The power of symbol, the superscript n in xn, is ⁿ (Unicode U+207F). There’s no standard Windows Alt code for it, so the fastest routes are to copy it from the button below or, in Word, type 207F and press Alt+X.
On Mac, open the Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space and search “superscript n. “
In documents you have a second option worth knowing: superscript formatting raises any letter or number, so you can build xn from a normal n and it will match your font. The methods below cover both the character and the formatting route.
Power of symbol quick reference
| Method | Input | Works in |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Alt code (Western) | No standard Windows Alt code | None |
| Windows, Unicode-aware apps | 207F then Alt+X in Word (decimal, numeric keypad) | WordPad, some editors |
| Word / Outlook / OneNote | 207F then Alt+X (hex) | Word, Outlook, OneNote |
| Mac | Character Viewer: Ctrl+Cmd+Space | Most Mac apps |
| Excel / Google Sheets | =UNICHAR(8319) | Excel, Google Sheets |
| Google Docs | Insert → Special characters | Google Docs |
| Chromebook / Linux | Ctrl+Shift+U 207f (hex) | ChromeOS, Linux |
| HTML | ⁿ (decimal) or ⁿ (hex) | Web pages |
| CSS | \207F | Web content |
| Unicode code point | U+207F | Universal |
LaTeX has no special command for this character, and you don’t need one: in math mode the caret builds exponents directly, so x^n renders the power and x^{n+1} handles a longer exponent.
Type the power of symbol on Windows
Windows has no Alt code for this character in the standard Western code page, so holding Alt and typing a short number on the numeric keypad won’t produce it the way it does for © or €. There’s a workaround in Unicode-aware programs, plus the reliable Character Map that works anywhere.
WordPad and other Unicode-aware apps
- Turn Num Lock on and use the numeric keypad; the number row across the top won’t work.
- Hold Alt and type 8319.
- Release Alt, and ⁿ appears.
This fails in Notepad, browsers, and most chat boxes because they aren’t Unicode-aware. If nothing shows up, use Character Map or the copy button above instead.
Character Map (any app)
- Press the Windows key, type charmap, and open Character Map.
- Tick Advanced view.
- In the Search for box, type superscript, then click ⁿ.
- Click Select, then Copy, and paste it where you need it.
If you’re hunting codes for other symbols, the Alt code finder and the full list of symbol Alt codes cover the ones that do have a keypad shortcut.
Type ⁿ on Mac
Mac has no Option shortcut for this character, so use the Character Viewer.
- Press Ctrl+Cmd+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type superscript in the search box.
- Double-click ⁿ to drop it into your text.
In Pages and TextEdit you can also raise a normal letter: select it and choose Format → Font → Baseline → Superscript. That route lets you superscript any character and keeps it sized to your font.
Type ⁿ in Word and PowerPoint
Alt+X (Word, Outlook, OneNote)
Type 207F, then press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ⁿ on the spot. This also works in Outlook and OneNote, but it does not work in PowerPoint or Excel.
Insert Symbol
Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the from box to Unicode (hex), type 207F in the Character code field, and click Insert. The same Insert → Symbol path works in PowerPoint.
Superscript formatting (the flexible route)
To write x to the power of anything, type x, press Ctrl+Shift+= to turn superscript on, type the exponent, then press Ctrl+Shift+= again to drop back down. This handles n, n+1, or any letter, and it scales with your font.
The same shortcut works in PowerPoint. You can also add an AutoCorrect entry under File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options that swaps a code like ^n for ⁿ.
Type ⁿ in Excel and Google Sheets
Both spreadsheets share one formula: =UNICHAR(8319) returns ⁿ. In Excel you can also use Insert → Symbol with Character code 207F set to Unicode (hex), but Alt+X does nothing in Excel.
Google Sheets has no Insert → Special characters menu at all, so use =UNICHAR(8319), paste the glyph, or type it in Google Docs and copy it across. One gotcha in Excel: the built-in Superscript format (Format Cells → Font → Superscript) only styles text characters, not the digits of a live number, so for a quick label the formula is simpler.
Type ⁿ in Google Docs
Special characters
Open Insert → Special characters, type superscript n in the search box (or draw the shape in the sketch pad), then click ⁿ to insert it.
Superscript formatting
For x to the power of n, type the exponent, select it, and press Ctrl+. (Control and period), or use Format → Text → Superscript. It scales with the surrounding text and accepts any character.
Type ⁿ on iPhone and Android
Neither phone keyboard has a superscript-n key, so the quickest fix is a text replacement that expands a short code into ⁿ everywhere.
- iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement → +. Paste ⁿ in the Phrase field and set a Shortcut like ^n.
- Android (Gboard): Settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary → pick a language → +. Add ⁿ with a shortcut word.
After that, typing your shortcut inserts ⁿ in any app. Google Docs and Pages on mobile also offer superscript in their formatting toolbars.
Type ⁿ on a Chromebook
ChromeOS has no Alt codes, and plugging in a USB numpad won’t change that, since the feature is Windows software rather than keypad hardware. Use the Unicode input shortcut instead.
- Put the cursor where you want the symbol.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+U; a small underlined u appears.
- Type 207f (the hex code, no U+ prefix), then press Enter or Space.
The symbol picker at Launcher+Shift+Space (or the Quick Insert key on newer models) is another route. Some web fields swallow the shortcut; if that happens, paste the glyph instead.
Type ⁿ in Notion, Slack, Discord, and Canva
None of these has a symbol inserter, so paste ⁿ from the button at the top, or set an operating-system text replacement (the phone steps above, plus macOS under System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements, which syncs to iPhone).
- Notion can render a true exponent: add an equation with /math (or the inline-equation shortcut) and write
x^n, which renders through KaTeX. - Slack, Discord, and Canva have no exponent formatting, so paste the character. In Canva it lands in a normal text box and behaves like any other letter.
Add ⁿ to a web page (HTML and CSS)
There’s no named HTML entity, so use the numeric one: ⁿ (decimal) or ⁿ (hex). In CSS generated content, escape it as \207F.
For an actual exponent in body text, the semantic choice is the <sup> tag: x<sup>n</sup> renders x to the power of n and scales with the surrounding font. Reach for the raw ⁿ character only where you can’t add markup, such as a plain-text attribute or alt text.
Troubleshooting the power of symbol
It shows as a blank box. If ⁿ renders as □ or an empty box, the font lacks the Superscripts and Subscripts block. Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, and Segoe UI all include it, so switch to one of those; older or decorative display fonts often drop it.
It looks mismatched next to ² or ³. The digit superscripts ² and ³ come from a different Unicode block and, in some fonts, sit at a slightly different height or weight than ⁿ. If x², xⁿ, and x³ look uneven side by side, build them all with superscript formatting instead of mixing characters.
207F then Alt+X in Word types nothing. That plain decimal method only fires in Unicode-aware apps. In Notepad, a browser, or a chat box it produces nothing or a stray character, so fall back to Word’s 207F + Alt+X, the copy button, or Ctrl+Shift+U on a Chromebook.
Where the power of symbol shows up
The superscript n marks a general or variable exponent: xⁿ, aⁿ, 2ⁿ, 10ⁿ. It appears in algebra, exponent rules, geometric sequences, big-O notation, and any formula where the power isn’t a fixed number. When the exponent is a specific digit you’d reach for ² or ³ instead; ⁿ covers the “to the power of n” case where the value is a placeholder.
Related guides
- When the power is negative, x⁻ⁿ needs a superscript minus in front of the n; see how to type negative exponents.
- For a fractional result rather than a power, the one-half symbol (½) has its own character and Alt code.
- The absolute value symbol (|x|) is a different piece of math notation you may need in the same equation.
- The angle symbol (∠) turns up in the same geometry problems.
- The right angle symbol (∟) pairs with it on diagrams.
- For everything else in this topic, browse more math symbol guides.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type x² or x³ instead of a superscript n?
Those are different characters (superscript two and three). The quickest route in a document is superscript formatting: type 2 or 3, then toggle superscript (Ctrl+Shift+= in Word, Ctrl+.
in Google Docs). Use ⁿ only when the exponent is a general variable.
Should I use the ⁿ character or superscript formatting?
Use the character in plain-text fields and chat apps where you can’t format text. Use superscript formatting in documents, because it accepts any letter, scales cleanly with the font size, and keeps x², xⁿ, and x³ consistent.
Why does 207F then Alt+X in Word do nothing in some apps?
Because ⁿ has no Alt code in the standard Western code page, and the decimal Alt method only works in Unicode-aware programs like WordPad. Notepad, browsers, and many text boxes ignore it, so copy the glyph or use the Word and Chromebook methods above.
Is there a LaTeX command for the power symbol?
You don’t need one. In math mode LaTeX builds exponents with the caret, so x^n renders the power directly and x^{n+1} handles a multi-character exponent. The standalone ⁿ character is only for plain text.
Why does ⁿ look a different size from x² next to it?
ⁿ is a fixed superscript glyph whose size and baseline are set by the typeface, while ² and ³ live in another Unicode block that some fonts draw at a slightly different height. To make them match, build all the exponents with superscript formatting rather than mixing the ready-made characters.