How to type plus (+) on a laptop keyboard: step-by-step instructions

You are trying to enter a mathematical symbol plus (+) in a document, chat, or spreadsheet but can't find it on your laptop keyboard? This problem is familiar to many - especially owners of compact devices, where manufacturers save space by reducing the number of keys. Depending on layouts, operating system and even laptop models (For example, Lenovo ThinkPad, HP Pavilion or MacBook Air) methods for entering the "+" symbol may differ radically.

In this article we will look at all possible methods - from standard keyboard shortcuts to alternative solutions for specific cases (for example, when a key is broken or when working with a virtual keyboard). You will also learn how to enter a plus in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets and even in mobile applications if you don’t have a physical keyboard at hand. Let's start with the most obvious - but not always working - method.

1. Standard method: plus key on the number pad

On most laptops the sign plus (+) located on number pad (Numpad) right. However, there are three nuances here:

• 🔢 On full-size keyboards (for example, ASUS ROG or MSI Gaming) plus is usually located on a separate key next to Num Lock.
• 💻 On compact laptops (for example, MacBook Pro 13" or Dell XPS 13) there is no digital block - it is replaced by combinations with Fn.
• 🔄 If Num Lock off, the Numpad keys act as arrow keys or other functions (e.g. Page Up/Down).

To enter a plus in the standard way:

1. Make sure Num Lock turned on (the indicator on the key should be lit).
2. Find the key "+" on the number pad (usually next to Enter).
3. Click it once. If the character is not entered, try the combination Shift + = (see next section).

⚠️ Attention: On some laptops HP And Acer The numeric keypad is only activated when an external keyboard is connected or via Fn + Num Lock. Check the documentation for your model.

2. Alternative combination: Shift + equals (=)

If your laptop does not have a number pad (for example, on MacBook Air or Surface Pro), the plus sign can be entered via main keyboard. To do this:

1. Find the key with the symbol "=" (equal). It is usually located to the right of the letter M (in Russian layout) or P (in English).
2. Clamp Shift and press =. The result will be "+".

This method works in 99% of cases, but there are exceptions:

• 🖥️ On keyboards with a non-standard layout (for example, Colemak or Dvorak) symbol placement may vary.
• 🌐 In some language layouts (for example, Ukrainian or Belarusian) To enter "+" you need to switch to English.

Make sure Num Lock is enabled (if you have a Numpad)

Check the current layout (must be English or Russian)

Press Shift + = (if there is no Numpad)

Try the Fn + key combination (for MacBook) -->

3. Specific for MacBook and Apple keyboards

Laptops Apple are known for their minimalistic designs, so on MacBook Pro/Air there is no separate digital block. Instead, the plus is entered like this:

• 🍎 Shift + = - standard method (similar to Windows).
• 🔢 If you need to enter a plus in Numbers or Excel for Mac, use the combination Option + = (gives the symbol "≠", but in tables it may work differently).
• 📱 On Magic Keyboard (Apple external keyboard) plus is located on the number pad, but must be activated via Fn.

macOS Feature: If you use Russian layout, then you may need to switch to English to enter "+". This is due to the fact that in the Russian layout the key = by default enters "=", and for “+” you need to hold down Shift.

⚠️ Attention: On MacBook with Touch Bar (2016-2020 models) The number pad appears only in some applications (for example, Calculator). It is not available in a text editor - use it Shift + =.

4. Entering a plus in Excel and Google Sheets

In spreadsheets the sign plus (+) used not only as a mathematical operator, but also for formula notation. There are rules here:

An important nuance: in Excel plus cannot be used as the first character in a cell without an equal sign — the program will perceive it as text. For example, if you enter +5, Excel will display "+5" rather than the number 5. To add values, always start the formula with =.

5. If the plus key doesn't work: alternative methods

What to do if the key "+" Is it broken or is it missing from the keyboard? Here 5 working ways:

• 🖱️ Copy from clipboard: Copy the "+" symbol from this article (+) and paste it in the right place (Ctrl + V).
• 📱 On-screen keyboard: On Windows, press Win + Ctrl + O, on Mac - Cmd + Option + F5.
• 🔤 Symbol table: On Windows, enter charmap in the search, find "+" and copy.
• 📝 AutoCorrect: in Word or Google Docs set up text replacement (for example, "(plus)" to "+").
• 🔧 Programming: in code (Python, JavaScript) use chr(43) to output "+".

For users Linux (For example, Ubuntu or Fedora) there is another way - input via Unicode combination:

1. Clamp Ctrl + Shift + U.
2. Enter code 002B (code for the "+" character in Unicode).
3. Release the keys and “+” will appear.

⚠️ Attention: On some laptops with Linux (For example, System76) combination Ctrl + Shift + U may conflict with drivers. In this case, use the on-screen keyboard Onboard.

6. Plus in programming and special applications

In some development environments and specialized programs, the sign plus (+) has features:

• 💻 Python/JavaScript: plus is used for string concatenation (For example, "a" + "b" = "ab").
• 🎨 Adobe Photoshop: combination Ctrl + + zooms in (here "+" is entered as part of the hotkeys).
• 📊 1C:Enterprise: in formulas, plus is entered only through Shift + =, since Numpad is not supported.
• 🎮 Unity/Unreal Engine: in scripts, a plus can mean value increment (For example, score += 10).

B Linux terminal or PowerShell plus sometimes shielding is required. For example, in the command:

echo "1 + 1" | bc

The "+" character is treated as a mathematical operator, but if it is not escaped in some shells, an error may occur.

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes encounter problems when entering a plus. Here top 5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. The plus is entered as "=" → Make sure that it is clamped Shift.
2. Formula doesn't work in Excel → Check what comes before the plus sign = (For example, =A1+B1, not A1+B1).
3. On a MacBook, enter "≠" → Use Shift + =, not Option + =.
4. The key does not respond → Check if the mode is turned on Fn Lock (on some Lenovo And HP).
5. Strange characters appearing in Linux → Switch to English layout or use charmap.

If you are working with virtual machine (For example, VirtualBox or VMware), make sure the keyboard is properly captured by the guest OS. Sometimes combinations Shift + = may conflict with the host system.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

!p::Send +  ; Alt + P будет вводить плюс