How to Type a Squared Symbol on your Mac
This article will explain how you can type a squared symbol (2) on your Mac. The square number, also called ‘a number squared’, is a number multiplied by itself. A lot of Mac users, especially students, may want to enter the symbol because it is commonly used in education. “Squared” is often written as a little 2 that appears slightly above the rest of the text (superscript): 32 = 3 × 3 = 9.

There are multiple ways to do this. And several apps offer similar ways to do this also. Here is how:
Use the Character Viewer
You can use the character viewer to enter the squared symbol. You can use this method in many apps, for example, when you are writing emails in Mail, when you are composing text messages in Messages, or when you are writing notes in Notes. Here is how:
- In an app, when you are ready to enter the symbol, open the Character Viewer. You can go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols to open it. Or alternatively, you can use the Control-Command-Space shortcuts.
- In the search field enter “Superscript” and hit enter.
- From the results, click the superscript 2 to enter the symbol.
This method works almost everywhere when you need to type this symbol on your Mac. You can use this in various apps such as Notes, Mail, or Messages. You can also use this method to type the squared symbol online. For example, you can use this method when you are using Google Drive or iCloud Drive, or when you are writing emails on gmail.com.
Type the squared symbol in Pages on Mac
If you need to enter the symbol when preparing documents in Pages, it is easy. Here is how:
- Open your Pages document.
- For example, enter 82. And highlight the 2.
- Then go to Format > Font > Baseline > Superscript. Alternatively, you can select Style in the Format sidebar and click the gear icon in the Font section. Then click the Baseline menu and choose Superscript.
- If you want to write regular text after, change it to the “Use Default” option instead if “Superscript”.
Type the squared symbol in Numbers on Mac
You can enter the symbol in Numbers as well. Here is how:
- Open your Numbers spreadsheet.
- Again, for example enter 42 and select 2.
- Then go to Format > Font > Baseline > Superscript. Or alternatively, select Format in the sidebar, then click Text and Style. And click the gear icon in the font section and select Baseline > Superscript.
Type the squared symbol in Keynote on Mac
You can enter the squared symbols in your Keynote presentations.
- Open your Keynote presentation.
- And enter 42 and select 2.
- Then go to Format > Font > Baseline > Superscript. Or alternatively, in the Format sidebar, click Text and Style. Then click the gear icon and choose Superscript from the Baseline menu.
Type the squared symbol in Word on Mac
You can use the keyboard shortcut:
- In Word, select the text.
- Then press these keys together: Shift, Command, Plus sign (+).
Or alternatively
- Select the text.
- And go to the Home tab and click the superscript sign (X2).
See also:
- How To Type Symbols On Your Mac
- How To Enter The Degree Symbol On iPhone, iPad or Mac
- How to Add Presenter Notes in Keynote on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
- Open, Edit & Create a Keynote File (.Key) in PowerPoint on Windows PC
- How to Find Word Count in Pages on Mac, iPhone, iPad and iCloud.com
- Easiest Way To Open / Edit a .Pages File On a Windows PC
- Pages: Can’t Open Document, Fix
There’s a small mistake in the article. “You can use the charger viewer” should be “character viewer.”
Thanks. Corrected 🙂
Very useful! Thanks!