British Pound Symbol on iPhone: How to Type £

To type the British pound symbol (£) on an iPhone, open the keyboard, tap 123, then press and hold the dollar sign ($) and choose £ from the pop-up. If the symbol is not offered on your keyboard, you can copy it here: £.

Type £ from the iPhone keyboard

The pound sign is usually available as an alternate character on the dollar-sign key. It is not necessary to install a separate keyboard or change your phone’s region for this quick method.

Open an app where you can enter text, such as Messages, Notes, or a search field.
Tap the text area to bring up the iPhone keyboard.
Tap 123 to switch from letters to numbers and symbols.
Touch and hold $. Keep your finger down until the alternate-symbol choices appear.
Slide your finger to £, then lift it. The pound sign will be inserted.

On some keyboard layouts, the alternate-symbol menu may show several currency signs. Choose the character that looks like a capital L crossed by one or two horizontal strokes: £. A single tap on $ enters a dollar sign; the press-and-hold gesture is what reveals alternatives.

What the £ symbol means

The character £ is the pound sign. It is commonly used for the pound sterling, the currency of the United Kingdom. For example, £12.50 means twelve pounds and fifty pence. The symbol normally appears before the amount, with no space in standard UK-style writing.

The word “pound” is used for currencies in more than one country, so context matters. The symbol by itself is widely associated with sterling, but a currency code such as GBP is clearer when an amount could be confused with another pound-denominated currency. For instance, an international price list may label a figure “GBP 12.50” rather than rely on £ alone.

Do not confuse £ with #, the hash or number sign, or with €, the euro sign. They are separate characters. On a UK keyboard, the pound sign may also be printed on a physical key, but the iPhone touchscreen uses the on-screen symbol menu.

Why it may not appear on your keyboard

The characters shown in a long-press menu depend on the active keyboard layout and software. If holding $ does not offer £, first check which keyboard is active: tap the globe or emoji key to cycle through installed keyboards, or touch and hold that key to see the keyboard list. Then try the dollar-key gesture again.

Other factors can affect what you see. A third-party keyboard may arrange symbols differently, and a hardware keyboard may have its own layout. Also make sure you are pressing and holding the key rather than tapping it; a short tap enters the main character immediately.

No pop-up appears: Hold the key a little longer without moving your finger.
The pop-up appears but £ is absent: Try the built-in Apple keyboard or another installed layout.
A different symbol is inserted: Keep your finger on the menu until it is positioned over £, then release.
You are using a physical keyboard: Check the keyboard’s language layout; its key combinations may differ from the touchscreen method.

Copy, paste, or use text replacement

If you need the symbol only once, copying £ from this page is a simple fallback. Press and hold the character, choose the available selection or copy command, then paste it into your text. Exact selection controls can vary by iOS version and app.

For frequent use, you can set up a text replacement shortcut. Open Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, tap the add button, put £ in the phrase field, and enter a short sequence you will remember in the shortcut field, such as “gbp£” or “pound.” Save it. When you type that shortcut, the keyboard can offer the phrase as a replacement. Avoid a shortcut you commonly type in ordinary messages, or it may trigger unexpectedly.

Text replacement is optional; it does not change the meaning or appearance of the symbol. For occasional amounts, using the long-press menu is usually quicker and avoids having to remember a custom abbreviation.

Currency symbols and keyboard settings

iPhone keyboards provide symbols as alternate characters so the main layout stays uncluttered. A key can have a primary character and additional choices revealed by a long press. The exact set is not guaranteed to be identical across every language, keyboard, app, or third-party keyboard, which is why the dollar-key method may not work on every configuration.

Changing the iPhone’s region is generally unnecessary just to type £. Region settings affect formats and other regional behavior, while the keyboard’s active layout determines which characters are conveniently available. If you regularly write in British English, adding an English keyboard layout may make the relevant symbols and punctuation more familiar, but you can still type a pound sign without changing the phone’s region.

When entering prices, consider adding the currency code if the audience might not know which “pound” you mean. For a UK shop listing, “£12.50” is usually understandable; for a comparison involving multiple countries, “GBP 12.50” is more explicit. The sign is a character, not a conversion tool, so it does not convert an amount into another currency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I type the pound sign on an iPhone?
Tap 123, then press and hold $. Slide to £ in the pop-up and release.

Why can’t I find £ when I hold the dollar key?
Your active keyboard may use a different layout, or you may be using a third-party keyboard. Try the built-in keyboard and confirm that you are holding the key rather than tapping it.

Can I copy and paste the pound symbol?
Yes. Copy £ from a message or webpage and paste it where you need it. This is useful if the symbol is not available on your current keyboard.

Is £ the same as GBP?
No. £ is a currency symbol, while GBP is the three-letter currency code used to identify pound sterling clearly, especially in international contexts.

Do I need to change my iPhone region to type £?
No. Try the long-press menu or copy and paste first. A different keyboard layout can affect the available alternatives, but changing the region is not normally required just to enter this character.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →