If you’ve used any kind of social media, you’ll have come across the humble hashtag. These little symbols are super useful when it comes to tagging your own snaps and posts and finding the content you’re interested in online. Whether you’re scrolling Twitter or sharing your holiday pics on Insta.
Unlike most Windows laptops though (which have a dedicated hashtag key), it’s not always that clear how to use a hashtag on Mac. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered. With our mini guide, we’ll show you how to hashtag to your hearts content - whether you’ve got a UK or US keyboard, and a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro.
Where is the hashtag on Mac?
Typing out the hash key on a Mac will be slightly different depending on the kind of MacBook you’ve got.
On older Mac keyboards with a UK layout, the hash sign isn’t even visible when you look at the keys. Whereas on the newer models, it usually is. To use the # on your UK keyboard, you’ll still have to use the option key – which might be labelled as ‘Alt’ if your Mac is one of the older ones. So, in this case, you’d press ‘Alt’ + ‘3’. Easy.
Or, if you’ve got a US Mac keyboard instead, you’ll need to trigger the secondary option for the 3 key (there’ll be a # symbol above the number). And that just means that hitting ‘Shift’ + ‘3’ will enter a hashtag for you. Pretty simple stuff.
How to use the hashtag on MacBook Air
Using the hashtag on your MacBook Air is really easy:
1. Boot up your go-to social media app.
2. Put together your influencer worthy tweet or post.
3. When you want to add the hashtag, use the ‘Shift’ + ‘3’ keys.
4. After the # symbol, type in your phrase or keyword without spaces e.g. #currysismyfave
5. And now you’re done!
How to use the hashtag on MacBook Pro
Here’s how to find and use the hashtag on your MacBook Pro. It’s basically identical to how you do it on the Air:
1. Fire up your favourite social media app.
2. Type out your brilliant message or post.
3. Add some hashtags by pressing ‘Shift’ + ‘3’.
4. Enter your phrase or keyword without any spaces, for example #currysisthebest
5. And that’s it – it’s as easy as that!
FAQs
Can I type a hashtag using the emoji or symbol viewer?
Yep. Press Control + Command + Space top open up the Character Viewer. Then search for ‘hashtag’ and double click it to insert the symbol where you need it. It’s a good little trick if you’re not sure (or forget) which keys to press.
Is there a way to see all keyboard shortcuts on my Mac?
Yes there is. You can turn on the Keyboard Viewer by heading to System Settings > Keyboard and enabling ‘Show Keyboard Viewer in menu bar’. It shows you exactly what each key does, including when you hold down the Shift or Option key. It’s kind of like your very own mini Mac encyclopaedia!
Can I change the shortcut for typing a hashtag?
You can make your own custom shortcut using the macOS keyboard settings or third-party apps like Karabiner-Elements. For most people though, using Option + 3 (UK) or Shift + 3 (US) is the easiest route.
What if my keyboard layout is wrong?
Sometimes your Mac might be set to the wrong keyboard layout, especially if you’ve just downloaded an update or two. To fix it, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and make sure the layout matches your actual keyboard (e.g. British or US).
So, now you know everything there is to know about MacBook hashtags. You’re ready to join those trending conversations and get your posts noticed by your mates and family. But why should you pick a Mac over other types of laptops? Get the full lowdown right here.
