The Japanese yen (¥) is the official currency of Japan.
If you want to type the Japanese yen symbol (¥) on your computer or mobile device, this guide will show you how.
On Your Computer
The correct way to enter the Japanese yen symbol (¥) on your computer depends on its operating system.
On Windows PCs, there are several ways to insert the yen symbol, but they only work in certain situations. In contrast, on the Mac there is only one way to do this—and it works every single time, in all applications.
On a Windows PC
With Alt Codes
To type the Japanese yen symbol (¥) on a Windows PC, hold down the Alt key and type 0 + 1 + 6 + 5. (Type the numbers one after the other, without holding them down. For this key combination to work, you need to use the number pad with NumLock enabled.)
With Character Map
If you’re on a Windows laptop that doesn’t have a number pad, you won’t be able to use Alt codes. However, there is a workaround:
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, type “charmap” (without the quotes), and press Enter. Locate the yen symbol (¥) and then click the “Copy” button. You can now paste the symbol into any application.
In Microsoft Office
If you’re in a Microsoft Office app, like Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, you can type the yen symbol (¥) by typing “00A5” (without the quotes), then pressing the Alt + X keys.
On a Mac
To type the Japanese yen symbol (¥) on a Mac, press and hold the Alt + Y keys on your keyboard. (This key combination will insert the yen symbol into any application.)
On a Linux PC
In Linux, every character has its own Unicode number. You can type it by holding Ctrl + Shift, then typing U followed by the Unicode number for the character in question.
The Unicode number of the Japanese yen symbol (¥) is U00A5.
So, to type the Japanese yen symbol in Linux, hold Ctrl + Shift + U, then release and type in 0 + 0 + A + 5.
On Your Phone or Tablet
The ways to insert the Japanese yen symbol (¥) on Android and iOS devices are strikingly similar. To find out what they are, read on.
On Android Devices
To type the Japanese yen symbol (¥) on your Android phone or tablet, tap the ?123 button in the lower-left corner of the keyboard, then tap and hold your finger over the dollar ($) symbol.
A list of currency symbols will pop up. Without lifting your finger from the touch screen, move it over to the yen symbol and then release it.
On iOS Devices
To type the Japanese yen symbol (¥) on your iPad or iPhone, tap the 123 button in the lower-left corner of the keyboard, then tap and hold your finger over the dollar ($) symbol.
A list of currency symbols will pop up. Without lifting your finger from the touch screen, move it over to the yen symbol and then release it.