How to enter Unicode on a Mac
Please note that the way how to active the Unicode input may vary as new versions of the MacOS arrive.
In order to activate the hexadecimal Unicode input go to "System Preferences" and then "Keyboard Input Sources".
Scroll to the bottom. Select "Others". Select "Unicode Hex Input".
Click "Add".
Activate "Show Input menu in menu bar".
Now you should see a flag for your OS language on the top right of the screen. Select "Unicode Hex Input".
Now input the hex code of the desired character holding down the Option key: ⌥ (Alt key on a PC keyboard).
Some Mac specific symbols:
| dec. | hex. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⇧ | upwards white arrow / shift key symbol | 8679 | 21E7 |
| ⇪ | upwards white arrow from bar / capslock symbol | 8682 | 21EA |
| ⌘ | place of interest / command key symbol | 8984 | 2318 |
| ⌥ | option key symbol | 8997 | 2325 |
| ⌫ | erase to the left / backspace symbol | 9003 | 232B |
| ⎋ | broken circle with Northwest arrow / ESC key symbol | 9099 | 238B |
| ⏎ | return symbol | 9166 | 23CE |
Some examples:
| Meaning | hexadecimal code | |
|---|---|---|
| ≠ | not equal to | 2260 |
| ☎ | black telephone | 260E |
| ☏ | white telephone | 260F |
| ☐ | ballot box | 2610 |
| ☑ | ballot box with check | 2611 |
| ☒ | ballot box with x | 2612 |
| ☕ | hot beverage, coffee cup | 2615 |
| ☰ | trigram for heaven / menu symbol | 2630 |
| ♻ | black universal recycling symbol | 267B |
| ♿ | wheelchair | 267F |
| ⚛ | atom symbol | 269B |
| ✆ | telephone location sign | 2706 |
| ✓ | check mark | 2713 |
| 🍔 | hamburger | 1F354 |
| 👍 | thumbs up sign | 1F44D |
| 👎 | thumbs down sign | 1F44E |
| 💡 | electric light bulb | 1F4A1 |
| 📞 | telephone receiver | 1F4DE |
| 📳 | vibration mode | 1F4F3 |
| 📵 | no mobile phones | 1F4F5 |
| 🔇 | speaker with cancellation stroke | 1F507 |
| 🕻 | left hand telephone receiver | 1F57B |
| 🕽 | right hand telephone receiver | 1F57D |
| 🕾 | white touchtone telephone | 1F57E |
| 🕿 | black touchtone telephone | 1F57F |
| 🚭 | no smoking symbol | 1F6AD |
| 🚮 | put litter in this place | 1F6AE |
| 🚯 | do not litter symbol | 1F6AF |
| 🚰 | potable water symbol | 1F6B0 |
| 🚱 | non-potable water symbol | 1F6B1 |
| 🚹 | men symbol | 1F6B9 |
| 🚺 | women symbol | 1F6BA |
| 🚻 | restroom unisex | 1F6BB |
| 🚼 | baby (diaper changing facilities) | 1F6BC |
| 🚾 | water closet | 1F6BE |
| 🛌 | sleeping accomodation | 1F6CC |
| 🛏 | bed | 1F6CF |
| 🤧 | sneezing face | 1F927 |
| 🤫 | face with finger covering closed lips (be quiet) | 1F92B |
| 🤬 | serious face with symbols covering mouth | 1F92C |