Tap the lemniscate to copy it for a bio, a tattoo mock-up or a limit in a maths document. Below you will find every keyboard route to ∞ and the difference between the text symbol and the ♾ emoji.
∞
INFINITY
U+221E · tap the symbol to copy
How to Type the Infinity Symbol
Unicode
U+221E INFINITY
HTML
∞ or ∞
Windows
Win + . (emoji panel) → Symbols, or type 221E then Alt + X in Word; the legacy Alt + 236 also works in most apps
Mac
Option + 5
iPhone
No long-press key exists; add a Text Replacement (Settings → General → Keyboard) that expands "inf" to ∞, or copy it from this page
Android
Gboard: open ?123 and hold the = key, where ∞ appears on most versions; otherwise add a shortcut under Gboard → Dictionary → Personal dictionary
LaTeX
\infty
Infinity Symbol Variants and Lookalikes
♾
Permanent Paper SignThe character behind the ♾️ infinity emoji; add U+FE0F for the colourful version
⧜
Incomplete InfinityA lemniscate with a gap, used in some algebra notations
⧝
Tie Over InfinityInfinity with a tie bar above it; rare outside specialist maths
⧞
Infinity Negated with Vertical BarRead as "not infinite" in a few papers
∝
Proportional ToLooks like an open lemniscate but means "varies as"
∾
Inverted Lazy SA sideways S curve people mistake for a thin infinity
ꝏ
Latin Small Letter OOA medieval Latin ligature that reads as ∞ in small sizes
8
Digit EightWhat ∞ becomes when someone rotates an 8 in a handle; a digit, not a symbol
Using the Infinity Symbol
The infinity sign is a lemniscate, a figure-eight lying on its side. John Wallis introduced it in 1655 for a quantity without bound, and mathematicians still use it that way: a limit as x → ∞, an interval like (0, ∞), or a series summed to infinity. In calculus it is never a number you can add or divide, so expressions such as ∞ − ∞ are treated as indeterminate rather than zero.
Typography and spacing
∞ behaves like any other maths symbol. Put a space either side when it stands between operands (x → ∞) and none when it is a subscript or a limit bound. It sits on the baseline at roughly x-height, so it looks fine mixed into ordinary sentences and is not raised like a superscript. In LaTeX the command is \infty; in Word, type 221E and press Alt + X to convert the hex code in place.
∞ versus ♾️
There are two infinity characters on most phones. The one on this page is the plain text glyph, which renders in the same weight and colour as the words around it and stays a symbol on every platform. The other is the ♾️ emoji, which Unicode borrowed from the permanent-paper mark ♾ and which iOS, Android and WhatsApp draw as a blue or purple picture. Use the text form inside names, captions and documents, and the emoji only when you want a coloured icon. If you send ♾ without the variation selector, some apps show a black glyph and others a graphic, which is why couple bios sometimes look mismatched between phones.
Pop-culture uses
Outside maths the sign means "forever". It is the most requested small tattoo design after the heart, often with names or dates woven into the loops, and it appears in matching couple bios as "you & me ∞" or between two initials. Gamers use it for unlimited ammo or an endless mode, and fans of loop-based music put it next to a track name. Because it belongs to the Mathematical Operators block rather than the emoji set, it survives username filters on Instagram, TikTok and most games, and it pairs neatly with the heart symbols and the aesthetic symbols collected on this site. Do not substitute a rotated 8: it reads as a digit to search engines and to screen readers, which announce ∞ correctly as "infinity". For a script version of a couple's names to put beside it, try the cursive fonts generator.
Infinity Symbol FAQ
Is there an Alt code for the infinity symbol?
The classic one is Alt + 236, which comes from the old DOS character set and still works in most Windows programs when you use the numeric keypad. There is no Latin-1 style 0xxx code because ∞ is not in that block. In Word you can also type 221E followed by Alt + X.
How do I type ∞ on a Mac?
Press Option + 5 on a US or UK keyboard. On some European layouts the key differs, so if that produces something else, open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search for "infinity".
What is the difference between ∞ and ♾️?
∞ is the mathematical text symbol (U+221E) and always renders as a monochrome glyph. ♾️ is the emoji, built on U+267E plus a variation selector, and draws as a coloured picture on phones. Use ∞ in text and handles, and ♾️ when you want an icon.
How do I get the infinity symbol on an iPhone keyboard?
The built-in keyboard does not hide it under any key. The quickest fix is a text replacement: go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ∞ as the phrase and choose a shortcut such as "inff". Alternatively, tap the symbol at the top of this page and paste it.
Can I use ∞ in an Instagram or TikTok username?
Usernames themselves are limited to letters, digits, underscores and full stops, so it will be rejected there. Display names and bios accept it on both apps, and it renders identically on iPhone and Android because it is a plain Unicode character rather than an emoji.
What does the infinity sign mean in a tattoo?
It stands for something without end: a relationship, a memory, or a personal commitment. Designs commonly thread a name, a date, a feather or a heart through one loop. The plain character on this page is useful for previewing the shape in different fonts before you visit a studio.