The fastest way: hold down the zero key

Press and hold the 0 (zero) key on your iPhone keyboard. After about a second, a menu will pop up showing you the degree symbol (°) along with a few other character options. Tap the degree symbol to insert it into your text.

This works in any app where you type — Messages, Mail, Notes, web browsers, documents. The menu stays open as long as your finger is on the key, so you can take your time tapping the right symbol. You do not need to enable anything or change your settings; this is built into Apple's keyboard.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold the zero key to see the degree symbol in a pop-up menu, then tap it to insert it.
  • If the pop-up menu does not appear, make sure you are using the standard iPhone keyboard and not a third-party keyboard app.
  • You can also type the degree symbol by holding zero on the numeric keypad in landscape mode.
  • Some third-party keyboards have their own symbol menus, so check your keyboard settings if the standard method does not work.
  • If you type the degree symbol often, you can create a text shortcut that replaces a few letters with the symbol automatically.

What to do if the pop-up menu does not show up

If you hold zero and nothing happens, you may be using a third-party keyboard app instead of Apple's built-in keyboard. Check your keyboard settings by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Make sure you have at least one Apple keyboard listed (usually called "English" or your language name).

Switch back to the Apple keyboard by tapping the globe icon on your keyboard while typing, then selecting the Apple keyboard from the list. Once you are on the standard keyboard, the zero key method will work again. The globe icon appears in the bottom left corner of most iPhone keyboards.

Using the numeric keypad in landscape mode

If you rotate your iPhone to landscape while typing in most apps, the keyboard expands to show a full numeric keypad on the right side. The zero key on this numeric pad also brings up the degree symbol menu when you hold it down.

This can be faster if you are typing a lot of numbers and symbols together, since you have more keys visible at once. Not all apps support landscape keyboard mode, so you may need to stick with portrait mode in some cases. Mail, Notes, and most web browsers do support landscape mode, but some messaging apps do not.

Why some keyboards do not have this feature

Third-party keyboard apps like Gboard, SwiftKey, or Fleksy work differently from Apple's keyboard. They may not include the degree symbol on the zero key, or they may hide it in a different menu. If you use one of these keyboards regularly, check their settings or symbol menu to see where the degree symbol is located.

Some third-party keyboards have a dedicated symbols or special characters button that opens a grid of less common characters. The degree symbol is often there, grouped with other math and science symbols. You may need to swipe through multiple pages of symbols to find it.

Creating a text shortcut for the degree symbol

If you type the degree symbol often, you can set up your iPhone to replace a short code with the symbol automatically. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement and tap the + button in the top right corner. In the "Phrase" field, paste the degree symbol (°). In the "Shortcut" field, type something short like "deg" or "dg".

Now whenever you type that shortcut followed by a space, your iPhone will replace it with the degree symbol. This is much faster than holding the zero key if you use the symbol multiple times in a document. You can create as many shortcuts as you want, and they work across all your Apple devices if you use the same iCloud account.

Copying and pasting the degree symbol

If you cannot find the degree symbol through your keyboard, you can copy it from anywhere it already appears. Search for "degree symbol" in your web browser, find one in a search result, press and hold it, and tap Copy. Then go to where you want to use it and paste.

This is slower than using the zero key, but it works in any app and with any keyboard. You only need to do it once — after you paste it the first time, you can usually find it in your clipboard history if your iPhone has one enabled. Once you have copied it once, you can paste it repeatedly without searching again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the degree symbol work in all apps?

Yes, the degree symbol you type through your keyboard will work in any app — Messages, Mail, Notes, social media, web forms, and documents. The symbol itself is the same no matter where you use it.

Can I use the degree symbol on a Bluetooth keyboard?

On a Bluetooth keyboard connected to your iPhone, hold Shift and press the number 0 key (the same way you would on a computer keyboard). If that does not work, try holding Option and pressing 0. The exact key combination depends on your keyboard layout and language settings.

Why does the degree symbol look different in some apps?

The symbol itself is the same, but different fonts display it slightly differently. Some fonts make it larger, smaller, or position it higher or lower. This is normal and does not affect how the symbol works or how others see it.

What if I need to type multiple degree symbols in a row?

Hold the zero key once and tap the degree symbol, then repeat. If you need many of them, creating a text shortcut is faster. You can also copy the symbol once and paste it as many times as you need.