The does not divide symbol is ∤. In Microsoft Word, type 2224 and then press Alt+X. In Excel, enter =UNICHAR(8740) in a cell.
Windows has no standard Alt code for this character, so in other programs you copy it or use Character Map. On a Mac, open the Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space.
Quick reference: every code for ∤
| Method | Input | Works in |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Alt code (decimal) | No standard Windows Alt code | — |
| Windows, Unicode-aware apps | 2224 then Alt+X in Word (decimal) | WordPad, LibreOffice, some apps |
| Word, Outlook, OneNote | 2224 (hex) then Alt+X | Word family only |
| Excel and Google Sheets | =UNICHAR(8740) | Spreadsheets |
| Mac | Character Viewer, Ctrl+Cmd+Space | Most Mac apps |
| Chromebook, Linux | Ctrl+Shift+U then 2224 (hex) | ChromeOS, Linux |
| HTML | ∤ (decimal) or ∤ (hex) | Web pages |
| CSS | \2224 (hex) | Web content |
| Unicode code point | U+2224 (hex) | Universal reference |
Note the split between decimal and hex. 2224 then Alt+X in Word and UNICHAR take the decimal number 8740, while Word’s Alt+X, the Chromebook shortcut, and CSS take the hex value 2224. Feeding one method the other number gives the wrong character.
Type ∤ on Windows
Windows has no Alt code for this symbol in the standard CP1252 set, so the usual hold-Alt-and-type-a-number trick produces nothing in most programs. Two routes get you the glyph.
In a Unicode-aware app such as WordPad or LibreOffice, hold Alt and type 8740 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. This reads the decimal code point.
It needs the separate number pad on the right of a full keyboard; a laptop number row will not work, and Notepad ignores it. Treat it as a bonus, not the reliable method.
For a result that works anywhere, use Character Map:
- Search “charmap” in the Start menu and open Character Map.
- Tick Advanced view.
- Type 2224 in the “Go to Unicode” box.
- Select ∤, click Copy, then paste it where you need it.
Type ∤ on a Mac
macOS has no Option-key shortcut for ∤. The Character Viewer is the way in:
- Click into any text field and press Ctrl+Cmd+Space.
- Type “does not divide” or 2224 in the search box.
- Double-click the glyph to insert it.
If you use it often, drag ∤ into the Favorites row of the Character Viewer so it is one click away next time.
Type ∤ in Word and PowerPoint
Alt+X code (fastest in Word)
Type 2224, then press Alt+X. Word turns the hex code into ∤. The same shortcut works in Outlook and OneNote. It does not work in Excel, PowerPoint, or Google Docs.
Insert Symbol menu
- Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
- Set the “from” dropdown to Unicode (hex).
- Type 2224 in the Character code box and click Insert.
The identical Insert → Symbol path works in PowerPoint, which has no Alt+X shortcut, so you drive it from the menu there.
Make it automatic
With ∤ selected in the Symbol dialog, click AutoCorrect and assign a trigger such as notdiv. Word then swaps in the symbol whenever you type that text.
Type ∤ in Excel and Google Sheets
Neither spreadsheet has an Alt+X shortcut, and the code point sits above 255, so plain CHAR will not reach it. Use =UNICHAR(8740), where 8740 is the decimal code point, and the cell shows ∤. Copy the cell and use Paste Special → Values if you want the character rather than a live formula.
Excel also offers Insert → Symbol with character code 2224 in Unicode (hex). Google Sheets has no Insert Symbol menu at all, so UNICHAR or a paste is the route. Press F2 first if you need to edit inside a cell before pasting.
Type ∤ in Google Docs
Docs keeps this under Insert → Special characters. In the search box, type “does not divide” or the code 2224, or sketch the slashed-bar shape in the draw pad, then click the result. There is no numeric keyboard shortcut, so many people paste it once and reuse it.
Type ∤ on iPhone and Android
Neither phone keyboard has a key for ∤, and it is not in the emoji picker. Copy it from the button above, or set a text-replacement shortcut so it types itself.
- iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement → +, paste ∤ into Phrase and type something like
ndivinto Shortcut. - Android (Gboard): Settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary → pick a language → +, enter ∤ and a shortcut word.
Type ∤ on a Chromebook
ChromeOS has no Alt codes, and a plugged-in number pad will not change that. Use the built-in Unicode input instead: hold Ctrl+Shift+U, release, type 2224 with no U+ prefix, then press Enter or Space. A small underlined u marks input mode.
Newer Chromebooks also have a symbol picker at Launcher+Shift+Space, or a dedicated Quick Insert key. If a website’s text box swallows the shortcut, paste the symbol instead.
Type ∤ in Notion, Slack, Discord, and Canva
None of these apps has a symbol shortcut for ∤, so the move is the same in all four: paste it. Copy the glyph from the button above and drop it into a Notion page, a Slack or Discord message, or a Canva text box.
For Slack and Discord, set up a text replacement at the operating-system level (the iPhone, Android, or Windows methods above) so ∤ appears whenever you type your trigger. Canva relies on your device fonts, so if the glyph looks wrong, choose a Unicode-complete font like Arial or Noto.
Add ∤ to web pages with HTML and CSS
There is no named HTML entity for this symbol, so use a numeric reference: ∤ (decimal) or ∤ (hex). The x marks the hex form, and both render ∤.
In CSS, use the escape \2224 inside a content property, for example content: "\2224";. Include a math-capable face in the font stack so the character does not fall back to a box.
Troubleshooting the ∤ symbol
The most common failure is a font that lacks the glyph, so you see a tofu box □ or a question mark instead of ∤. Cambria Math, Segoe UI Symbol, Arial Unicode MS, and the Noto family all include it, so switch to one of those.
A subtler problem: some fonts draw the character with a faint or missing slash, so it looks like the plain divides bar ∣ (U+2223). Zoom in to confirm the stroke is there. The two are separate code points with opposite meanings.
Finally, check you did not type the decimal 8740 into Word’s Alt+X, which expects the hex 2224, or the hex 2224 into UNICHAR, which expects the decimal 8740. Mixing the two numbers gives the wrong character or an error.
What the does not divide symbol means
∤ is a relation from number theory. Written a ∤ b, it reads “a does not divide b,” meaning no whole number times a equals b. For example, 3 ∤ 7 because 7 is not a multiple of 3, while 3 ∣ 9 holds since 9 = 3 × 3.
It is the negation of the divides sign ∣ and turns up in divisibility proofs, modular arithmetic, and prime-factorization arguments. It is a statement, not an operator, so you never compute a value with it the way you do with ÷.
People mix it up with a few lookalikes. The divides sign ∣ is the same bar without the slash and means the opposite.
The two upright bars of the parallel lines symbol ∥ belong to geometry, not divisibility. And ÷ or / are operators that return a number, whereas ∤ states a fact.
Related guides
- The full Alt code list for every symbol, in one place.
- More math and science symbol guides from the same category.
- The Alt code finder tool to look up any character by name.
- Proportional To symbol (∝), another relation you type by code, not by key.
- Angle symbol (∠) and the right angle symbol (∟) for geometry work.
- Proportion symbol (∷) for ratio notation.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no Windows Alt code for the does not divide symbol?
Windows Alt codes map to the older CP1252 and CP437 character tables, which stop well below this character’s position. ∤ sits at code point 8740, outside both tables, so there is no dependable hold-Alt number for it. Word’s Alt+X (2224) or =UNICHAR(8740) fill the gap.
Does 2224 then Alt+X in Word work in every Windows program?
No. Typing 2224 then Alt+X in Word on the numeric keypad only produces ∤ in Unicode-aware apps such as WordPad or LibreOffice. In Notepad and many other programs it gives the wrong character or nothing at all. For a result you can trust anywhere, use Character Map or Word’s Alt+X.
Is ∤ the same as the division sign ÷ or a slash /?
No. ÷ and / are operators that produce a quotient. ∤ is a relation that states a fact, that one number does not divide another, and returns no value. They appear in completely different places in a piece of math.
How do I read a ∤ b out loud?
Say “a does not divide b.” So 5 ∤ 12 is read “five does not divide twelve,” meaning 12 is not a whole-number multiple of 5.
Will ∤ display correctly when I send it in an email or a chat?
Usually, as long as the recipient’s device has a font that includes the glyph. If it lands as □ or as a plain bar ∣ on their end, their font lacks it. Pasting the symbol inside a well-supported font like Arial or Noto, or writing “does not divide” in words, avoids the problem.