On HP laptops, the underscore sits on the hyphen key; press Shift + – to type “_”, or use Alt+95 on the numeric keypad.
Lost in a document, staring at the keyboard, and that low line won’t show up? You’re not alone. The underscore sits on a shared key and some HP models hide it behind compact layouts or regional legends. This guide shows every practical way to type it, what to try when the key won’t respond, and fast workarounds you can use without breaking your flow.
Finding The Underscore Key On HP Notebooks
On standard HP laptop keyboards that use the U.S. layout, the underscore lives on the same key as the hyphen. That key sits on the top letter row, to the right of 0 and left of the equals key. Press and hold Shift, then tap the hyphen (-) key to output _.
Short version: Shift + – → _. If you just press the hyphen by itself, you’ll get a dash. Hold Shift, and you’ll get the low line.
On compact 13–14-inch HP models, the key spacing can be tight, and the printed icon may look small. Don’t worry about the label; the mapping is the same on U.S. layouts.
What If The Printed Legends Look Different?
HP ships laptops worldwide, and regional layouts can change legends and positions. The fastest way to confirm where the character sits on your layout is to use the Windows On-Screen Keyboard, which shows the active mapping in real time. Open the built-in On-Screen Keyboard, press Shift, and watch which key turns into the underscore. That view removes guesswork on any HP model.
Fast Ways To Type “_” When The Key Is Acting Up
When a dash appears instead of the low line, or the key feels stuck, try these quick moves.
Use The On-Screen Keyboard
Search for osk from the Start menu, launch it, hold Shift, then click the – key to output _. This bypasses physical key issues and confirms your layout is set as expected.
Use The Alt Code (Windows)
On HP laptops with a numeric keypad (or an embedded numpad), hold Alt, type 95 on the keypad, then release Alt → _. Windows treats this as the ASCII code for underscore. Microsoft documents character entry with codes here: insert ASCII or Unicode characters.
Use Copy-Paste In A Pinch
Copy this character and keep going: _. Not elegant, but handy when you’re mid-deadline.
Why “Shift + Hyphen” Might Not Work On Your HP
When the expected character won’t appear, the cause is usually one of the items below. Work through them in order; each step rules out a common pitfall without heavy tools.
1) Wrong Keyboard Layout In Windows
If Windows is set to a different input language, the key map shifts. Tap Win + Space to cycle input languages, or open Settings → Time & language → Language & region and set the keyboard to the layout you use. Then retry Shift + –.
2) Sticky Keys Or Filter Keys
Accessibility toggles can change how Windows reads key presses. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard and turn off Sticky keys and Filter keys. Tap the combo again.
3) App-Specific Rebindings
Office, code editors, and custom tools can grab shortcuts. Test the combo inside a plain app like Notepad. If it works there, look at the app’s shortcut settings or add a different keybinding inside that app.
4) Physical Key Or Switch Issue
Try an external USB keyboard. If it types the character, your laptop’s key switch may need cleaning or service. If the issue repeats on both keyboards, the problem is software or layout, not hardware.
Typing The Character On Different HP Layouts
Across layouts, the idea stays the same: use the shifted state of the key that shares a dash. The exact key can move with regional designs, so rely on the visual map in the On-Screen Keyboard to spot it fast. Hold Shift on the OSK and scan the keys; the low line will appear on one of them. This saves time across U.S., U.K., and international variants.
Embedded Numpad On 15-Inch And Smaller Models
Many thin HP laptops skip a full numpad. Some include an embedded numeric layer that toggles with an Fn key. If you plan to use the Alt code often, check your manual for the embedded keypad toggle, or rely on the OSK’s keypad when needed.
Productivity Moves That Make “_” Easier
Once the character prints on cue, a few habits keep you moving.
- File names: Use underscores where spaces break links or scripts. Keep names short and readable:
project_brief_v2.pdf. - Coding and data: Snake_case variables rely on clean underscores. Build muscle memory with quick drills in your editor.
- Text spans: In plain text, runs of underscores help mark fill-ins or visual dividers. Keep it short to avoid auto-format rules turning lines into borders.
Quick Checks Before You Call It A Hardware Fault
These steps take minutes and often clear the road.
- Reboot once. Fresh input stacks clear odd keyboard states.
- Update keyboard driver. Open Device Manager → Keyboards, right-click your device, select Update driver.
- Remove extra layouts. Keep a single layout to avoid accidental switches.
- Run the OSK test. If the OSK prints the underscore while the physical key fails, you’re looking at a hardware path.
Underscore Without A Hyphen Key: All-Software Paths
Even if the dash key is dead, you still have options.
Character Map
Open Start → type “Character Map”. Pick Basic Latin, click the underscore, then copy. Pin Character Map to Start if you need it often.
AutoCorrect Snippet (Word/Office)
Create a short trigger like __u that expands to _. It’s light, and it works across documents once set.
When Your Layout Is International
If you use a non-U.S. layout for daily typing, the low line still sits on a shifted state of a punctuation key. The location can move, so the most reliable method is to open the OSK and hold Shift to reveal it. This one habit removes trial-and-error across layouts and keeps you from changing your whole input language just to reach a single character.
Quick Reference Table
The table below condenses the best options. Pick the row that fits your situation and go.
| Scenario | What To Press / Do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard U.S. layout on HP | Shift + – | Hyphen key sits right of 0; shifted state prints the low line. |
| Key feels dead or mis-mapped | Open On-Screen Keyboard | Search “osk”, hold Shift, click the low line; verifies layout. |
| No numpad, need a code | Alt+95 via OSK keypad | Use OSK’s numeric pad if your deck lacks one. |
| App overrides the combo | Test in Notepad, then change app shortcut | Editors can bind keys; set a different hotkey inside the app. |
| Wrong Windows input | Win + Space or Settings → Language | Switch back to the layout you actually use. |
| Accessibility toggles on | Turn off Sticky/Filter keys | Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard. |
Step-By-Step: Fix A Non-Working Hyphen/Underscore On HP
1) Confirm The Input Language
Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region. Keep only the layout you type with daily. Remove extras so accidental switches don’t happen mid-sentence.
2) Check Accessibility Settings
Open Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard. Turn off Sticky keys and Filter keys. Tap the combo again in a plain editor.
3) Update Or Reinstall The Keyboard Device
Open Device Manager → Keyboards. Right-click the keyboard, choose Uninstall device, then restart. Windows will load a fresh driver on boot.
4) Test With An External Keyboard
If a USB keyboard works, your laptop’s key switch needs service. If the USB keyboard fails too, keep digging on the software side.
5) Use Software Entry Until Repair
Rely on the OSK and Alt+95 so you can keep working. Save a snippet with your text expander or editor to paste an underscore on cue.
Make It Muscle Memory
Practice five quick reps before the next sprint:
- Hold Shift, tap –, release. Repeat ten times.
- Type a run of names in snake_case:
report_q3_draft,sales_by_region,dataset_test_run. - Create one AutoCorrect rule or editor snippet that inserts _ when you type a short trigger. It pays back in long writing sessions.
When You Use HP For Work, School, Or Code
Writers and students tend to need the low line for fill-ins and file names. Developers and data folks hit it in identifiers. Pick a method that survives every setup you use: the physical combo, a code, or the OSK. With two paths in mind, you stay productive on any deck, in any app.
FAQ-Style Quick Hits (No Fluff)
Where Is That Key On A Small HP Deck?
Same spot as larger models: the hyphen key to the right of 0. The legend might be tiny, but the mapping is unchanged on U.S. layouts.
Can I Type The Character Without Shift?
Yes, with Alt+95 on a numeric keypad, or by clicking it in the OSK. Shift + hyphen stays fastest for most users.
Why Does A Line Appear Instead Of The Character In Word?
AutoFormat can turn runs of low lines into borders. In Word, type fewer characters or adjust AutoFormat options if you need many in a row.
Keep Two Reliable Paths Handy
Pick your pair: Shift + – for daily typing, and either the On-Screen Keyboard or Alt+95 for backup. With those set, HP hardware, regional legends, or app remaps won’t slow you down again.