Looking specifically for Alt codes that produce blank / invisible text on Windows? This guide lists every practical Alt code that yields a “blank-looking” result, plus exact steps to type true zero-width characters (which don’t have classic Alt codes) using reliable Windows methods. Where copy–paste is faster, I link to the right tool so you can do it in one click.
Need a one-click generator for blank text, invisible text, empty character, whitespace character? Use the pillar page: Invisible Unicode – Copy & Generator.
On Windows, classic Alt codes (holding Alt and typing numbers on the numeric keypad) cover the range 0–255 (Windows-1252). Within that range, only a few produce characters that look blank in typical text fields:
Regular Space – breaks lines like normal
No-Break Space (NBSP) – looks like a space but won’t break
Soft Hyphen (SHY) – invisible until a line wraps at that point
“True” zero-width characters (ZWSP U+200B, ZWNJ U+200C, ZWJ U+200D, WJ U+2060) are not in 0–255. You can insert them via Alt+X, Hex Numpad, or simply copy from the generator.
Requirements (Alt Codes on Windows)
NumLock ON and a numeric keypad (or an external USB pad).
Use the form Alt + 0 1 6 0 (with the leading 0 for Windows-1252).
Many laptop “Fn+Num” layers don’t send true keypad codes → prefer an external numpad.
Full List — Invisible / Blank-Looking Alt Codes (Windows-1252)
Purpose
How to type
Code point
Behavior
Regular Space
Alt+032
U+0020
Normal space (breaks lines). Most inputs already accept Space, so Alt+032 is rarely needed.
No-Break Space (NBSP)
Alt+0160(modern form)
U+00A0
Looks like a space but prevents line break. Often survives trimming; great for blank text that sticks.
No-Break Space (legacy)
Alt+255(legacy mapping)
U+00A0
Same NBSP via older/locale mappings. Use Alt+0160 for consistency; keep Alt+255 as a backup.
Soft Hyphen
Alt+0173
U+00AD
Usually invisible; shows as “-” only when a wrap occurs at that position. Useful in “looks blank” scenarios.
That’s the complete, practical set for classic Alt codes. Other 0–255 values are visible symbols or control codes that won’t behave as a clean blank in everyday apps.
Extended Unicode Invisibles (No Classic Alt Codes)
Classic Alt codes (0–255) can’t produce true zero-width characters. Use Alt+X (Word/Office apps) or Hex Numpad (system-wide) to insert them. These are the core characters people actually use for invisible text / blank character / hidden character patterns:
How to type (Windows)
Alt+X method (Word/Office): type the hex → press Alt+X (Example: type 200B, then Alt+X → inserts ZWSP)
Hex Numpad (system-wide, after enabling it): hold Alt, press +, type hex → release Alt (Example: Alt + +200B → inserts ZWSP)
Extended list (copy behavior & notes)
Character (invisible)
Name
Code point
How to type (Win)
Typical behavior
Notes / Use cases
Zero Width Space (ZWSP)
U+200B
200B + Alt+X (or Hex Numpad)
No visible glyph, width = 0
Pure invisible separator; often stripped by aggressive sanitizers. Good first try for “no name”.
Zero Width Non-Joiner (ZWNJ)
U+200C
200C + Alt+X
No visible glyph, width = 0
Prevents ligatures/joining in complex scripts; doubles as hidden separator in many apps.
Zero Width Joiner (ZWJ)
U+200D
200D + Alt+X
No visible glyph, width = 0
Can change emoji shaping/sequences; if your emoji looks different, remove ZWJ.
Word Joiner (WJ)
U+2060
2060 + Alt+X
No visible glyph, width = 0
Non-breaking & zero-width; useful when ZWSP is removed or when you must prevent line break.
Tip: If a site removes one invisible, switch to another (e.g., ZWSP → WJ) or alternate them to resist normalization.
About control characters (TAB / LF / CR)
The following are control characters—technically “invisible,” but they affect layout (tabs/new lines) and are usually blocked in single-line inputs, usernames, and many web forms:
Key / Effect
Name
Code point
How it’s normally entered
Behavior in fields
Tab
Horizontal Tab
U+0009
Keyboard Tab key
Inserts a tab stop (indent). Commonly disallowed in single-line inputs; may be converted to spaces or ignored.
Enter (newline)
Line Feed
U+000A
Keyboard Enter (in some editors Shift+Enter)
Creates a new line; blocked in many one-line fields or triggers submit.
Enter (carriage return)
Carriage Return
U+000D
Keyboard Enter (legacy/CRLF combos)
Legacy newline behavior; same restrictions as LF on the web.
Recommendation: For blank text / invisible name / hidden character use cases, prefer the zero-width set (ZWSP, ZWNJ, ZWJ, WJ). Reserve NBSP (U+00A0, Alt+0160) when you need a space that doesn’t break and often survives trimming; avoid TAB/LF/CR in one-line fields.
How to Type True Zero-Width Characters on Windows
Classic Alt codes can’t reach beyond 255. Use one of these Windows-friendly methods:
A) Word / Office Alt+X (fast & safe)
Type the hex code, e.g. 200B
Press Alt+X → it turns into the character
Copy it to any app
Common zero-width hex codes:
ZWSP200B → Zero Width Space (pure invisible separator)
If search/sort breaks, you probably pasted hidden characters. Check with the Invisible Character Detector to see exactly which code points are inside.
Troubleshooting (Alt Codes & Zero-Width)
Alt code doesn’t work → Turn NumLock ON, use the numeric keypad, try Alt+0160 instead of Alt+255.
Laptop without numpad → Use external numpad or copy from the generator.
Character disappears after saving → The site normalizes input. Try WJ (2060) or NBSP (Alt+0160), or mix types.
Emoji looks different after inserting ZWJ → ZWJ affects emoji composition; replace with ZWSP/WJ.
Field says “cannot be empty” even with a blank → That field blocks zero-width. Use NBSP or include a minimal visible glyph.
Mixed fonts/case issues after copying styled text → Normalize with Uppercase to Lowercase tool, then re-insert blanks.
FAQ – Invisible Space Characrer Alt Code
Q1. Is Alt+255 different from Alt+0160? Both typically map to NBSP (U+00A0) on modern Windows. Prefer Alt+0160 for consistency; keep Alt+255 as a fallback.
Q2. Can I type ZWSP with a classic Alt code? No. Classic Alt covers 0–255 only. Use Alt+X (200B Alt+X), Hex Numpad, or copy from the generator.
Q3. Which blank works best for usernames (“no name”)? Start with ZWSP, then try WJ if blocked. If the form forbids zero-width, use NBSP or a tiny visible symbol plus zero-width padding. See Invisible Name.
Q4. Why is Soft Hyphen “invisible”? U+00AD is an optional break point. It only displays a hyphen when a wrap happens exactly there; otherwise it’s invisible.
