How to Type Upside-Down Punctuation (¿) on Any Device
Instant one-click copy, complete keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac, Microsoft Word Alt+X conversion, mobile keypad methods, and developer code entities.
Upside-Down Punctuation
One-click clipboard copy, complete keyboard shortcuts, and developer codes below.
Upside-Down Punctuation Variants (Click to copy):
Quick Reference Matrix
Instant shortcuts for every operating system and office application.
| Platform | Shortcut / Method | Action |
|---|---|---|
WinWindows | Alt + 0168 | |
macOSMac | Option + Shift + ? (¿), Option + 1 (¡) | |
WordMicrosoft Word | 00BF, Alt+X (¿) · 00A1, Alt+X (¡) (type code, press Alt+X) | |
DocsGoogle Docs | Insert → Special characters → search “inverted” | |
WebHTML Entity | ¿ | |
HexUnicode Codepoint | U+00BF | |
iOSiPhone & iPad | Hold the ? key for ¿, hold ! for ¡ | |
PhoneAndroid | Hold the ? key for ¿, hold ! for ¡ | |
LinuxLinux | Ctrl+Shift+U, 00BF (¿) · 00A1 (¡) |
How to Type Upside-Down Punctuation on Windows
Compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10, and earlier editions
Method 1: Numeric Keypad Alt Code
- Verify that Num Lock is enabled on your keyboard (a status light usually indicates this).
- Press and hold the Alt key (either left or right Alt).
- While holding Alt, type the code 0168 on the separate numeric keypad on the right.
- Release the Alt key. The character ¿ will appear immediately.
Method 2: Windows Emoji & Symbol Panel
Press Windows + . (period) or Windows + ; (semicolon) to open the native Windows Symbol Palette. Select the Symbols tab (the omega icon Ω), then click ¿ to insert it into any application.
Method 3: On Laptops Without a Number Pad
If your laptop lacks a dedicated physical numeric keypad, turn on the virtual numeric keypad by pressing Fn + NumLk, or open the On-Screen Keyboard by typing osk in the Windows search bar. Alternatively, click the Copy ¿ button at the top of this guide.
How to Type Upside-Down Punctuation on Mac (macOS)
Tested on macOS Sequoia 15, Sonoma 14, and Ventura 13
Method 1: Direct Keyboard Shortcut
Hold Option + Shift + ? (¿), Option + 1 (¡) simultaneously on your Mac keyboard. The symbol ¿ will be inserted immediately.
Method 2: macOS Character Viewer (Emoji & Symbols)
- Press Control + Command + Space in any text field to invoke the Character Viewer.
- Type "Upside-Down Punctuation" or the hex code
U+00BFin the top search bar. - Double-click the ¿ symbol to insert it at your cursor position.
In Microsoft Word & Google Docs
Document formatting and special character tools
Microsoft Word: The Alt+X Hex Shortcut
Word supports instant hexadecimal Unicode conversion:
- Type the hexadecimal code
00BFinto your Word document. - Immediately press Alt + X without adding a space.
- Word will automatically convert
00BFinto ¿.
Google Docs: Special Characters Palette
In Google Docs, go to Insert → Special characters. In the search box on the right, type "Upside-Down Punctuation", or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Clicking the symbol inserts it into your document.
On iPhone, iPad & Android
Touchscreen keyboard tips and text replacement
iOS (iPhone & iPad)
Hold the ? key for ¿, hold ! for ¡. For accented letters or numbers, press and hold the base key on your virtual keyboard until the flyout menu appears, then slide your thumb onto ¿.
Android (Gboard & Samsung Keyboard)
Hold the ? key for ¿, hold ! for ¡. You can also add ¿ to your personal keyboard dictionary under Settings → System → Languages & input → Personal dictionary.
For Developers: HTML, CSS & Code Snippets
Unicode codepoints, entities, and programming escapes
¿¿content: "\BF";"\u{00BF}""\u00BF"U+00BFAbout Upside-Down Punctuation (¿)
History, typographic usage standards, and Unicode block
Spanish opens questions and exclamations with ¿ and ¡ (¿Cómo estás?) so readers know the tone before the sentence ends — a Royal Academy rule from 1754. Both sit in Latin-1 (Alt+0168/0161) and both hide on phone keyboards behind a long-press of ? and !.
In standard typography and document styling, symbols and accents should adhere to standard spacing guidelines. When typing numbers or equations, avoid confusing lookalike characters (such as confusing the letter "x" with the true multiplication operator "×", or using a degree symbol "°" in place of a superscript zero "⁰").
Official Unicode Reference:
Registered as INVERTED QUESTION MARK at codepoint U+00BF within the Unicode Standard. Consult the official Unicode Latin-1 Supplement specification chart (PDF via unicode.org).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about typing and formatting Upside-Down Punctuation
What is the fastest way to copy the Upside-Down Punctuation (¿)?
Click the large green "Copy ¿" button at the very top of this page. It immediately places the symbol onto your clipboard so you can paste it anywhere using Ctrl + V (Windows) or Cmd + V (Mac).
What is the Windows Alt code for ¿?
The Windows Alt code is Alt + 0168. Make sure your Num Lock is turned on and type 0168 on the 10-key numeric keypad while holding Alt.
How do I type ¿ on a Mac?
Press Option + Shift + ? (¿), Option + 1 (¡) anywhere on macOS to produce ¿.
How do I type ¿ in Microsoft Word?
Type the code 00BF into Word and immediately press Alt + X. Word will instantly convert the code into the symbol ¿.
Want to type more accented letters?
Use our Accent Letter Typer — an interactive builder with 80+ accented characters, language filters (French, Spanish, German, Polish…), Alt codes, Mac shortcuts, and a live compose tray.
Looking for a different character?
Search all symbols, accents, arrows, and alt codes in the live interactive picker.
Last verified Sep 9, 2026 by Dr. Julian Vance · Tested on Windows 11 24H2 & macOS 15.1 · Editorial Methodology