How to type an asterisk on Windows
Press Shift + 8, or the * key on the number pad. With Num Lock on, you can also hold Alt and type 42 on the number pad.
The Alt code for asterisk
Hold Alt, type 4 2 on the number pad, then let go of Alt. The number keys along the top of the keyboard won't work for Alt codes, and Num Lock needs to be on.
Alt codes only exist for older, basic characters. There's no Alt code for ✱, ✳ or the other decorative asterisks, so use one of the methods below for those.
The emoji and symbols panel
Press Windows + . (period) to open the panel in Windows 10 and 11. The Ω Symbols tab has punctuation and math symbols. The emoji tab includes ✳️ and *️⃣ if you search asterisk.
Character Map, for every asterisk
- Press Windows, type charmap and open Character Map.
- Tick Advanced view, type asterisk in Search for, and click Search.
- Double-click the one you want, click Copy, and paste it anywhere.
The results depend on the font selected at the top. Segoe UI Symbol includes most of the decorative asterisks.
In Microsoft Word: the Alt + X trick
Type a symbol's code and press Alt + X. Word converts the code into the character, so 2731 then Alt + X becomes ✱. Codes for every asterisk are on our symbols list. The Word guide has more, including why Word sometimes makes asterisk text bold.
If Shift + 8 types something else
You're on a non-US keyboard layout. Open the On-Screen Keyboard (press Windows, type osk), hold Shift, and look for *. Alt + 42 works on every layout, as long as you have a number pad.