Surface Book 2硬件键盘Alt+数字小键盘代码输入及特殊字符输入咨询

Hey there! Let's tackle your question about inputting special characters on your new Surface Book 2's keyboard.

Can you activate a numeric keypad on the Surface Book 2 keyboard? #

Short answer: No, you can't. The Surface Book 2's default keyboard doesn't have a dedicated numeric keypad, nor does it include a Num Lock key to toggle a hidden keypad on the main keys. So the traditional Alt+numeric keypad method won't work directly here.

Efficient ways to input special characters instead #

Don't worry, there are plenty of workarounds that are just as convenient (if not more):

• Use the on-screen numeric keypad
  Press Win + R, type osk, and hit Enter to open Windows' On-Screen Keyboard. Click the "Options" button, check "Turn on numeric keypad", and you'll get a full numeric pad. You can now hold down the Alt key on your physical keyboard and click the numeric keys on the on-screen pad to input special characters via the Alt+code method.

• Windows Emoji & Symbols Panel
  This is my go-to for most special characters. Press Win + . (period) or Win + ; (semicolon) to open a panel packed with emojis, punctuation, symbols, and even kaomojis. You can search for specific characters (e.g., type "copyright" to find ©) and click to insert them instantly. It's way faster than memorizing codes for common symbols.

• Character Map (Charmap)
  If you need a less common character, press Win + R, type charmap, and open the Character Map tool. Find the character you need, select it, click "Copy", then paste it wherever you want. You can also note down the character's Alt code here (if it has one) for future use with the on-screen keypad.

• AltGr key combinations
  The right Alt key (AltGr) on your Surface Book 2 keyboard can be used with certain letters/keys to input common symbols directly. For example:

  • AltGr + E = €
  • AltGr + 5 = £ (on US layout, this might be AltGr + Shift + 4)
  • AltGr + L = £ (on UK layout)
    Play around with this—many regional layouts support useful shortcuts here.

• Custom shortcuts with AutoHotkey
  If you regularly use the same few special characters, you can use a free tool like AutoHotkey to create custom keyboard shortcuts. For example, you could set Ctrl + Shift + C to automatically type ©, or Ctrl + Shift + R to type ®. It takes a minute to set up, but saves tons of time long-term.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Paco