Tool to decode/encode messages created with the Option-key ⌥ available on Mac/Apple computers allowing to write special characters (symbols) as a cipher.
Option-Key Cipher - dCode
Tag(s) : Symbol Substitution
dCode is free and its tools are a valuable help in games, maths, geocaching, puzzles and problems to solve every day!
A suggestion ? a feedback ? a bug ? an idea ? Write to dCode!
Option-Key Cipher
Mac Option-Key Decoder
Mac Option-Key Encoder
Answers to Questions (FAQ)
What is Option-Key Cipher? (Definition)
On Mac/Apple hardware, the keyboard has a special key called Option (⌥ symbol) which serves as a modifier to the other keys, in order to enter certain special characters not found on the keyboard. This key combination can then be diverted to write a message by pressing the option key in order to write a coded message.
The key is sometimes called Alt by mistake.
How to encrypt using Option Key cipher?
For Apple/Macintosh keyboard owners, pressing the Option key before entering the plain letter encodes the encrypted letter.
For other Windows/Linux/Android users, then here is the correspondence table:
| Character | Option + Character | Character | Option + Character | Character | Option + Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | å | F | Ï | ! | ⁄ |
| b | ∫ | G | ˝ | @ | € |
| c | ç | H | Ó | # | ‹ |
| d | ∂ | I | ˆ | $ | › |
| e | ´ | J | Ô | % | fi |
| f | ƒ | K | | ^ | fl |
| g | © | L | Ò | & | ‡ |
| h | ˙ | M | Â | * | ° |
| i | ˆ | N | ˜ | ( | · |
| j | ∆ | O | Ø | ) | ‚ |
| k | ˚ | P | ∏ | , | ≤ |
| l | ¬ | Q | Œ | . | ≥ |
| m | µ | R | ‰ | ; | … |
| n | ˜ | S | Í | : | Ú |
| o | ø | T | ˇ | / | ÷ |
| p | π | U | ¨ | < | ¯ |
| q | œ | V | ◊ | > | ˘ |
| r | ® | W | „ | ? | ¿ |
| s | ß | X | ˛ | - | – |
| t | † | Y | Á | _ | — |
| u | ¨ | Z | ¸ | = | ≠ |
| v | √ | 1 | ¡ | [ | “ |
| w | ∑ | 2 | ™ | ] | ‘ |
| x | ≈ | 3 | £ | { | ” |
| y | ¥ | 4 | ¢ | } | ’ |
| z | Ω | 5 | ∞ | \ | « |
| A | Å | 6 | § | | | » |
| B | ı | 7 | ¶ | ' | æ |
| C | Ç | 8 | • | " | Æ |
| D | Î | 9 | ª | + | ± |
| E | ´ | 0 | º | ~ | ` |
Example: Option is coded Øπ†ˆø˜
Note that e and E, as well as i and I, n and N and u and U encode the same characters.
How to decrypt Option Key cipher?
The decryption of the Option key passes by a substitution of each special symbol by the key corresponding to it.
Example: Âåç is translated Mac
It is not possible to automatically predict whether ´, ˆ, ˜ and ¨ encode an uppercase or a lowercase letter.
How to recognize a Option-Key ciphertext? (Identification)
The message consists mainly of the symbols Åıçî´ï˝óˆôòâ˜ø∏œ‰íˇ¨◊„˛á¸ and å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥ω
All references to Mac, MacOS, Macintosh, Apple (Steve Jobs) and its products iPhone, iPad, iPod, etc. are clues.
Source code
dCode retains ownership of the "Option-Key Cipher" source code. Any algorithm for the "Option-Key Cipher" algorithm, applet or snippet or script (converter, solver, encryption / decryption, encoding / decoding, ciphering / deciphering, breaker, translator), or any "Option-Key Cipher" functions (calculate, convert, solve, decrypt / encrypt, decipher / cipher, decode / encode, translate) written in any informatic language (Python, Java, PHP, C#, Javascript, Matlab, etc.) or any database download or API access for "Option-Key Cipher" or any other element are not public (except explicit open source licence like Creative Commons). Same with the download for offline use on PC, mobile, tablet, iPhone or Android app.
Reminder: dCode is an educational and teaching resource, accessible online for free and for everyone.
Cite dCode
The content of the page "Option-Key Cipher" and its results may be freely copied and reused, including for commercial purposes, provided that dCode.fr is cited as the source.
Exporting the results is free and can be done simply by clicking on the export icons ⤓ (.csv or .txt format) or ⧉ (copy and paste).
To cite dCode.fr on another website, use the link:
In a scientific article or book, the recommended bibliographic citation is: Option-Key Cipher on dCode.fr [online website], retrieved on 2025-04-16,
