How to Make a Divide Sign On Windows
The fastest way to make a normal division symbol on Windows is with the alt code Alt + 0247 or Alt + 246. You’ll type ÷ the moment you let go of the Alt key. If you don’t want to use that keyboard shortcut, you could also just copy ÷ as it’s displayed here, and paste it wherever you need it to go. If you’re working in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and probably several other word processors, there’s a built-in tool that support inserting the division symbol (the keyboard shortcut still works if you prefer it). Learn how to use special characters in Word or how to use the equation editor in Google Docs for those directions.
Using the Emoji Keyboard in Windows
Another method is with the built-in emoji keyboard. This will type a much larger divide sign, ➗, but you might prefer it this way.
How to Make a Divide Sign on Mac
Of the many Mac keyboard shortcuts is this one, which will instantly type the division symbol: Option + /. The other way is with the built-in Character Viewer:
How to Make a Divide Sign on Android and iOS
This easiest way to do this is to type the emoji version of the division symbol, because that’s the only one built-in to the keyboard. At the bottom of this page are directions for entering the normal divide sign.
Use Gboard in Android to Make Division Symbol
If you’d rather, you can type the regular divide sign, but the steps are a bit more involved because we have to set up a shortcut. Here’s how to edit the personal dictionary for Gboard on Android so that when you type divide, it’ll suggest the division symbol: iOS and iPad users can do something similar. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, and then follow steps 4 and 5 above. Note that this is a true replacement and not a suggestion like it is on Android, so you probably want to pick a shortcut that’s not something you’ll type by accident, like /div or ./..
The Slash Is Also a Divide Sign
In some contexts, you can type a forward slash to indicate division. This is usually how it works in spreadsheet formulas and other places that interpret math functions. For example, you can type 144/12 into Google to calculate 144÷12 instead of needing to remember the division symbol alt code or any of the other steps provided above. This is similar in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, etc. (for example, =144/12). In fact, in some cases, typing ÷ will break the formula if / is the only accepted way to express division.
