How to Type ı (Dotless i) on Excel

Published June 2, 2026, 2 min read

Typing ı (Dotless i) on Excel takes a few seconds once you know the trick. The short answer is =UNICHAR(305). Read on for step-by-step instructions and what to do when a method does not work.

ı on Excel: =UNICHAR(305)

Or copy it:

Method 1: UNICHAR formula

Type =UNICHAR(305) in a cell to get ı. To check a letter, =UNICODE("ı") returns 305. Both work in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

Method 2: Keyboard methods inside a cell

Double-click the cell, then use Insert → Symbol (Unicode hex 0131) on Windows or Unicode Hex Input (Option + 0131) on a Mac.

Method 3: Find and replace accented text

Use =SUBSTITUTE(A1,"ı","i") to strip this accent from a column, for example when cleaning names for an email system that does not accept accents.

About the letter ı

ı is Unicode U+0131, named LATIN SMALL LETTER DOTLESS I. It is used in Turkish. See the ı character page for every code and shortcut.

Troubleshooting

UNICHAR is not available in Excel 2010 and earlier.
CSV files saved as plain "CSV" may lose accents. Save as "CSV UTF-8".
If accents show as question marks after import, set the file origin to 65001: Unicode (UTF-8) in the import wizard.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut for ı on Excel?

=UNICHAR(305).

Can I just copy and paste ı?

Yes. Click the copy button above, then paste with Ctrl+V on Windows and Chromebook, Cmd+V on a Mac, or touch and hold and choose Paste on a phone.

What is the Unicode code for ı?

U+0131. In HTML it is ı.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for Excel