The phi symbol is φ. Windows has no Alt code for it in the standard Western character set, so the quickest route on a PC is Microsoft Word: type 03C6, then press Alt+X. On a Mac, open the Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space and search for “phi.” In Excel or Google Sheets, the formula =UNICHAR(966) returns it.
Here is every reliable way to type it, with the exact input for each app. Note where a value is decimal and where it is hexadecimal, because mixing the two produces the wrong character.
| Method | Input | Works in |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Alt code (Windows-1252) | No standard Windows Alt code | Use another method below |
| Windows Alt code (Unicode-aware apps) | 03C6 then Alt+X in Word (decimal, numeric keypad) | Word, WordPad, some editors |
| Windows Alt code (legacy CP437) | Alt+0237 (decimal, US code page) | Command Prompt, older apps |
| Word, Outlook, OneNote | 03C6 (hex), then Alt+X | Word, Outlook, OneNote |
| Excel, Google Sheets | =UNICHAR(966) | Excel, Google Sheets |
| Chromebook, Linux | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 03c6 (hex) | ChromeOS, Linux |
| HTML entity | φ / φ (decimal) / φ (hex) | Web pages |
| CSS | \03C6 (hex) | Web pages |
| LaTeX | \phi | Math typesetting |
| Mac | Character Viewer (Ctrl+Cmd+Space) | Most Mac apps |
| Unicode code point | U+03C6 | Universal |
Type the phi symbol on Windows
Windows-1252, the character set behind the familiar Alt+0nnn codes, has no Greek letters, so there is no Alt+0xxx code for φ. You have two keypad options, and both need the numeric keypad on the right of a full-size keyboard. Laptops without one should skip to Word’s Alt+X or paste.
- In a Unicode-aware app (Word, WordPad, many code editors): hold Alt and type 966 on the numeric keypad, then release. In an app that is not Unicode-aware you get a different character.
- In Command Prompt and some older programs: hold Alt and type 237. This reads the US OEM code page (CP437). On machines set to CP850, the default across the UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia, Alt+0237 produces a different character, so treat it as US-only.
For a method that never depends on the code page, open Character Map (search “charmap” from the Start menu), pick any standard font, find Greek Small Letter Phi, and click Copy. Our Alt code finder lists the working codes if you need another Greek letter.
Type φ on a Mac
macOS has no Option shortcut for phi. The dependable route is the Character Viewer: press Ctrl+Cmd+Space in any text field, type “phi” in the search box, and double-click the letter to insert it.
If you type Greek often, add a Greek input source under System Settings, Keyboard, Input Sources. Switch to it with the input menu and φ sits on the F key.
Type the phi symbol in Word and PowerPoint
Word gives you the fastest desktop method. Type the hex code 03C6, then press Alt+X, and Word swaps it for φ. The same trick works in Outlook and OneNote.
Two other routes live in Word: Insert, Symbol, More Symbols, with the subset set to Greek and Coptic; and the equation editor, where Alt+= starts an equation and typing \phi converts to φ. The Insert, Symbol menu works the same way in PowerPoint.
One gotcha: Alt+X reads the hex digits directly before the cursor. If a letter or number sits flush against 03C6, select just the code first, or put a space before it.
Type φ in Excel and Google Sheets
Neither spreadsheet has an Alt code route, and Word’s Alt+X does nothing here. Use the formula instead: =UNICHAR(966) returns φ in both Excel and Google Sheets. Excel’s older =CHAR() only reaches 255, so it cannot produce phi, which is why you need UNICHAR.
Excel also has Insert, Symbol if you prefer to place the character directly in a cell. Google Sheets has no symbol menu at all, so use the formula, or paste φ from the copy button above. Inside a Sheets cell, press F2 to enter edit mode before pasting.
Type φ in Google Docs
Open Insert, then Special characters. Type “phi” or “greek small letter phi” in the search box, or draw the shape in the sketch pad, then click the letter to drop it in. Google Docs has no Alt code support, so this menu or a paste is the way in.
Type the phi symbol on iPhone and Android
Neither phone keyboard has a phi key by default, and there are no Alt codes on mobile. Two practical options work well:
- Add a Greek keyboard. iPhone: Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards, Add New Keyboard, Greek. Android (Gboard): Settings, Languages, add Greek. Switch layouts with the globe key and φ sits on the F position.
- Set a text replacement. iPhone: Settings, General, Keyboard, Text Replacement; paste φ as the phrase and set a shortcut like “phii.” Android: Gboard, Settings, Dictionary, Personal dictionary. After that, typing your shortcut expands to φ in any app.
For a one-off, tap the copy button near the top of this page and paste.
Type φ on a Chromebook
ChromeOS has no Alt codes, and a USB numpad will not add them, because the feature is Windows software rather than keypad hardware. Use the Unicode shortcut instead: press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 03c6, then press Enter or Space.
A small underlined u marks the input while you type. Enter the hex only, with no U+ prefix.
Newer Chromebooks have a Quick Insert key (older models use Launcher+Shift+Space) that opens a searchable emoji and symbol picker. If a web text field swallows the Ctrl+Shift+U shortcut, paste φ instead.
Type φ in Notion, Slack, Discord and Canva
None of these has a built-in phi shortcut. Paste the character from the copy button, or set an operating-system text replacement (see the mobile steps above) so a short trigger expands to φ across every app at once.
Notion has one extra option: an inline equation (type /equation, or wrap text in $$) accepts LaTeX, so \phi renders as φ. In Slack, Discord and Canva, pasting is the reliable route, since there is no phi emoji shortcode to rely on.
Phi in HTML, CSS and LaTeX
On the web, the named entity φ outputs φ, and the numeric forms φ (decimal) and φ (hex) do the same. In CSS generated content, use the escape \03C6, for example content: '\03C6';. For math typesetting, \phi is the LaTeX command.
Watch the case split: φ is lowercase φ and Φ is capital Φ. There is also a separate straight-stemmed variant of the letter, covered next.
Phi symbol problems and fixes
Two shapes, one letter. φ (U+03C6) is the standard Greek small phi, and many fonts draw it in a cursive, open form. There is also a separate character, the straight-stemmed phi ϕ (the Greek Phi Symbol), used often in physics and for the golden ratio.
If your φ looks “wrong,” the font is choosing one shape over the other. In LaTeX, \phi and \varphi pick the two shapes on purpose.
It shows as □ or ?. The font has no Greek glyphs. Switch to a broad font such as Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or any full Unicode font, and φ appears.
03C6 then Alt+X in Word gave a box-drawing character. The app is not Unicode-aware, so it read the number on the old code page instead. Use Word’s Alt+X, the Character Map, or paste.
Do not confuse it with. φ gets mixed up with the empty-set sign ∅, the diameter sign ⌀, and the Danish letter ø. They look similar at small sizes but are different characters with different meanings, so check which one a formula or spec actually asks for.
Where the phi symbol is used
φ turns up wherever Greek notation does. In mathematics and design it names the golden ratio, roughly 1.
618. In physics it labels phase angles, the work function, and wave functions, while the capital Φ marks magnetic flux and electric potential.
Number theory uses φ(n) for Euler’s totient function, and statistics uses the phi coefficient for association between two variables. It is also the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet.
Related symbols and guides
Work with one Greek letter and you usually reach for its neighbours:
- Delta marks change or difference in an equation. See Delta Symbol (Δ): How to Type It in Word & Excel.
- Theta is the standard angle variable and easy to mistake for a slashed zero. See Theta Symbol (θ), Type It on Any Keyboard.
- Sigma is summation as a capital Σ and standard deviation as lowercase σ. See Sigma Symbol (Σ), Type It on Any Keyboard.
- Psi is the quantum wave function, another trident-like shape. See Psi Symbol (ψ): How to Type It in Word & Excel.
- Omega stands for electrical resistance in ohms. See How to Type the Omega Symbol (Ω) Fast.
For more, browse our math symbol guides, or keep the full Alt code list handy for every code in one place.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type the golden ratio phi symbol?
The golden ratio uses the same letter, φ (or its straight-stemmed variant ϕ). Type it with any method on this page: in Word, 03C6 then Alt+X; in a spreadsheet, =UNICHAR(966); anywhere else, copy it from the button above.
The value itself, about 1. 618, is written separately.
What is the difference between φ and capital Φ, and how do I type the capital?
Lowercase φ and capital Φ are different letters with different jobs; physics often uses lowercase φ for a phase angle and capital Φ for magnetic flux. To type the capital, open Insert, Symbol in Word, or the Character Viewer on Mac and Character Map on Windows, and search for “Greek capital letter phi.”
Can I type φ on a laptop without a numeric keypad?
Yes. The keypad only matters for the 03C6 then Alt+X in Word and Alt+0237 codes.
Word’s Alt+X (03C6 then Alt+X) needs no keypad, the =UNICHAR(966) formula works in any spreadsheet, and Ctrl+Shift+U 03c6 works on Chromebooks and Linux. On a laptop, those or a quick paste are the easiest options.
Does φ have an emoji version?
No. Phi is a plain text Greek letter with no emoji form, so it will not turn into a coloured icon on a phone. It shows as the same monochrome glyph on every device, changing only with the font.
Which LaTeX command gives the curly φ versus the straight ϕ?
LaTeX splits the two shapes: \varphi produces the cursive, open φ, and \phi produces the straight-stemmed ϕ. Pick whichever your field expects; physics and engineering papers often want the straight form, so \phi is the usual choice there.