Windows Alt key.
Related Windows codes
Other intellectual-property symbols
| Symbol | Windows Alt code | Copy alternative |
|---|---|---|
| ™ | Alt + 0153 | |
| ® | Alt + 0174 | or open the registered symbol tool |
| © | Alt + 0169 |
Use the symbol that matches your context. The ® sign denotes a registered trademark and is not interchangeable with ™.
Trademark Alt code FAQ
What is the Alt code for the trademark symbol?
On Windows, hold Alt, type 0153 on the numeric keypad, and release Alt to enter ™ in a compatible text field.
Why does Alt + 0153 not work on my laptop?
Legacy Alt-code input normally requires an enabled numeric keypad. Many laptops lack one, and the number row does not act as a substitute. Use Character Map, Insert Symbol, or copy ™ instead.
Is U+2122 the same as Alt + 0153?
U+2122 identifies the trademark character in Unicode. Alt + 0153 is a Windows input method that produces that character in compatible applications.
Does the Alt code work on a Mac?
No. Alt + 0153 is a Windows method. On macOS, use Option + 2. See the cross-platform keyboard guide for other devices.
Use the simpler copy method
When the keypad method is unavailable, copy the same Unicode character without changing keyboard settings.