The paragraph sign (§) is one of those symbols that is rarely used in everyday correspondence, but becomes necessary when working with legal documents, scientific texts, or layout. Many laptop users face a problem: the standard keyboard simply does not have a separate key for this character. Where to look for it and how to quickly insert it?

In fact, there are several ways to add § on a laptop - from simple hot keys to hidden functions of the operating system. In this article we will look at all possible methods for Windows, macOS And Linux, including little-known combinations for different keyboard layouts. You'll learn how to insert a paragraph character in 2 seconds, even if you don't have a numeric keypad (Numpad).

1. Standard hotkeys for Windows (Alt codes)

The most universal way to insert § on a laptop with Windows - use Alt code. This method works in any text editor, from Microsoft Word to the browser. The main condition: your laptop must have a right-hand numeric keypad (Numpad). If it’s not there, don’t worry, we’ll talk about it in the next section.

To insert a paragraph mark:

  1. Make sure it's turned on Num Lock (on most laptops you need to press Fn + Num Lock or Fn + F11, depending on the model).
  2. Hold down the key Alt.
  3. Type on the numeric keypad (Numpad) code 0167.
  4. Let go Alt — the symbol § will appear in the text.

If you have ASUS, Lenovo or HP with a compact keyboard, the number pad can be combined with the main keys (usually 7-8-9, U-I-O, J-K-L, M-,-./). In this case, before entering the code, you need to press Fn.

📊 What OS do you use on your laptop?
  • Windows 10/11
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • ChromeOS
  • Other

2. How to insert § without the number pad (Numpad)

What to do if your laptop does not have a separate Numpad? For example, on ultrabooks Dell XPS or MacBook Air There is no digital keypad. In this case, there are two workarounds:

  • 🔹 Enable Numpad Emulation through Fn (works on most laptops with Windows).
  • 🔹Use symbol table or clipboard.

For emulation Numpad:

  1. Look for keys on your keyboard that have small numbers (usually labeled in a different color, such as blue or red).
  2. Clamp Fn + Alt.
  3. Dial 0167 on the keys M (1), , (2), . (3), / (4) etc.

If this method doesn't work, try an alternative Alt code: Alt + 21 (without leading zeros). It works in some versions Windows and applications.

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On laptops Lenovo ThinkPad To emulate Numpad you often need to press Fn + PrtSc (enables mode Num Lock).

3. Inserting the § character on MacBook (macOS)

On laptops Apple The paragraph mark is inserted differently than on Windows. There are no Alt codes, but there are own keyboard shortcuts and a menu of symbols.

Fastest way:

  • 🍎 Click Option (Alt) + 6 — the § symbol will appear immediately.
  • 🖱️ Or open View symbols through Control + Command + Space, look for § under Punctuation.

If you have MacBook with Touch Bar, you can add a paragraph mark to the Quick Access Toolbar:

  1. Open System Preferences → Keyboard → Customize Touch Bar Keys.
  2. Drag the § symbol from the symbol menu into the panel.
Why doesn't Alt+0167 work on Mac?

Alt (Option) shortcuts work differently on macOS than on Windows. Apple's system uses its own character encoding (Unicode), so Windows methods do not apply here. Instead, use native shortcuts like Option+6 or the symbol menu.

4. Special characters in Windows: table and clipboard

If the hotkeys don't work or you use § a lot, you can add it to your clipboard or use the built-in symbol table.

How to open a symbol table in Windows:

  1. Click Win + R, enter charmap.exe and press Enter.
  2. Find the paragraph mark (§) in the list, click on it, then Select And Copy.
  3. Insert the symbol into the correct place (Ctrl + V).

For convenience, you can pin the symbol table to the taskbar or create a shortcut on the desktop. Also many users add § to autocorrect (for example, in Word or Google Docs) so that it is inserted when a certain combination of letters is entered (for example, "(par)" → §).

Method Key combination Works in Notes
Alt code (Numpad) Alt + 0167 Windows Requires Num Lock
Alt code (without Numpad) Fn + Alt + 0167 Windows (laptops) The numbers are written on the keys M,J,K,L etc.
Mac combination Option (Alt) + 6 macOS Works in all applications
Linux (Unicode) Ctrl + Shift + U → 00A7 Linux (GNOME/KDE) After entering the code, press Enter
HTML code § or § Web pages To insert into site code

5. Inserting § on Linux and ChromeOS

Users Ubuntu, Fedora or ChromeOS can also insert a paragraph mark, but the methods here are different from Windows And macOS.

For Linux (GNOME/KDE):

  1. Click Ctrl + Shift + U.
  2. Enter a7 (for §) or 00a7.
  3. Click Enter - the symbol will appear.

For ChromeOS:

  • 🔲 Use a combination Ctrl + Shift + U → 00A7 + Enter (similar to Linux).
  • 🖱️ Or open Emoji panel through Shift + Search (Magnifier) + Space and find § under "Symbols".

If you are working in a Linux terminal and need to insert § into the command line, use the combination Compose + o + p (on some layouts). Key Compose usually assigned to PrtSc or Menu.

Make sure Num Lock is on (if using Numpad)|Check your keyboard layout (must be English or International)|If Alt code doesn't work, try another method (character table, clipboard)|On Mac use Option+6 rather than Windows shortcuts

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6. Paragraph mark in mobile devices and online editors

If you work on a tablet or smartphone, or use online services like Google Docs, the way to insert § will be different.

For Android/iOS:

  • 📱 Go to your keyboard, tap on ?123 (numbers), then =\\< (symbols).
  • 🔍 Search for § under "Other Symbols" or use Emoji Search (type "paragraph").

For Google Docs And Microsoft Word Online:

  1. Open menu Insert → Special Characters.
  2. Enter "paragraph" or "section" in the search bar.
  3. Select § and press Paste.

B LaTeX (for scientific texts) a paragraph mark is inserted with the command \S or \textsection. For example:

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}


Знак параграфа: \textsection


\end{document}

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users face problems when trying to insert §. Here are the most common errors and their solutions:

  • ❌ Alt+0167 does not work → Check if the Num Lock or use Fn for emulation Numpad.
  • ❌ On Mac you are entering a character other than § → Make sure you are using Option (Alt), not Command.
  • ❌ B Linux after Ctrl+Shift+U nothing happens → Enter code a7 (not 00a7) and press Enter.
  • ❌ The symbol is not inserted in the browser or game → Try copying § from this article or use the clipboard.
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If none of the methods work, the most reliable way is to copy the § symbol from here and paste it to the desired location (Ctrl+C → Ctrl+V).

⚠️ Attention: On some laptops (eg Acer Swift or MSI Modern) The numeric keypad is disabled by default. To activate it, you may need to press Fn + Num Lock or change settings in BIOS.

8. Alternative methods: autocorrect and custom layouts

If you frequently need to insert §, you can automate the process:

  • 🔄 AutoCorrect in Word: Go to File -> Options -> Validation -> AutoCorrect Options and add a rule (eg "(par)" → §).
  • ⌨️ Custom layout: B Windows You can create your own layout via Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator, where § will be on a convenient key.
  • 📋 Text templates: B macOS use System Preferences → Keyboard → Textto add an abbreviation for §.

It is useful for programmers and web developers to know that the paragraph mark in HTML encoded as § or §, and in Unicode its code is U+00A7. This will come in handy when designing websites or working with Markdown.

⚠️ Attention: In some applications (for example, AutoCAD or Photoshop) standard methods for inserting characters may not work. In this case, use the clipboard or specialized program symbol panels.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the paragraph mark

Why is there no key for § on my laptop?

The paragraph sign is not included in the basic character set on most keyboards, as it is used less frequently than letters or numbers. It can only be inserted through special combinations or a character menu.

Is it possible to assign § to a separate key?

Yes, in Windows this is done through Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator or programs like AutoHotkey. On Mac can be used System Preferences → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts.

How to insert § in Excel?

B Microsoft Excel the same methods work as in Windows: Alt + 0167 (with Numpad) or copying from the symbol table. You can also use the function =CHAR(167) in the cell.

Why does § appear as a strange symbol in some programs?

This occurs due to encoding incompatibility. Make sure the program supports Unicode (UTF-8). For example, in older versions Notepad You may need to save the file in UTF-8 encoding.

Is there a difference between § and ¶ (paragraph mark)?

Yes, these are different symbols! § - paragraph sign (used in legal texts), and — paragraph mark (used in text editing to indicate breaks). They are inserted in different ways: for ¶ in Windows use Alt + 0182.