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On a US English QWERTY keyboard, type the @ symbol by holding Shift and pressing 2. If that produces a quotation mark, your computer is probably using a UK or another keyboard layout rather than US English.
The correct shortcut depends on the active keyboard layout, not just whether you are using a Windows PC, laptop, or Chromebook. The methods below cover the normal shortcuts, numeric-keypad alternatives, Windows symbol tools, and layout fixes.
How to type @ on a Windows PC or laptop
US English keyboard
Place the cursor in the email address or other text field, then press:
Shift + 2 → @
This is the standard shortcut for a physical US English QWERTY layout.
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UK English keyboard
On a UK English QWERTY keyboard, press:
Shift + ' → @
The apostrophe and quotation-mark key is normally immediately to the left of Enter. On this layout, Shift + 2 types a quotation mark instead of @.
| Active layout | Shortcut for @ | What Shift + 2 produces |
|---|---|---|
| US English QWERTY | Shift + 2 | @ |
| UK English QWERTY | Shift + ' | " |
| International or other layouts | Varies | Depends on the selected layout |
Use the Windows numeric-keypad method
Windows can insert @ with an Alt code:
- Click inside the text field.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0064 using the dedicated numeric keypad.
- Release Alt.
The result should be @.
This method requires a numeric keypad. The number row above the letters is not a substitute, so Alt + 0064 may not work on a laptop that has no separate keypad. Some laptops include an embedded keypad activated with an Fn key, while others require a separate USB numeric keypad.
Use Alt + 0064 as the reliable documented form. Shorter versions such as Alt + 64 are often reported to work, but they are not equally reliable across Windows applications and configurations.
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Insert @ with the Windows symbol panel
Windows 11 includes a symbol picker that works even when you cannot identify the correct keyboard key:
- Click the location where you want to insert the symbol.
- Press Windows + . (period).
- Select Symbols in the panel.
- Choose @.
This is particularly useful on a laptop with a nonstandard keyboard, a damaged key, or a touchscreen keyboard.
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Use the Windows touch keyboard
On a touchscreen Windows device, tap a text field and the touch keyboard may open automatically. You can also select the Touch keyboard icon in the taskbar’s system-tray area, then tap the key or symbol needed to enter @.
If the Touch keyboard icon is not visible, Windows may not have it enabled for the taskbar. Open the Windows procedure for enabling and disabling the touch keyboard, then turn the icon on. Its absence does not necessarily indicate a keyboard fault.
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Fix a Windows keyboard that types the wrong symbol
If Shift + 2 gives " instead of @, Windows is likely using the UK layout while your keyboard is physically US, or the reverse. Check the active layout before changing drivers or replacing the keyboard.
Switch layouts quickly
- Hold Windows.
- Press Spacebar once to move to the next installed keyboard layout.
- Test the shortcut for @.
- Repeat if more than two layouts are installed.
You can also select the input-language icon in the taskbar’s system-tray area and choose the required layout from the menu. If Windows + Spacebar does nothing, only one keyboard layout is installed.
Add a US or UK keyboard layout in Windows 11
- Open Start → Settings.
- Select Time & language → Language & region.
- Select the More button (the three dots) beside the relevant Windows language.
- Choose Language options.
- Under Keyboards, select Add a keyboard.
- Choose the layout you want, such as US or UK.
The layout may be listed under a different language from your current Windows display language. If it is not shown, repeat the process under the language associated with that layout; you may need to install that language first.
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Remove an unwanted layout
- Go to Start → Settings → Time & language → Language & region.
- Select the language’s More button.
- Select Language options.
- Under Keyboards, select the layout’s More button.
- Select Remove.
If Remove is disabled, that is the only keyboard layout installed for the current Windows display language. Add another layout first, then remove the unwanted one.
Make the missing input indicator visible
If you cannot see the layout abbreviation in the taskbar, open Start → Settings → Personalization → Taskbar. Under Notification area, select Turn system icons on or off and set Input Indicator to On.
If it still does not appear, the legacy language bar may be enabled. Disable it through Start → Settings → Time & language → Typing → Advanced keyboard settings. Under Switching input methods, clear Use the desktop language bar when it’s available.
Type @ on a Chromebook
On a Chromebook using the standard US English QWERTY layout, press:
Shift + 2 → @
That shortcut is specific to the standard US keyboard. International Chromebook layouts can assign different characters to the same physical key combination. On an international layout, the right-side Alt key is identified as AltGr, and symbol combinations may differ.
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Change the Chromebook input method
- Select the time in the bottom-right corner.
- Open Settings.
- Under Device, select Keyboard.
- Choose Change input settings.
- Under Inputs and keyboards, turn on Show input options in the shelf.
- Select the keyboard-language code beside the time.
- Choose the desired input method.
After switching to US English, test Shift + 2 again. If you are using a Windows or Mac keyboard with ChromeOS, ChromeOS maps the physical Windows or Command key to its Search/Launcher key for Chromebook shortcuts. That mapping does not change the physical layout’s symbol assignments.
When @ still will not type
- Check the layout, not just the key labels. The printed legends on the keyboard do not prove which software layout is active.
- Try another text field. If the symbol works in Notepad or a browser address bar but not in one application, that application may be intercepting the shortcut.
- Check the sign-in screen layout. Windows can use a different keyboard layout at sign-in from the one used after you log in. The input-language icon on the sign-in screen shows the layout currently active there.
- Do not use the laptop’s top number row for an Alt code. Windows requires a dedicated numeric keypad for the numeric-keypad method.
- Copy the symbol as a last resort. Copy @ from a trusted text source and paste it into the required field, then correct the keyboard layout so the problem does not recur.
A display-language change can also change the keyboard layout. This explains why an email address or password may contain the wrong character even though the physical key appears correct.
Windows 10 support note
The keyboard shortcuts and layout controls continue to function on Windows 10, but standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer provides normal Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. Do not treat an old Windows 10 support instruction as evidence that the operating system is still fully supported.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Why does Shift + 2 type a quotation mark instead of @?
The active keyboard layout is probably UK English or another non-US layout. On UK QWERTY, press Shift plus the apostrophe key immediately to the left of Enter. On Windows, press Windows + Spacebar to switch layouts or select the input-language icon in the taskbar.
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Use the normal shortcut for the active layout, such as Shift + 2 on US English or Shift plus the apostrophe key on UK English. You can also press Windows + . and choose @ from Symbols in Windows 11. The Windows Alt-code method requires a dedicated numeric keypad.
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Does Alt + 64 type @ on every Windows computer?
No. The documented form is Alt + 0064, entered with a dedicated numeric keypad. The number row above the letters does not work for Windows Alt codes, and shorter Alt-code forms are not universally reliable.
How can I type @ on a Chromebook?
With the standard US English QWERTY input method, press Shift + 2. If that does not work, select the time, open Settings, go to Device > Keyboard > Change input settings, enable input options in the shelf, and choose the correct keyboard language.
Why is the @ key wrong only at the Windows sign-in screen?
The sign-in screen can use a different keyboard layout from the one active after you sign in. Check the input-language icon on the sign-in screen and choose the layout matching the physical keyboard.
The Bottom Line
For a US keyboard, press Shift + 2. For a UK keyboard, press Shift plus the apostrophe key beside Enter. If neither works, switch the active layout with Windows + Spacebar, use the Windows symbol panel with Windows + ., or select the correct Chromebook input method.
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