The registered sign ® is Alt+0174 on Windows and Option+R on a Mac. It marks a trademark that has actually been granted registration by a national office. Using it on an unregistered mark is a false claim and is an offence in several countries, so reach for ™ instead.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (Alt code) | Hold Alt, type 0174 on the numpad |
|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Registered Trademark Symbol" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 00AE, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 00ae, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | ® · \00ae (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Windows
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold Alt and type 0174 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt, ® appears.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Registered Trademark Symbol" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 00AE.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to ®.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Ⓡ (U+24C7) | Circled capital R, an enclosed letter | A general enclosed letter. It is not the legal symbol and is drawn differently. |
| ™ (U+2122) | Trade mark sign, for unregistered marks | The correct mark while an application is pending or where no registration exists. |
| (R) | Three ASCII characters | A plain-text fallback only. Use the real symbol wherever the encoding allows it. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the registered sign?
It is U+00AE, decimal 174. In HTML you can also write ®.
When can I use ® rather than ™?
Only once the mark is registered with the relevant trademark office, and only in the countries where that registration is in force. Before then, or in territories where it is not registered, use ™.
Is it illegal to use ® on an unregistered mark?
In many jurisdictions, yes. It is a criminal offence in the United Kingdom and can carry penalties in the United States and the European Union. It also weakens any later enforcement action.
Where should the symbol sit?
Immediately after the mark, usually raised as a superscript, and normally on the first or most prominent mention rather than every one.
Should it appear on every mention in a document?
No, and doing so reads badly. Standard practice is the first or most prominent use, with a short attribution note at the end of the document.