How to type math symbols on a Mac (π, ∞, ±, ≈ and more)
Most of the common math symbols have an Option-key shortcut. A few surprisingly common ones — ×, superscripts, arrows — don't, and that's where things get annoying.
How do I type the pi symbol on a Mac?
Press Option + P and macOS types π. It works in any text field in any app, no setup needed. It's one of the few Greek letters with its own dedicated key combo — most of the alphabet has nothing assigned to it at all, which is covered further down.
The full Option-key table
These are all US-layout shortcuts. Hold Option (and Shift where noted) and press the listed key.
| Symbol | Name | Keystroke | Mojito shortcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| π | Pi | Option + P | ::pi |
| ∞ | Infinity | Option + 5 | ::infinity |
| ± | Plus-minus | Shift + Option + = | ::plusminus |
| ≈ | Approximately equal | Option + X | ::approx |
| √ | Square root | Option + V | ::sqrt |
| ÷ | Division | Option + / | ::divide |
| ≠ | Not equal | Option + = | ::notequal |
| ≤ | Less than or equal | Option + , | ::lessequal |
| ≥ | Greater than or equal | Option + . | ::greaterequal |
| ∑ | Summation | Option + W | ::Sigma (types Σ) |
| ∂ | Partial derivative | Option + D | ::partial |
| ∫ | Integral | Option + B | ::integral |
| µ | Micro | Option + M | ::mu (types Greek μ) |
The gaps macOS leaves open
A handful of everyday math symbols have no Option-key shortcut at all. The multiplication sign × is the biggest one — most people just type a lowercase x instead, which is why so much math in emails and chat looks like "3 x 4" rather than "3 × 4." The real character has to come from the Character Viewer.
Superscripts have the same problem. There's no key combo for ² or ³. If you're formatting a document in Pages or Word, the right tool is baseline-shift formatting on a regular "2," not a special character. If you need the actual Unicode superscript character — for a filename, a URL, plain text — that comes from the Character Viewer too.
Arrows are a third gap: → ← ↑ ↓ have no Option-key shortcuts either. Same fallback, same friction.
Greek letters beyond pi
π is the exception. λ, Δ, Ω, θ, and the rest of the Greek alphabet have no Option shortcuts on macOS — not one of them. Anyone who writes math, physics, or engineering notation regularly runs into this fast, since a single equation might need three or four Greek letters and macOS only gives you a shortcut for one.
Faster with Mojito
This is where Mojito earns its keep — everything above that has "Character Viewer only" as its native answer gets a shortcode instead. ::times for ×, ::rightarrow, ::leftarrow, ::uparrow, and ::downarrow for the arrows, ::lambda, ::Delta, ::omega, and ::theta for the Greek letters with no keyboard shortcut at all. Type the shortcode anywhere and it autocompletes at your cursor, so your eyes never leave the equation.
::pi → π, with the rest of the math set behind the same trigger.Greek letters, superscripts, and other follow-ups
How do I type Greek letters on a Mac?
Only π has an Option-key shortcut (Option + P). For everything else — λ, Δ, Ω, θ, and the rest — use the Character Viewer (⌃ + ⌘ + Space), search the letter's name, and double-click to insert. Mojito shortcuts this to a typed shortcode like ::lambda or ::theta.
Why does Option+V give me √?
Option+V is the built-in shortcut for the square root sign, not a checkmark. macOS doesn't have a checkmark shortcut at all — typing a real ✓ takes the Character Viewer or a shortcode.
How do I write x² on a Mac?
Depends on the tool. In Pages or Word, select the "2" and apply baseline-shift or superscript formatting from the Format menu — that's the correct approach for a document. If you need the literal Unicode superscript character in plain text, pull it from the Character Viewer (⌃ + ⌘ + Space, search "superscript two").
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