The parallel lines symbol is ∥. In Microsoft Word, type 2225 and press Alt+X. In other Windows apps that accept Unicode input, hold Alt and type 8741 on the numeric keypad.
On a Mac, open Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space and search for “parallel to. ” There is no standard Windows Alt code for it.
Quick reference
| Method | Input | Works in |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Alt code (decimal Unicode) | 2225 then Alt+X in Word | Unicode-aware Windows apps only |
| Mac | Character Viewer (Ctrl+Cmd+Space), search “parallel to” | Most Mac apps |
| Word / Outlook / OneNote | Type 2225, then Alt+X | Word, Outlook, OneNote |
| Excel & Google Sheets | =UNICHAR(8741) | Excel, Google Sheets |
| Chromebook / Linux | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 2225 | ChromeOS, Linux |
| HTML | ∥ (decimal) or ∥ (hex) | Web pages |
| CSS | \2225 | Web pages |
| LaTeX | \parallel | Math typesetting |
| Unicode code point | U+2225 (decimal 8741) | Universal reference |
One thing to watch: the Alt code is a decimal number (8741) and the Word, CSS, and Chromebook methods use the hexadecimal one (2225). They point to the same character, U+2225, but you cannot swap them. There is no classic leading-zero Alt code for ∥, so 2225 then Alt+X in Word only works where an app reads Unicode this way.
How to type the parallel lines symbol on Windows
Windows has no dedicated Alt code for ∥ in the standard character tables, so nothing like Alt+0xxx exists here. What does work in Unicode-aware programs (WordPad, LibreOffice, most modern editors) is the decimal code.
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold Alt and type
8741on the numeric keypad, not the number row across the top. - Release Alt.
If nothing appears, the app isn’t reading that input. Open Character Map instead, type 2225 in the “Go to Unicode” box, then copy the glyph. A laptop without a keypad can’t use the Alt method at all, so Character Map or a paste is the way there.
Type ∥ on a Mac
Mac has no Option-key shortcut for the parallel sign and no Alt codes at all. Use the Character Viewer.
- Press Ctrl+Cmd+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type “parallel to” in the search box.
- Double-click ∥ to drop it into your document.
Two similar results show up. Pick the one named “parallel to” (U+2225), not “double vertical line” (‖, U+2016), which is a different symbol used for norms. Click the star to keep ∥ in your Favorites for next time.
Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
Word gives you the quickest route of any app. Type the hex code, then convert it.
- Type
2225where the symbol should go. - Press Alt+X.
- The code flips to ∥.
This Alt+X trick also works in Outlook and OneNote. If Word grabs extra characters when you press Alt+X, select just 2225 first, then convert. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the subset to Mathematical Operators, and pick ∥ there.
PowerPoint uses the same Insert → Symbol dialog but has no Alt+X, so insert it from that menu or paste it. Inside a Word equation (Alt+=), typing \parallel also produces the symbol through Math AutoCorrect.
Excel and Google Sheets
Neither Alt+X nor most keyboard tricks work inside a spreadsheet cell. Use the formula, which takes the decimal code point.
- Click a cell.
- Type
=UNICHAR(8741). - Press Enter.
To turn the result into fixed text, copy the cell and use Paste Special → Values. In Excel you can also open Insert → Symbol and enter 2225 in the character-code box. In a Google Sheets cell, press F2 to enter edit mode before any operating-system input method will register.
Google Docs
Google Docs has a searchable picker that finds ∥ in seconds.
- Open Insert → Special characters.
- Type “parallel” in the search box, or enter the hex code
2225. - Click ∥ to insert it.
You can also draw two vertical strokes in the sketch box to the right, and Docs will match the character. Google Sheets has no equivalent menu, which is why the =UNICHAR(8741) formula above is the route there.
iPhone and Android
Neither phone keyboard hides ∥ behind a long-press, so the two reliable options are pasting it from the copy button above or setting a text shortcut that types it for you.
On iPhone, go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, tap +, paste ∥ in the Phrase field, and set a shortcut like //par. On Android with Gboard, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ∥, and give it a shortcut word. After that, typing the shortcut offers ∥ as a suggestion.
Chromebook
ChromeOS has no Alt codes, and adding a USB numeric keypad won’t bring them back — the feature is Windows software, not keypad hardware. Use the Unicode shortcut instead.
- Put the cursor where you want the symbol.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+U. A small underlined
uappears. - Type
2225(the hex code only, with no U+ prefix). - Press Enter or Space.
The symbol picker at Launcher+Shift+Space is another option, and newer Chromebooks have a dedicated Quick Insert key. Some web text fields swallow the Ctrl+Shift+U shortcut; if that happens, paste ∥ instead.
Notion, Slack, Discord, and Canva
None of these apps has a built-in shortcut or emoji shortcode for ∥, so the base answer is the same across all four: paste it from the copy button at the top of this page.
Notion is the exception worth knowing. Type /math to add an equation block, or wrap text in $$ for an inline equation, then type \parallel — Notion renders it through KaTeX.
For Slack and Discord, a saved text replacement at the operating-system level (Mac or iPhone) makes ∥ reusable without pasting each time. In Canva, add a text box and paste the symbol; there’s no built-in symbol picker for it.
HTML and CSS
There’s no named entity for this character, so use a numeric reference. Both forms render the same glyph.
- Decimal:
∥ - Hex:
∥
In a stylesheet, use the escape \2225, for example in a pseudo-element: .icon::before { content: "\2225"; }. Set the surrounding font to one that includes the glyph, such as a system UI or math font, so it doesn’t fall back to a box.
Fixing common problems with ∥
If ∥ shows up as a box (□) or a question mark, the current font doesn’t include the glyph. Switch to Cambria, Cambria Math, Segoe UI Symbol, Arial Unicode MS, or another font with full math coverage, and it will appear.
The most common mix-up is with ‖, the double vertical line (U+2016). They look nearly identical, but ‖ marks a norm or absolute value in math, while ∥ means “is parallel to.”
Two keyboard pipes (||, U+007C) are a third look-alike, used in code for “or.” Copy the exact character you need rather than trusting the shape.
If 2225 then Alt+X in Word does nothing, the program isn’t Unicode-aware and there’s no fallback Alt code to try, since ∥ isn’t in the CP1252 or CP437 tables. Use Word’s Alt+X, Character Map, or paste. You can look up the codes for symbols that do have an Alt value in our full Alt code list, or search for a specific one with the Alt code finder.
Where the parallel symbol is used
In geometry, “AB ∥ CD” states that line AB is parallel to line CD. You’ll see it in proofs, textbook diagrams, and technical drawings. The negated version, ∦ (not parallel to), crosses the symbol with a slash for lines that are not parallel.
Related guides
These math and geometry symbols come up alongside ∥ and are easy to confuse with it:
- How to type the right angle symbol (∟). The other core geometry mark, showing a 90° corner instead of parallel lines.
- How to type the proportion symbol (∷). Four dots used in ratios, sometimes misread as stacked parallel marks.
- How to type the proportional to symbol (∝). The “varies as” relation, a different operator entirely.
- How to type the does not divide symbol (∤). A single crossed vertical bar, close in look to a struck-through parallel sign.
- How to type the nabla symbol (∇). The inverted triangle used for gradients in vector calculus.
For more symbols in this area, browse our math symbol guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can I type the parallel lines symbol without a numeric keypad?
Yes. The 2225 then Alt+X in Word method needs the keypad, but you don’t have to use it. In Word, type 2225 and press Alt+X. On any system, open Character Map (Windows) or Character Viewer (Mac), or copy ∥ from the button at the top of this page.
How do I type “not parallel to” (∦)?
It’s a separate character with a slash through the symbol. The simplest way to insert it is by name: in Word’s Insert → Symbol dialog or the Mac Character Viewer, search “not parallel to” and double-click the result. That saves you memorizing another code.
Does ∥ display correctly in text messages, email, and social posts?
Yes. The parallel sign is a plain-text Unicode character with no emoji version, so it copies cleanly into iMessage, WhatsApp, Gmail, and social media. It shows up as long as the reader’s device has a font that includes the glyph, which most modern ones do.
Why do people write parallel lines as // instead of ∥?
Two forward slashes are a quick keyboard stand-in when the real symbol isn’t handy, and they’re readable in rough notes. For anything formal, a homework answer, a printed document, or a web page, use the actual ∥ character so the meaning is unambiguous.
What if =UNICHAR(8741) returns an error?
UNICHAR expects the decimal code point, so 8741 is correct; a #VALUE! error usually means the hex 2225 was entered by mistake.
The function also needs Excel 2013 or later. In older Excel versions it doesn’t exist, so paste ∥ into the cell instead.