This wikiHow teaches you how to insert subscript characters into text on your computer, phone, or tablet. A subscript character is usually a letter or number written or printed below a line of plain text. You usually need to type subscript numbers in a math equation or chemical formula. If you're using a computer, it's likely that you already have the option in your word processing application to convert any text to subscript characters. On phones and tablets, you need a third-party program to insert the subscript characters.
Step
Method 1 of 6: Using the Toolbar in Word
Step 1. Open the Word document you want to edit
You can open a Word document that is already stored on your computer to edit old text or open a new, blank document to type new text.
Step 2. Mark the text you want to convert into subscript
Use the mouse to select the character or text you want to subscript.
Step 3. Click the Home tab above the toolbar ribbon
If you are on another toolbar tab, make sure you go to the “ Home ” at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Click the subscript icon on the “Home” toolbar
This button looks like "X2" or "A2" next to the bold, italic, and underlined text icon.
- On computer Mac, you can press the shortcut Command++ on your keyboard to convert text to subscript in Word.
- On computer Windows, you can press the Control++ shortcut to convert text to subscript in Word. This shortcut also applies to other text editing programs such as Notepad.
Method 2 of 6: Using the Font Menu in Word
Step 1. Open the Word document you want to edit
You can open a Word document that is already stored on your computer to edit old text or open a new, blank document to type new text.
Step 2. Mark the text you want to convert to subscript
Use the mouse to select the character or text that you want to subscript.
Step 3. Press Control+D (Windows) or Command+D (Mac).
The font properties will open in a new pop-up window.
Step 4. Check the box
"Subscript " in the " Fonts " window.
When the option is checked, the marked text will be converted to subscript characters.
Step 5. Click the OK button
The new font settings will be applied and the selected characters or text will be converted into subscripts.
Method 3 of 6: Using Google Docs
Step 1. Open the Google Doc document you want to edit
You can open a saved Google Doc document to edit your text, or open a new document and type in the text you want.
Step 2. Mark the text you want to convert to subscript
You can use the mouse to mark any part of the text in the document.
Step 3. Click the Format tab in the top left corner of the page
It's in the tab bar below the document name, in the upper-left corner of the page.
Step 4. Hover over the Text option in the “Format” menu
Text options will be displayed on the submenu.
Step 5. Select Subscript on the “Text” menu
Marked text will be converted to subscript.
- On computer Mac, you can press the shortcut Command+, on the keyboard to convert the text to subscript.
- On computer Windows, you can press the shortcut Control+, to convert the text to subscript.
Method 4 of 6: Using TextEdit on Mac
Step 1. Open the text document you want to edit in TextEdit
You can open an already saved document in TextEdit or create a new blank page and write from scratch.
Step 2. Mark the text you want to convert into subscript
You can use the mouse or keyboard to select the portion of the text that needs to be converted into a subscript.
Step 3. Click the Format button on the menu bar
It's in the Mac menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Hover over the Font option in the “Format” menu
The font equipment will be displayed in the submenu.
Step 5. Hover over the Baseline option in the “Font” menu
The baseline options will appear in the submenu.
Step 6. Select Subscript on the “Baseline” menu
The selected text will be immediately converted into a subscript.
Method 5 of 6: On iPhone or iPad
Step 1. Download "Character Pad" app from
App Store.
Search for the app by name in the App Store, then tap the “ GET ” in blue to set it up on your iPhone or iPad.
- This free third-party application allows you to copy and paste special text characters into a text field.
- Alternatively, you can copy and paste the subscript characters from websites like
- If you need further instructions on how to download the app, make sure you read this article for a detailed guide.
Step 2. Open the Character Pad app on your iPhone or iPad
The Character Pad icon looks like the sigma symbol (" ️") which is white on an orange background. You can find it on your device's home screen.
Step 3. Swipe left twice to find subscript characters
You can find the subscript numbers on the third page of the application.
Step 4. Touch the subscript character you want to type
The characters will be copied to the device clipboard.
Step 5. Open the text to which you want to add subscript characters
You can paste copied subscript characters anywhere (eg messages, notes, or web pages).
Step 6. Touch and hold the text field
The options will appear in a black toolbar above the text field.
Step 7. Touch Paste on the black toolbar
The copied subscript characters will be pasted and added to the text field.
Method 6 of 6: On Android Device
Step 1. Download "Engineering Keyboard" app from
Play Store.
Search for the app in the Play Store, then tap the “ INSTALL ” in blue to download it.
- If you don't know how to download apps on your Android device, read this article for more information.
- After installing the app, you need to activate the new keyboard via the device settings menu (“Settings”).
- Engineering Keyboard is a third-party free keyboard app. You can access the app's page directly at
- Alternatively, you can look for other keyboard apps on the Play Store that allow you to type subscripts.
Step 2. Open the post you want to add a subscript to
You can type subscripts in messages, notes, or other fields using the Engineering Keyboard.
Step 3. Change the active keyboard to Engineering Keyboard
You can use keyboard shortcuts, quick menus, or settings menus to change your device's keyboard, depending on the device model you're using.
Make sure you search and read the dedicated article on how to change the keyboard of an Android device for more detailed instructions
Step 4. Touch the superscript/subscript icon n in the lower left corner of the keyboard.
This button looks like a white letter " " on a red background, with a superscript and subscript "n" next to the spacebar. The keyboard layout will change to a superscript and subscript layout.
Step 5. Touch the subscript character you want to type
Find and touch the character you want to enter on the keyboard. The selected character will be added immediately.
