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MathType shortcuts: type equations faster with your keyboard

Clicking through MathType's palettes for every symbol is slow. This free course shows you, step by step, how to open MathType and use 87 keyboard shortcuts for Greek letters, symbols, fractions, powers, brackets and matrices. No computer experience needed.

3 steps, 12 short lessons MathType for Windows and Mac No sign-in

Learn the shortcuts in 3 steps

Do the steps in order. Your progress is saved on this device, so you can stop and come back.

Practice Start menu

Open MathType from the Start menu

MathType is its own program. You open it like any other app, and it gives you an empty window where you type your equation.

  1. Press the Windows key, at the bottom left between Ctrl and Alt. On this page, click the search box instead.
  2. Type MathType.
  3. Press Enter, or click MathType in the list.
Start by clicking the search box. On your computer, pressing the Windows key does the same.
On a Mac, open the Applications folder and double-click MathType. Inside MathType, Ctrl + N opens another equation window.

How to type an equation with MathType

  1. 1 Open MathType Press the Windows key, type MathType and press Enter. An empty equation window opens. Ctrl + N opens another one.
  2. 2 Type letters and numbers normally MathType makes letters slanted and adds the spacing around + and = for you.
  3. 3 Use two-part shortcuts for symbols For Ctrl + G then P, hold Ctrl and press G, let go of both keys, then press P on its own. Ctrl + G is for Greek letters and Ctrl + K for most symbols.
  4. 4 Use templates for fractions and powers Ctrl + F adds a fraction and Ctrl + H a power. Each template has empty boxes. Type in one, then press Tab to move to the next.
  5. 5 Words need text style The Space bar does nothing in math style. To type words like "for all x", press Ctrl + Shift + E first, then Ctrl + Shift + = to go back to math.
  6. 6 Copy the equation into your document Press Ctrl + A to select the whole equation and Ctrl + C to copy it. Click in your document and press Ctrl + V to paste. Press Ctrl + S in MathType to save the equation as a file you can open again.

Build any matrix

Choose a size, brackets and your own numbers. The builder shows the keys to press in MathType, and you can practice them here.

1. Choose the size 3 rows × 3 columns
Click a square: rows go across, columns go down.
Rows 3
Columns 3
Common sizes
This size has its own shortcut: Ctrl + M then 3.
2. Choose the brackets
The most common style in textbooks.
3. Fill in your numbers ·
Click any box to type your own number or letter.
4. Press these keys in MathType
  1. 1 Add the round brackets Ctrl + 9 The cursor goes inside the brackets, so the matrix goes in there next.
  2. 2 Add a 3×3 matrix Ctrl + M then 3 MathType adds a grid of empty boxes.
  3. 3 Type the entries 1 Tab 2 Tab 3 Tab 4 Tab 5 Tab 6 Tab 7 Tab 8 Tab 9 Tab moves to the next box, along each row and then down to the next row. The Space bar does nothing here.
  4. 4 Copy it into your document Ctrl + A then Ctrl + C Then click in your document and press Ctrl + V.
5. Practice it here Step 1 of 3
MathType - Untitled 1
Click here first
No keyboard? Tap each part in order.
Next: Add the round brackets first. Hold Ctrl and press 9.
Your browser uses Ctrl + 9 for its own tabs, so tap the keys above instead of pressing them here. In MathType they work normally.

All MathType shortcuts

Open a group to see its shortcuts, or search. Ctrl + K then T means: hold Ctrl and press K, let go, then press T. Capital Greek letters add Shift to the second part. On a Mac, use Command for Ctrl and Option for Alt.

  • α Ctrl+G then A Alpha
  • β Ctrl+G then B Beta
  • γ Ctrl+G then G Gamma
  • δ Ctrl+G then D Delta
  • ε Ctrl+G then E Epsilon
  • θ Ctrl+G then Q Theta
  • λ Ctrl+G then L Lambda
  • μ Ctrl+G then M Mu
  • π Ctrl+G then P Pi
  • σ Ctrl+G then S Sigma
  • ϕ Ctrl+G then F Phi
  • ω Ctrl+G then W Omega
  • Δ Ctrl+G then Shift+D Capital delta
  • Σ Ctrl+G then Shift+S Capital sigma
  • Ω Ctrl+G then Shift+W Capital omega
  • Π Ctrl+G then Shift+P Capital pi

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Questions about MathType shortcuts

The shortcuts on this page are the MathType defaults on a standard English keyboard.

How do I open MathType?

On Windows, press the Windows key, type MathType and press Enter. On a Mac, open the Applications folder and double-click MathType. Each equation has its own window, and Ctrl + N opens a new one.

How do I put a MathType equation into my document?

Press Ctrl + A to select the equation and Ctrl + C to copy it. Then click in your document and press Ctrl + V. This works in Word, PowerPoint and most other programs.

How do I make a matrix in MathType?

Add the brackets first, like Ctrl + 9 for round brackets. Then press Ctrl + M and 2, 3 or 4 for a square matrix of that size. For any other size, press Ctrl + M then N, set the rows and columns, and press Enter. Press Tab to move between the boxes.

Why do I get P instead of π?

Press the two parts one after the other. Hold Ctrl and press G, let go of both keys, then press P on its own. If you keep holding Ctrl while pressing P, MathType does something else.

How do I get capital Greek letters?

Add Shift to the second part. Ctrl + G then D gives δ, and Ctrl + G then Shift + D gives Δ.

Why does the Space bar not work in MathType?

In math style MathType sets the spacing itself, so the Space bar does nothing. Press Ctrl + Space for a small space, or Ctrl + Shift + E to switch to text style for words.

How is MathType different from Word equations?

Word equations are built into Microsoft Word, and you type codes like \pi and press Space. MathType is a separate program with its own window, and you use key combinations like Ctrl + G then P. Our Word equation shortcuts course covers the Word tool.

Why does this page ask me to tap some shortcuts?

Your web browser keeps Ctrl + T for opening a new tab and Ctrl + 9 for switching tabs, so this page cannot catch those keys. Tap the keys on screen instead. In MathType itself they work normally.

Can I change a MathType shortcut?

Yes. In MathType, open the Preferences menu and choose Customize Keyboard. You can change any shortcut or add your own.

Do these shortcuts work on a Mac?

Yes. Use Command instead of Ctrl, and Option instead of Alt.

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