The short answer: on both iPhone and Android, open the numbers/symbols keyboard, then press and hold the hyphen key and slide to the longest dash (—). The same popup also has the shorter en dash (–). On iPhone you can also just type two hyphens — and let them auto-convert, or dictate the words “em dash”. Or tap to copy one below.
That long dash is called an em dash (—). Phones hide it behind the hyphen key, so most people never find it — they tap the key instead of holding it. Here’s the trick on each phone, plus three faster shortcuts.
Quick reference
| Phone | How to get — |
|---|---|
| iPhone / iPad | Tap 123, then press and hold the – key, slide to — |
| Android (Gboard, Samsung) | Tap ?123, then press and hold the – key, choose — |
| iPhone shortcut | Type — (two hyphens) and it auto-converts in most apps |
| Both (fastest for repeat use) | Set a Text Replacement so a short code types — |
| No keyboard needed | Tap a dash above to copy |
How to type a long dash on iPhone & iPad
- Tap the 123 key to switch to numbers and symbols.
- Press and hold the hyphen – key — don’t just tap it.
- A small popup appears with the en dash (–) and the em dash (—).
- Slide your finger to the longest dash (—) and let go.
The other option, –, is the en dash — use that one for ranges like 9–5.
Faster on iPhone: just type two hyphens
If Smart Punctuation is on (it is by default), typing two hyphens between words auto-converts to an em dash in most apps — for example, word–word becomes word—word. You can check the setting at Settings → General → Keyboard → Smart Punctuation. Note the quirk: between words you get an em dash (—), but between numbers (like 10–12) it tends to produce the shorter en dash (–). If you specifically want the long dash there, hold the hyphen key and pick — directly.
Hands-free: dictate it
While using voice dictation on iPhone, say “em dash” to insert —. This is most reliable in Apple apps like Notes and Mail and can be inconsistent in some third-party apps, so keep the press-and-hold method as a backup.
How to type a long dash on Android
The press-and-hold gesture works on Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, and most others:
- Tap ?123 for the symbols layer.
- Press and hold the hyphen – key.
- Choose — (or the en dash –) from the popup.
Make it automatic (best if you use dashes a lot)
Set up a shortcut once and a short code expands into an em dash from then on:
- iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement → +. Put — in the Phrase field and something like
mdash(orxx) in the Shortcut field. Typing that code then inserts an em dash anywhere in iOS. - Android (Gboard): open Gboard’s settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, pick your language, and add — with a shortcut word. Gboard then offers the em dash as a suggestion in the strip when you type your code.
Hyphen vs en dash vs em dash
These three marks look similar but do different jobs:
| Mark | Name | Length | Used for | On a phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Hyphen | Shortest | Joining words: mother-in-law, well-known | Tap the hyphen key |
| – | En dash | Medium | Ranges: 9–5, 2020–2024, London–Paris | Hold hyphen → slide to – |
| — | Em dash | Longest | A break in a sentence — like this — or in place of a colon | Hold hyphen → slide to — |
Technical reference: the em dash is U+2014 (— / — in HTML) and the en dash is U+2013 (– / –).
For desktop shortcuts (Windows Alt code, Mac Option keys) and the full breakdown, see our guide on how to type an em dash.
Troubleshooting
- Holding the hyphen does nothing. Make sure you’re on the numbers/symbols layer (123 / ?123) and that you hold the key rather than tapping it.
- It keeps typing a normal hyphen. You’re tapping too quickly — hold until the popup appears, then slide to the dash.
- My — turned into a short dash, not a long one. That’s the en dash from Smart Punctuation. Between numbers (like 10–12) it produces an en dash; between words it produces an em dash. For the long dash, hold the hyphen key and pick — directly.
- No popup on a third-party keyboard. Some keyboards handle long-press differently. Switch to your phone’s default keyboard, or copy the dash from the box above.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a long dash on an iPhone?
Tap the 123 key, then press and hold the hyphen (-) key. Slide to the longest dash (—) in the popup menu. The middle option is the en dash (–).
How do I type an em dash on Android?
Tap the ?123 symbols key, press and hold the hyphen (-) key, then choose the em dash (—) from the popup. This works in Gboard and most Android keyboards.
How do I get a dash longer than a hyphen on my phone?
Press and hold the hyphen (-) key instead of tapping it. The popup menu will usually offer both the en dash (–) and the longer em dash (—).
How do I type a dash quickly on my phone?
Set up a Text Replacement shortcut:
iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
Android: Use Gboard’s Personal Dictionary or text shortcut feature
This lets you type a short code that automatically expands into an em dash (—).
What is the difference between – and — on a phone?
The en dash (–) is typically used for ranges, such as 9–5 or pages 10–20.
The em dash (—) is used to create a break in a sentence—like this—or to add emphasis.
Why did my double hyphen turn into a short dash?
Your device may have converted the double hyphen into an en dash (–) using Smart Punctuation. This commonly happens when the hyphens appear between numbers. If you want the longer em dash (—), press and hold the hyphen key and select it directly, or type two hyphens between words in apps that automatically convert them.
Recap
Press and hold the hyphen key and slide to — on either phone. On iPhone, — auto-converts and you can dictate “em dash”. If you use dashes often, set a Text Replacement so a short code types it for you.
Written by Igor R. Tested on iOS and Android (Gboard). Last updated June 2026. The em dash is U+2014 in the Unicode Standard.