{"id":42017,"date":"2014-11-26T16:12:25","date_gmt":"2014-11-26T10:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=42017"},"modified":"2026-10-14T12:10:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T06:40:14","slug":"one-key-hash-tag-keyboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/","title":{"rendered":"Hashtag Key: How to Type # on Any Keyboard (and HashKey)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Can&#8217;t find the hashtag key on your keyboard? You are not alone. Back in 2014 we wrote about HashKey, a novelty one-key USB keyboard that typed only the # symbol, aimed at people who could never find the hashtag key. Here is how to type the hash symbol (#) on every common keyboard in 2026, plus a look back at the one-key hashtag keyboard.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-42020\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/hashkey-keyboard.jpg\" alt=\"one key hash tag keyboard\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/hashkey-keyboard.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/hashkey-keyboard-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The hashtag key depends on your keyboard layout. On a US keyboard, press Shift + 3. On a UK keyboard, # has its own key next to Enter. On a UK Mac keyboard, press Option + 3. On phones, tap the 123 or ?123 key and the # symbol appears on the symbols keyboard.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af500dc76bdf\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af500dc76bdf\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#Where_is_the_hashtag_key_on_a_keyboard\" >Where is the hashtag key on a keyboard?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#Other_ways_to_type_the_hash_symbol\" >Other ways to type the hash symbol<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#The_HashKey_one-key_hashtag_keyboard\" >The HashKey one-key hashtag keyboard<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#Why_hashtags_still_matter\" >Why hashtags still matter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#Why_does_my_keyboard_type_instead_of\" >Why does my keyboard type \u00a3 instead of #?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#What_is_the_symbol_called\" >What is the # symbol called?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#How_do_I_type_on_a_laptop_without_a_number_pad\" >How do I type # on a laptop without a number pad?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/11\/one-key-hash-tag-keyboard\/#Is_the_HashKey_keyboard_still_available\" >Is the HashKey keyboard still available?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_is_the_hashtag_key_on_a_keyboard\"><\/span>Where is the hashtag key on a keyboard?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Keyboard<\/th>\n<th>How to type #<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>US \/ India (QWERTY, Windows)<\/td>\n<td>Shift + 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>UK (Windows)<\/td>\n<td>The # key next to Enter (above right Shift)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>US Mac<\/td>\n<td>Shift + 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>UK Mac<\/td>\n<td>Option (Alt) + 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>German<\/td>\n<td>The # key next to Enter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>French (AZERTY)<\/td>\n<td>AltGr + 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Android \/ iPhone<\/td>\n<td>Tap 123 or ?123, then #<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If your keyboard types \u00a3 when you press Shift + 3, Windows is set to the UK layout. Check Settings &gt; Time &amp; language &gt; Language &amp; region and pick the layout that matches the keys printed on your keyboard.<\/p>\n<p>Need other symbols? See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/10\/type-degree-symbol\/\">how to type the degree symbol on any keyboard<\/a>. You can also learn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/10\/how-to-type-em-dash\/\">how to type em dash on Windows, Mac and iPhone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_ways_to_type_the_hash_symbol\"><\/span>Other ways to type the hash symbol<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Alt code (Windows):<\/strong> hold Alt and type 35 on the number pad.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Character Map or emoji panel:<\/strong> press Windows + . and open the symbols tab.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Copy and paste:<\/strong> copy # from any page.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Voice typing:<\/strong> say &#8220;hashtag&#8221; or &#8220;hash sign&#8221; in Google voice typing or dictation, depending on your device.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_HashKey_one-key_hashtag_keyboard\"><\/span>The HashKey one-key hashtag keyboard<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>HashKey claimed to be the world&#8217;s first one-key USB keyboard that typed just one character, the # tag. The idea was simple: when a friend asks &#8220;Where&#8217;s the hashtag key?&#8221;, you hand them a giant # button. The makers tried to raise money on Kickstarter in 2014, with a planned price of around 17 pounds and an aluminium version if enough money came in.<\/p>\n<p>It was a fun gadget for the hashtag craze, but today you do not need a special device. If you want one-press shortcuts, a small programmable macro keypad or a stream deck can type # or any other symbol, emoji or phrase.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_hashtags_still_matter\"><\/span>Why hashtags still matter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The hash tag # became popular on Twitter (now X) to group posts on a topic, then spread to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube. Brands use hashtags for campaigns, and events use them to collect posts. Use a few relevant hashtags rather than many, and check what a hashtag is used for before you join in.<\/p>\n<p>Want to type other symbols on social media? See our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/09\/unicode-symbols-in-twitter\/\">unicode symbols in Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_keyboard_type_instead_of\"><\/span>Why does my keyboard type \u00a3 instead of #?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Your computer is set to a UK layout but your keyboard is a US layout, or the other way round. Change the keyboard layout in your language settings.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_symbol_called\"><\/span>What is the # symbol called?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is called the hash, pound sign, number sign or octothorpe. On social media it is called a hashtag.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_type_on_a_laptop_without_a_number_pad\"><\/span>How do I type # on a laptop without a number pad?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Use Shift + 3 on US layouts, or the dedicated # key on UK layouts. Alt codes need a number pad or an Fn number lock.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_HashKey_keyboard_still_available\"><\/span>Is the HashKey keyboard still available?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It was a 2014 crowdfunding novelty and is not a mainstream product. A programmable macro keypad does the same job today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can&#8217;t find the hashtag key on your keyboard? You are not alone. Back in 2014 we wrote about HashKey, a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":42020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gadgets"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42017"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42017\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65869,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42017\/revisions\/65869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}