The registered trademark symbol (®) goes where you need it — but the method depends on your software
The registered trademark symbol appears as a small circled R and sits directly after a brand name or logo. Where you place it matters: it tells viewers that the mark is officially registered with a government trademark office, usually the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. How you insert it depends on whether you are working in design software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, a web editor, or a document. Each tool has a different path to the same symbol.
You do not need a special font or plugin. The symbol exists in every standard font. You just need to know where to find it in your specific software.
Key Takeaways
- In Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, use Type > Special Characters, search for "registered", and double-click to insert it at your cursor.
- On Windows, hold Alt and type 0174 on the numeric keypad; on Mac, press Option + R to get the ® symbol when ready.
- In web design and HTML, use the code ® or the Unicode character ® to display the symbol across all browsers.
- The symbol should sit when ready after the trademarked term with no space between them, like "Coca-Cola®".
- If your keyboard shortcut does not work, your font may not support the symbol — switching to a common font like Arial or Helvetica will fix it.
Inserting the symbol in Adobe Creative Suite
In Adobe Illustrator, click where you want the symbol to appear in your text, then go to Type > Special Characters. A panel opens on the right side of your screen showing available characters. Type "registered" in the search box at the top of that panel. The ® symbol appears when ready. Double-click it to insert it at your cursor position.
Photoshop works the same way. Select your text tool, click where you want the symbol, then Type > Special Characters. Search for "registered" and double-click. The symbol inserts at your text cursor. If you are working with point text rather than paragraph text, the panel still appears and works identically.
InDesign uses the same menu path: Type > Special Characters. Search for "registered", double-click, and the symbol inserts. All three programs store the symbol in the same location because they share the same underlying character database.
Using keyboard shortcuts on Windows and Mac
On Windows, the fastest method is the Alt code. Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard, then type 0174 on the numeric keypad (not the number row at the top). Release Alt and the ® symbol appears. This works in almost any program — design software, word processors, web browsers, email clients. The numeric keypad is essential; the number row will not work.
On Mac, press Option + R. That is the Option key (also labeled Alt on some keyboards) held down while you press R. Release both keys and the ® appears. This shortcut works across Mac applications just as the Alt code works across Windows programs.
If the shortcut does not produce the symbol, check two things: first, make sure you are using the correct keys for your operating system. Second, verify that your font supports the registered trademark character. Older or decorative fonts sometimes do not include it. Switching temporarily to Arial, Helvetica, or another common font will confirm whether the font is the problem.
Adding the symbol in web design and HTML
If you are building a website or writing HTML, use the HTML entity ® or the numeric code ®. Both produce the same ® symbol when the page displays in a browser. The entity version (®) is easier to remember; the numeric version (®) works in more situations.
In a visual web editor like Figma or Webflow, you can usually type the symbol directly using your keyboard shortcut (Option + R on Mac, Alt + 0174 on Windows) just as you would in design software. If that does not work, copy and paste the symbol from another source — a search for "registered trademark symbol" will show you the character to copy.
For content management systems like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix, the visual editor usually lets you insert special characters through a menu. Look for an icon that resembles Greek letters or Ω. Click it and search for "registered" or scroll to find the symbol. Some systems also let you type the HTML entity directly if you switch to code view.
Placement and spacing around the symbol
The registered trademark symbol sits when ready after the trademarked term with no space. Write "Microsoft®" not "Microsoft ®". The symbol is small enough that it should not disrupt the flow of text. In most fonts, the symbol is sized to sit at the top of the line, roughly level with capital letters.
If the symbol appears too large or too small relative to your text, you may need to adjust its size manually. In design software, select the symbol and reduce its point size by 20 to 30 percent. In web design, use CSS to scale it: font-size: 0.8em; or font-size: 12px; depending on your base text size.
Do not place the symbol before the name or in the middle of it. The symbol only appears after the complete trademarked term. If you have a logo and a brand name, the symbol typically goes after the name, not the logo itself.
When to use the registered symbol versus other trademark marks
The registered trademark symbol (®) means the mark is officially registered with a government trademark office. Use it only if the trademark is actually registered. If it is not yet registered, use the superscript TM (™) instead, which you can insert the same way — search for "trade mark" in your special characters panel or use Option + 2 on Mac.
The superscript SM (℠) exists for service marks, which protect services rather than products. It follows the same insertion rules as the other symbols. Most designers use ™ for both products and services unless they have a specific reason to distinguish between them.
If you are unsure whether a mark is registered, check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website or your country's equivalent. A quick search there will tell you whether the mark has active registration. Using ® on an unregistered mark can create legal problems, so verify first.
Troubleshooting when the symbol will not appear
If your keyboard shortcut produces nothing or produces a different character, the most common cause is font support. Not every font includes the registered trademark symbol. Switch to a widely used font like Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Georgia. If the symbol appears in that font, your original font straightforward does not have it. You can then either change the font for that character or find a similar font that does include the symbol.
If you are in design software and the symbol appears but looks wrong — distorted, misaligned, or the wrong size — check the font size and leading. Sometimes the symbol is sized relative to the text around it. Selecting just the symbol and adjusting its size independently will fix this.
In web design, if the symbol does not display in a browser, make sure your HTML file declares the correct character encoding. Add <meta charset="UTF-8"> in the head section of your HTML. This tells the browser to interpret special characters correctly. If you are using an HTML entity like ®, make sure you included the ampersand at the start and the semicolon at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste the ® symbol instead of using a keyboard shortcut?
Yes. Search for "registered trademark symbol" online, copy the ® from the search results, and paste it into your document or design file. This works in any software. It is slower than a keyboard shortcut but useful if you forget the shortcut or your keyboard does not support it.
Does the registered symbol need to be superscript?
No. The symbol is typically placed at the baseline or slightly raised, but it does not need to be true superscript. Most fonts render it at the correct size automatically. If it looks too large or too small, you can adjust the font size, but superscript formatting is not required.
What if my font does not have the registered symbol?
Switch to a common font like Arial or Helvetica for just that character. Select the symbol, change its font in the font menu, and the symbol will display. You can then change the font back for the surrounding text. This keeps your design consistent while ensuring the symbol appears.
Can I use the registered symbol on a logo that is not yet registered?
No. The ® symbol legally indicates that the mark is registered with a government trademark office. Using it on an unregistered mark is misleading and can create legal liability. Use the ™ symbol instead until registration is complete, then switch to ®.
How do I insert the symbol in Microsoft Word?
In Word, go to Insert > Special Characters (or Insert > Symbol on older versions). Search for "registered" or scroll to find it. Double-click to insert. You can also use the keyboard shortcut: Alt + 0174 on Windows or Option + R on Mac, just as in design software.