Where Is The Underscore On A Laptop? | Fast Fix Guide

Guide / By

The underscore on a laptop sits on the hyphen key; press Shift + – on Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks.

Stuck trying to type the low line character? You’re not alone. Many laptop keyboards hide it in plain sight. This guide shows the exact key, platform tweaks, and quick workarounds if your layout differs.

Find The Underscore On A Laptop Keyboard: Quick Steps

On most laptops, the character shares a key with the hyphen. Hold Shift, then tap the hyphen (-) key. If you see a minus sign instead, you likely missed the Shift press. Try again while holding the key down.

Where to look on the keyboard: the hyphen key usually sits to the right of the 0 key and to the left of =. On compact layouts, it can sit near the Backspace key. If your keyboard language is not US English, the position can move, but the Shift trick stays the same.

Windows Laptops

Press Shift + –. If you’re unsure where that key lives, open the On-Screen Keyboard to see a visual map. Use it to spot the hyphen key and confirm the Shift pairing.

MacBook And Other Mac Laptops

Press Shift + –. For a live map of your keys, turn on Keyboard Viewer. It mirrors your layout and lights up keys as you press them.

Chromebook Laptops

Press Shift + –. If symbols don’t match the labels, check your input method in Settings. Chromebooks let you add languages and switch layouts quickly.

If You Get A Hyphen Instead

Press and hold Shift first, then tap the hyphen. Short taps that don’t overlap can output a minus sign. Watching an on-screen keyboard while you press the combo helps confirm timing.

When Your Keyboard Layout Isn’t US English

International layouts can shuffle symbol keys. The hyphen may sit near Backspace or right of the number row. The method still uses Shift with that key. Two quick checks help:

  • View a software keyboard. Windows offers the OSK, and macOS includes Keyboard Viewer. Both show the symbol that appears when you hold Shift.
  • Confirm the active layout. If you switched layouts by accident, symbol keys move. Switch back to your usual layout and try again.

Switch Or Add A Keyboard Layout On Windows

  1. Open Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region.
  2. Under Preferred languages, pick your language and choose Options.
  3. Add a layout if needed, or select the right one from the taskbar language switcher.

Switch Or Add An Input Source On Mac

  1. Open System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources.
  2. Add the layout you use most and enable the menu bar switcher.

Switch Keyboard Input Method On Chromebook

  1. Open Settings > Device > Keyboard.
  2. Select Change input settings and add or switch methods.

Need an official how-to while you check layouts? Apple’s Keyboard Viewer guide explains how to show keys and symbols on screen, and Google’s Chromebook keyboard language page covers input methods and special characters.

Other Ways To Type The Underscore Symbol

If the key is broken or your layout keeps moving, these options will still give you the character you need.

Use A Software Keyboard

Windows: Press Win + Ctrl + O to open the On-Screen Keyboard. Tap the hyphen while holding Shift.

Mac: Turn on Keyboard Viewer from the input menu, then hold Shift and click the hyphen.

Chromebook: Turn on the on-screen keyboard from Accessibility, or switch input methods. Hold Shift and tap the hyphen on the virtual keys.

Use An Alt Code (Windows)

On laptops with a numeric keypad or an Fn-enabled embedded keypad, hold Alt, type 95 on the numeric keys, then release Alt. That prints an underscore. This method depends on a numeric keypad and can be blocked in some apps.

Use Unicode Input (Chromebook And Linux)

Some systems accept Unicode entry in text fields. On Chromebooks, press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 005F, then press Enter. That inserts the underscore character.

Copy From A Handy Block

If you only need the symbol once, copy it directly from here:

_

Troubleshooting When Shift + Hyphen Doesn’t Work

If the combo fails, run through these checks.

  • Shift key isn’t detected. Try the other Shift. Test with a software keyboard to confirm hardware.
  • Sticky Keys or accessibility toggles are active. Turn them off and retry.
  • Wrong layout is active. Switch back to your usual layout from the menu bar (Mac), taskbar language button (Windows), or shelf (Chromebook).
  • App is remapping keys. Text expanders or IDE keymaps can override symbols. Disable them and try again.
  • Firmware function layer. Some laptops tie the embedded numpad to the Function key. If an Alt code doesn’t work, the numpad layer may be off.
  • Physical keycap mismatch. Used laptops can ship with swapped keycaps. Trust the on-screen keyboard to locate the symbol.

Typing Speed Tips For The Low Line Character

  • Keep both thumbs ready for Shift. Less hand travel means faster output.
  • Use a visual helper. Open a software keyboard while learning a new layout.
  • Pin the OSK or Keyboard Viewer. Keep it one click away while you adjust.
  • Create a text shortcut in apps that allow it. Map a short trigger if your editor supports snippets.

Quick Reference Table

Bookmark this section. It condenses the methods into a single view.

Laptop Type Shortcut Or Method Where It Lives
Windows (US/EN Layout) Shift + – Hyphen key near 0 and =
Mac (All Recent Models) Shift + – Hyphen key near 0 and =
Chromebook Shift + – Hyphen key; check input method
Windows Alt Code Alt + 95 Numpad or embedded numpad layer
Unicode Entry (ChromeOS/Linux) Ctrl + Shift + U, then 005F Enter in a text field that supports it
Software Keyboards Windows OSK; Mac Keyboard Viewer Settings & input menu

Spotting The Printed Mark On Real Keyboards

The physical key usually shows a small dash on the bottom edge and a longer mark on the top edge. The longer mark is the low line you want, and it signals that the Shift layer produces it. Some compact keyboards print only a single dash; the Shift behavior still applies. If the legend looks rubbed off, check a software keyboard to verify position, then add a sticker until the habit sticks.

App Notes: Editors, Docs, And Terminals

Word processors, browsers, code editors, and terminals all accept the combo. If a tool inserts a different symbol, a custom keymap is in play. Check the app’s settings for shortcuts tied to the hyphen key, then clear or change the conflict. In terminals, the character works as text; use it in file names, flags, and environment variables. In spreadsheets, it appears inside names and formulas with no special steps.

Why Your Laptop Might Feel Different

Compact models trade a few keys for a tighter layout, and regional designs can rearrange punctuation. That’s normal. The Shift pair still produces the same result, so the fastest fix is learning where the shared hyphen key lives on your layout.

Everyday Use Cases That Need This Symbol

You’ll see it in file names that replace spaces, in URLs, in Markdown headings, in variable names, and in form fields that reject spaces. Many sites accept dashes and the low line interchangeably, but some require one or the other.

Takeaways That Save Time

  • The character shares the hyphen key on most laptop keyboards.
  • Hold Shift, then press the hyphen to print it.
  • Layouts shift across regions and compact models; a software keyboard reveals the live map.
  • When hardware fails, use Alt 95 on Windows, Unicode entry on ChromeOS, or a software keyboard on any platform.