Typing Unicode characters in iOS

Question

Level 1

20 points

Typing Unicode characters in iOS

Is there a way to enter Unicode characters in iOS? I’ve tried holding down the ‘alt’ key on an external keyboard, but no luck.

Thanks.

M.

Apple Watch Series 2, iOS 11.3, watchOS 4.0

Posted on May 18, 2018 5:40 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ckuan

Level 10

120,914 points

May 18, 2018 9:39 AM in response to mloeffler

You do not need to write in raw Unicode.

Add a new keyboard where the character you are looking for is available.

Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard ... here

Reply

Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

121,962 points

May 18, 2018 9:39 AM in response to mloeffler

mloeffler wrote:

Is there a way to enter Unicode characters in iOS?

Could you be more specific about what you need? Technically all characters belong to Unicode.

For any of Unicode's 136,000 characters not accessible via the keyboard layouts provided by Apple or 3rd parties, you need to use an app like Unicode Pad.

Reply

Answer 3

mloeffler Author

Level 1

20 points

May 18, 2018 9:35 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

I think Unicode Pad is what I'll have to use - thanks for the link. What I was looking for is the equivalent of the macOS Unicode Hex Input, but for for iOS, as detailed on this page:

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/183045/how-can-i-type-unicode-characte rs-without-using-the-mouse

"To use the keyboard directly with their code numbers, first enable Unicode Hex Input in System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Input Sources. Then, each time you wish to use that input method, switch to the Unicode Hex layout .. " "each time you wish to use that input method, switch to the Unicode Hex layout (this can be done via a keyboard shortcut that by default conflicts with spotlight) and then hold the option/alt modifier while you type the the utf-16 hex codes you wish (which is really two hex codes for characters beyond the Unicode BMP, such as 1f4a9, which is represented by d83d dca9).

option held down then d, 8, 3, d, d, c, a, 9

A which point, you will have summoned 💩 "

Thanks,

M.

Reply

Answer 4

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,815 points

May 18, 2018 5:42 AM in response to mloeffler

There's no way to enter a hex code, but you can enter most Unicode characters through one of the alternate keyboards:

About the keyboards settings on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Reply

Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

121,962 points

May 18, 2018 9:56 AM in response to mloeffler

mloeffler wrote:

What I was looking for is the equivalent of the macOS Unicode Hex Input, but for for iOS

You can ask Apple to add that feature via

http://www.apple.com/feedback

You might want to set up text shortcuts for characters you use frequently so you don't have to look them up on Unicode Pad or elsewhere more than once.

Reply

Typing Unicode characters in iOS

Similar questions