Description

how to get greater than sign on keyboard ?

**How to Type the “Greater‑Than” Symbol ( > ) on Any Keyboard – A Complete Guide**

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### Introduction

Ever opened a document, a spreadsheet, or a code editor and thought, *“Where on earth is the ‘greater‑than’ sign?”* You’re not alone. While most people type the simple “>” without a second thought, certain keyboards, language layouts, or software environments can make it feel like you’re hunting for a hidden treasure.

In this post we’ll break down **every practical way** to get the “greater‑than” symbol ( > ) – and even its relatives like “≥” – whether you’re on Windows, macOS, Linux, or a mobile device. By the end, you’ll be able to insert the character in seconds, no matter what you’re working on.

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## 1. The Quick‑And‑Easy Method: The Dedicated Key

On a standard US QWERTY keyboard the “greater‑than” sign lives right next to the “less‑than” sign on the same key as the period (`.`).

| Key | Shifted Output |
|—–|—————-|
| `.` | `>` |
| `<` | `”.

*If you’re using a different layout (AZERTY, QWERTZ, etc.), the position may shift – but the symbol is always paired with the period or a nearby punctuation key.*

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## 2. Alt‑Code Shortcuts (Windows)

When the dedicated key isn’t available (e.g., on a laptop without a numeric keypad) you can still generate the symbol using **Alt codes**.

| Symbol | Alt Code (Decimal) | Alt Code (Hex) |
|——–|——————-|—————-|
| `>` | `Alt + 62` | `Alt + 003E` |
| `≥` | `Alt + 8805` | `Alt + 2265` |

**Steps for decimal Alt codes:**

1. Ensure **Num Lock** is on.
2. Hold the **Alt** key.
3. Type the number on the **numeric keypad** (not the numbers on the top row).
4. Release **Alt** → the character appears.

**Hexadecimal Alt codes (Windows 10/11):**

1. Hold **Alt** and press the **+** key on the numeric keypad.
2. Type the hex value (e.g., `003E` for “>”).
3. Release **Alt**.

> **Pro tip:** If you don’t have a numeric keypad, enable the **On‑Screen Keyboard** (`osk.exe`) and use its numeric pad, or switch to the “Num Lock” mode on some compact keyboards (often `Fn` + `NumLk`).

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## 3. Keyboard Shortcuts on macOS

Mac keyboards place the “greater‑than” sign on the same key as the period, just like Windows.

– **Standard entry:** `Shift` + `.` → `>`

If you need the **greater‑than‑or‑equal** sign (`≥`):

| Symbol | Shortcut |
|——–|———-|
| `≥` | `Option` + `>` (i.e., `Option` + `Shift` + `.`) |

**Alternative: Character Viewer**

1. Press `Ctrl` + `Cmd` + `Space` to open the **Emoji & Symbols** panel.
2. Search “greater” or scroll to **Math Symbols** → double‑click the desired character.

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## 4. Linux & Unix‑Based Systems

### a. Compose Key

If you have a **Compose** key configured (often set to the right `Alt` or `Win` key):

– `Compose` + `.` + `>` → `>`
– `Compose` + `=` + `>` → `≥`

### b. Unicode Input

– Press `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U`, release, then type the Unicode hex code:

– `3e` → `>`
– `2265` → `≥`

– Hit **Enter** or **Space** to insert.

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## 5. Mobile Devices (iOS & Android)

On virtual keyboards the “greater‑than” symbol is usually hidden under the **numeric/punctuation** layer.

– **iOS:** Tap `?123` → then `#+=` → locate `>` (often next to “ and `<`.

If you need the “≥” symbol, switch to the **symbols** section (often a `= ` or `≥`. |
| **Google Docs** | `Insert` → `Special characters` → search “greater” | Click the result. |
| **LibreOffice** | `Insert` → `Special Character…` | Same process. |
| **Adobe Premiere Pro / Photoshop** | `Edit` → `Emoji & Symbols` (macOS) or `Alt` codes (Windows) | Useful for on‑screen graphics. |
| **VS Code / Sublime Text** | Type Unicode escape: `u003e` → press `Tab` (if snippet enabled) | Quickly inject symbols in code. |

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## 7. Tips & Tricks to Remember

| Situation | Shortcut / Method |
|———–|——————-|
| **No numeric keypad** | Use **hex Alt code** (`Alt` + `+` + hex) or enable **On‑Screen Keyboard**. |
| **Frequent use of math symbols** | Set up a **custom text expansion** (e.g., `>=` → `≥`) via tools like **AutoHotkey** (Win) or **TextExpander** (Mac). |
| **Coding** | Most IDEs accept the plain “>`” key; for “≥” use Unicode (`u2265`) or copy‑paste from a symbol table. |
| **Multilingual layout** | Switch temporarily to **US International** layout (Windows) or **U.S.** layout (macOS) for easy access. |
| **Accessibility** | Use **speech‑to‑text** features (e.g., “type greater than sign”) – many modern OSes interpret it correctly. |

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## Conclusion

Whether you’re drafting a legal contract, writing a piece of code, designing a slide deck, or solving a math problem, the **greater‑than** symbol (`>`) and its relatives are just a keystroke away.

– **Standard keyboards:** `Shift` + `.`
– **Windows Alt codes:** `Alt` + `62` (or `Alt` + `+003E` for hex)
– **macOS:** `Shift` + `.` (or `Option` + `Shift` + `.` for “≥”)
– **Linux:** `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U` + `3e`
– **Mobile:** Long‑press punctuation keys

Armed with these shortcuts, you’ll never be stuck searching for the “greater‑than” sign again. Happy typing! 🚀