How to Type the Upside-Down Exclamation Point on iPhone and iPad

To type the upside-down exclamation mark (¡) on an iPhone or iPad, use the punctuation menu on the built-in keyboard. You do not need to install an app or change your device’s language; the symbol is available by pressing and holding the regular exclamation mark key.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad with the on-screen keyboard available.
• A text field in an app, such as Messages, Notes, Mail, or a web form.

Step-by-Step

1. Open a place to type. Tap a text field in the app where you want to enter the symbol. For example, open Notes and tap the new-note area. The on-screen keyboard should appear.
2. Switch to the number and punctuation keyboard. On the standard Apple keyboard, tap 123 in the lower-left corner. This reveals numbers and punctuation, including the exclamation mark.
3. Press and hold the exclamation mark. Find the ! key and touch and hold it rather than tapping it once. Keep your finger on the screen until a small pop-up of alternate characters appears.
4. Choose the inverted mark. Without lifting your finger, slide it onto ¡ in the pop-up. Release to insert it. If the pop-up appears above or beside the key, look for the mark with its dot at the top and its stroke below.
5. Continue typing your text. Add the opening mark before the word or phrase you want to emphasize. In Spanish, the closing exclamation mark goes at the end. For example: ¡Hola!
6. Return to letters if needed. Tap ABC to go back to the letter keyboard. You can also tap 123 again later to enter more punctuation.

Common Mistakes

• Tapping ! instead of holding it: A quick tap enters a regular exclamation mark. Hold the key until the alternate-character menu appears.
• Looking for ¡ on the first keyboard screen: It may not be shown as a separate key. Switch to 123, then press and hold !.
• Lifting your finger too soon: The pop-up can close if you release before moving to the alternate character. Keep contact with the screen while sliding to ¡.
• Choosing the wrong mark: The upside-down character is ¡; the ordinary closing mark is !. Spanish commonly uses both, as in ¡Qué bien!.
• Expecting the symbol to appear automatically: Typing a Spanish word or changing the keyboard language does not always insert the opening mark for you. Select it from the punctuation menu.

Tips

• Use the key’s alternate characters: Press-and-hold menus work for many punctuation keys and letters with accents. The choices depend on the key and the active keyboard.
• Copy it for occasional use: If the hold menu is unavailable, copy this character: ¡. Press and hold the character in this page or another text field, choose Copy if offered, then press and hold your destination field and tap Paste.
• Consider adding a Spanish keyboard if you type Spanish often: Open Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, then select a Spanish keyboard. To switch keyboards while typing, touch and hold the emoji or globe key and choose the keyboard you want. The inverted mark is still available through the punctuation keys.
• Use the right punctuation order: Put ¡ at the beginning of the exclamatory phrase and ! at its end. Spanish opening punctuation helps show where the expression starts.
• Check what the recipient sees: The character is Unicode U+00A1. Most current apps and devices display it correctly, but a receiving system with limited character support may show a replacement symbol.

Troubleshooting

The alternate menu does not appear: Confirm you are on the number and punctuation layout by tapping 123, then press and hold the actual ! key. Hold for a moment without moving your finger. A quick press, a swipe, or a touch that does not register can enter the ordinary mark instead.

I cannot find the ! key: Keyboard layouts vary. Check the punctuation screen and, if needed, tap the key that opens the next symbols layout (often marked #+=). On a third-party keyboard, the arrangement and alternate-key options may differ; switch to the Apple keyboard using the globe or emoji key and try again.

The keyboard is not appearing: Tap inside an editable text field, not a label or read-only area. If a physical keyboard is connected, the on-screen keyboard may stay hidden. Disconnect or temporarily turn off the external keyboard, or use its key combination for symbols if available.

The character inserts but looks different: Fonts can change the mark’s appearance, but ¡ should remain distinct from !. If the result is wrong, delete it and select the alternate character again. You can also paste ¡ from the copyable example above.

The steps do not match my keyboard: A customized or third-party keyboard can place symbols differently. Open Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and select or add an Apple Spanish or English keyboard, then retry. Menu labels can vary slightly with device language and software updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a keyboard shortcut for ¡ on iPhone or iPad?
On the standard on-screen keyboard, the straightforward method is to press and hold ! on the 123 screen and select ¡. A connected hardware keyboard may have different shortcuts.

Do I need to install a Spanish keyboard?
No. The inverted exclamation mark is available from the standard punctuation keyboard. Adding Spanish can be useful if you regularly type Spanish, but it is not required for this symbol.

Can I type ¡ in any app?
Usually, yes, wherever you can enter text with the iPhone or iPad keyboard. Some apps use their own keyboard or restrict text entry, so the available keys may differ.

What is the difference between ¡ and !?
¡ is the inverted opening exclamation mark used at the beginning of an exclamatory phrase in Spanish. ! is the regular closing mark.

Can I make my iPhone insert ¡ automatically?
You can create a text replacement in Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Add ¡ as the phrase and choose a short shortcut you do not normally type. Enter that shortcut while typing, then accept the replacement if it appears.

Does this work on an external keyboard?
The press-and-hold menu is a touchscreen feature and may not appear when using a physical keyboard. Use the keyboard’s available symbol input method or type ¡ on the on-screen keyboard and copy it.

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