How to Type the Copyright Symbol

The copyright symbol may be small, but it appears across websites, product images, books, software, videos, and other creative work. The latest U.S. government data available

in 2026 shows how extensive copyright records have become: a January 2026 U.S. Copyright Office dataset update contains about 22 million copyright registration records, while the Office's latest annual report recorded 415,780 registrations in FY 2025. Whether you are editing a website footer or preparing business content, knowing how to type the copyright symbol correctly can save time and help you present copyright information clearly.

What Is the Copyright Symbol?

The copyright symbol is ©, a capital letter C inside a circle. It is commonly used as part of a copyright notice to identify a claim of copyright ownership.

A traditional notice for a visually perceptible work can look like:

© 2026 Example Company LLC

Under U.S. copyright law, a notice may include the © symbol, the year of first publication, and the name of the copyright owner.

Copyright itself does not begin because you type ©. The U.S. Copyright Office explains that eligible original work is generally protected once it is created and fixed in a tangible form. Registration is a separate process.

How to Type the Copyright Symbol: Quick Reference

Use this table when you only need the fastest method.

For occasional use, copying © is usually the simplest choice. If you use it often, a keyboard shortcut or text replacement can save time.

How to Type the Copyright Symbol on Windows

On Windows, the standard Alt code is Alt + 0169. Microsoft confirms that Alt codes work through the numeric keypad rather than the number row above the letters.

Use Alt + 0169

1. Place the cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Turn on Num Lock, if necessary.
3. Hold the Alt key.
4. Type 0169 on the numeric keypad.
5. Release Alt.

The result should be:

©

What If Alt + 0169 Does Not Work?

Many compact laptops do not have a separate numeric keypad. If the Alt code fails, try:

• Ctrl + Alt + C in Microsoft Word.

• Windows key + period (.), then select Symbols.

• The application's Insert > Symbol menu.

• Copying and pasting ©.

Microsoft's current Windows guidance also lists the Windows key + period symbol panel as an alternative way to insert special characters.

How to Write the Copyright Symbol in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word gives you three practical ways to insert ©. For most Windows users, the keyboard shortcut is the fastest.

Method 1: Use Ctrl + Alt + C

Press:

Ctrl + Alt + C

Word inserts ©.

Microsoft currently documents Alt + Ctrl + C as the shortcut for the copyright character.

Method 2: Use Insert > Symbol

If you prefer menus:

1. Select Insert.
2. Choose Symbol.
3. Select More Symbols if needed.
4. Find ©.
5. Insert the character.

This method is useful when you also need other symbols and do not want to memorize keyboard combinations.

Method 3: Type (c)

Depending on your AutoCorrect settings, Word may automatically turn:

(c)

into:

©

If Word keeps making that replacement when you do not want it, review the (c) entry in your AutoCorrect settings.

How to Type the Copyright Symbol on Mac

On many Macs using a U.S. keyboard layout, press:

Option + G → ©

Keyboard layouts and input sources can vary. If that shortcut gives you a different character, use Apple's Character Viewer instead.

Use Character Viewer

1. Place your cursor where you want ©.
2. Choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols.
3. Search for “copyright.”
4. Select ©.

Apple documents Character Viewer as its built-in tool for finding and inserting special characters and symbols.

How to Insert the Copyright Symbol in Google Docs

Google Docs includes a special-character picker, so you do not need to remember a keyboard code.

To insert © on a computer:

1. Open your Google Doc.
2. Place the cursor where you need the character.
3. Choose Insert > Symbols > Special characters.
4. Search for the copyright character, enter its Unicode value, or draw it.
5. Select ©.

Google's current documentation confirms that users can browse categories, enter a Unicode value, or draw a character to find it.

How to Type © on iPhone, iPad, and Android

There is no single copyright shortcut that works with every mobile keyboard. For most users, copying © is the easiest method.

If you use it regularly, create a text-replacement shortcut. For example:

copy → © 2026 Example Company LLC

That can be useful when you frequently update website copy, product listings, social content, or business documents from your phone.

How to Add the Copyright Symbol to a Website

Most website editors let you paste © directly. If you edit HTML, you can also use an HTML entity.

A simple website notice might look like:

© 2026 Example Company LLC

You generally do not need special HTML if your CMS or page builder supports Unicode characters as expected.

How Should a Small Business Use the Copyright Symbol?

For a U.S. small business, © is most relevant to eligible creative material rather than every part of the brand.

Examples may include:

• original website copy

• product photography

• illustrations and graphics

• videos

• downloadable guides

• software code

A common notice format is:

© Year Copyright Owner

For works published on or after March 1, 1989, copyright notice is generally optional under U.S. law. The Copyright Office also explains that using a notice does not require advance permission or copyright registration.

If you want more detail about the year, owner name, placement, and registration, see Trademark Engine's guide to using the copyright symbol without registration.

© vs. ℗ vs. ™ vs. ®: What Is the Difference?

These symbols have different purposes.

The USPTO states that businesses can use TM for goods or SM for services even before federal registration. The ® symbol is reserved for a federally registered trademark and should be used with the goods or services covered by that registration.

If you are unsure which protection applies to a business asset, Trademark Engine's trademark vs. copyright guide explains the distinction.

Troubleshooting Common Copyright Symbol Problems

A shortcut can fail because of your keyboard layout, application, or device rather than the character itself.

When in doubt, copying © is the most universal fallback.

Conclusion

Typing © is simple once you know the right method for your device. You can copy the symbol directly, use Alt + 0169 on Windows, Ctrl + Alt + C in Word, or Option + G on many U.S. Mac keyboards. Just remember that © relates to copyright; names, logos, slogans, and other brand identifiers may raise separate trademark questions.

Protecting a Brand Name or Logo?

If your main concern is a business name, product name, or logo, start with Trademark Engine's trademark search tool to check for potentially similar marks before exploring trademark registration.