How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone

This guide shows you how to type the temperature degree symbol (°) on your iPhone or iPad. Whether you’re writing about the weather, cooking temperatures, or a math problem, you’ll learn the quickest ways to insert it using the built-in keyboard, plus a few handy shortcuts. No special apps or settings are required—just your iOS keyboard.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad running iOS (any recent version works).
• The built-in Apple keyboard enabled (the default keyboard).
• A text field to type in, such as Messages, Notes, or Safari’s address bar.

Step-by-Step

1. Open any app that lets you type. For example, open the Notes app, Messages, or a web browser. Tap on a text field so the keyboard appears.
2. Switch to the number and symbol keyboard. Tap the 123 button located in the lower-left corner of the keyboard. This changes the keys from letters to numbers and common punctuation.
3. Press and hold the zero (0) key. Do not just tap it—press and hold your finger on the 0 key. After about half a second, a small pop-up menu will appear above the key.
4. Slide your finger up to the degree symbol (°). In the pop-up menu, you’ll see the degree symbol as an option. Without lifting your finger, slide it up onto the degree symbol.
5. Release your finger. The degree symbol will be inserted into your text, and the keyboard will automatically return to the number/symbol layout. If you want to continue typing letters, tap the ABC button to return to the letter keyboard.
6. Type the number before or after the symbol as needed. For example, type “72°” for a temperature, or “45°” for an angle. The degree symbol works with both Celsius and Fahrenheit; just add the “C” or “F” after it if you need to specify the scale.

That’s the core method. But there are a couple of faster ways if you type the degree symbol often:

7. Use text replacement (optional shortcut). Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap the + sign in the top-right corner. In the Phrase field, paste the degree symbol (°). In the Shortcut field, type something like deg or temp. Now whenever you type that shortcut, iOS will automatically replace it with the degree symbol.
8. Copy and paste. If you only need it once, you can copy the degree symbol from this guide or any other source: °. Then in your text field, press and hold to bring up the paste option, or just tap the clipboard icon if it appears above the keyboard.

Common Mistakes

• Tapping instead of holding the 0 key. A quick tap just types a regular zero. You must press and hold for the pop-up menu to appear.
• Looking for the degree symbol on the main number keyboard. It’s not a standalone key. It only appears as a hidden option under the 0 key.
• Using a lowercase letter “o” instead of the degree symbol. Typing “72o” looks unprofessional and can be confusing. The degree symbol is a small circle, usually raised, and is distinct from the letter o.
• Forgetting to add C or F. While “72°” is understood in context, it’s often clearer to write “72°F” or “72°C” to avoid ambiguity.
• Using the degree symbol for temperature abbreviations incorrectly. For example, writing “°C” is correct, but writing “C°” is not standard.

Tips

• Text replacement is the biggest time-saver. If you type temperatures frequently (like in a weather journal or for work), setting up a shortcut like “deg” will save you many taps.
• You can also use the degree symbol in other contexts. It’s used for angles (e.g., 90°), geographic coordinates (e.g., 40.7128° N), and even for alcohol proof in some countries (though that’s less common).
• On iPads with a hardware keyboard, you can often type Option + Shift + 8 (on a US layout) to get the degree symbol directly, without touching the screen.
• If you have a third-party keyboard like Gboard or SwiftKey, the location of the degree symbol may differ. Usually, it’s still under the number/symbol key, but the exact key it’s hidden under can vary. Check the 0 key first, then the 1 key, or look for a symbols page.
• Use the degree symbol consistently. In formal writing, there is no space between the number and the degree symbol (e.g., 72°F). This is the standard convention.

Troubleshooting

• The pop-up menu doesn’t appear when I hold the 0 key. Make sure you are holding the key firmly and not just tapping it. Also, ensure you are on the number keyboard (the one with 123). If you’re on the letter keyboard, holding a letter will show accented character options, not the degree symbol. If it still doesn’t work, try restarting the app you’re typing in, or restart your iPhone.
• I see the degree symbol in the pop-up, but it won’t select. You need to slide your finger up to the symbol without lifting it, and then lift your finger while it’s over the symbol. If you lift too early, the menu will disappear and nothing will be inserted.
• My text replacement shortcut isn’t working. Check that you’ve spelled the shortcut correctly and that the Phrase field contains the actual degree symbol (not the word “degree”). Also, make sure you haven’t disabled text replacement in Settings > General > Keyboard. The shortcut works in most apps, but a few custom text fields may not support it.
• I can’t find the degree symbol on a third-party keyboard. Each keyboard app is different. In Gboard, for example, tap the “?123” key, then the “=\<" key to see more symbols—the degree symbol is often there. In SwiftKey, it's usually under the number key, then the "#+=" key. If you can't find it, use the copy-paste method.
• The degree symbol looks like a small zero. That’s correct—it is a small circle. In some fonts, it may look very similar to a superscript zero. If you need to distinguish it, look at the size and position: the degree symbol is typically smaller and sits higher than a regular zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there a degree symbol on the iPhone’s main keyboard?
A: No, it’s hidden. You must press and hold the 0 key on the number/symbol keyboard to reveal it.

Q: Can I type the degree symbol without switching keyboards?
A: Not directly with the default keyboard. You can set up a text replacement shortcut (like “deg”) so that typing those letters automatically inserts the symbol, which avoids the keyboard switch.

Q: How do I type the degree symbol in Safari or other apps?
A: The same method works in any app that uses the standard iOS keyboard. If an app uses a custom keyboard, you may need to find the symbol in that keyboard’s symbol layout or use copy-paste.

Q: Does the degree symbol work for both Celsius and Fahrenheit?
A: Yes, the symbol itself is the same. You just add the letter C or F after it: 20°C or 68°F.

Q: Why is the degree symbol under the 0 key and not the 1 key?
A: It’s a design choice by Apple. The 0 key is the natural location because the degree symbol is visually similar to a small zero. It’s the same on many other mobile keyboards.

Q: Can I add the degree symbol to my keyboard’s frequently used symbols?
A: Not directly on the default iPhone keyboard. However, using the text replacement feature effectively makes it a permanent shortcut, which is the closest equivalent.

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