How to write Unicode characters to the console?

Question

I was wondering if it was possible, in a console application, to write characters like ℃ using .NET. When I try to write this character, the console outputs a question mark.

Answer 1

It's likely that your output encoding is set to ASCII. Try using this before sending output:

Console.OutputEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8;

(MSDN link to supporting documentation.)

And here's a little console test app you may find handy:

C#

using System;
using System.Text;

public static class ConsoleOutputTest {
    public static void Main() {
        Console.OutputEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8;
        for (var i = 0; i <= 1000; i++) {
            Console.Write(Strings.ChrW(i));
            if (i % 50 == 0) { // break every 50 chars
                Console.WriteLine();
            }
        }
        Console.ReadKey();
    }
}

VB.NET

imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
imports System

public module ConsoleOutputTest 
    Sub Main()
        Console.OutputEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8
        dim i as integer
        for i = 0 to 1000
            Console.Write(ChrW(i))
            if i mod 50 = 0 'break every 50 chars 
                Console.WriteLine()
            end if
        next
    Console.ReadKey()
    End Sub
end module

It's also possible that your choice of Console font does not support that particular character. Click on the Windows Tool-bar Menu (icon like C:.) and select Properties -> Font. Try some other fonts to see if they display your character properly:

Answer 2

I found some elegant solution on MSDN

System.Console.Write('\uXXXX') //XXXX is hex Unicode for character

This simple program writes ℃ right on the screen.

using System;

public class Test
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Console.Write('\u2103'); //℃ character code
    }
}

Answer 3

Console.OutputEncoding Property

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.console.outputencoding

Note that successfully displaying Unicode characters to the console requires the following:

• The console must use a TrueType font, such as Lucida Console or Consolas, to display characters.

Answer 4

Besides Console.OutputEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8;

for some characters you need to install extra fonts (ie. Chinese).

In Windows 10 first go to Region & language settings and install support for required language:

After that you can go to Command Prompt Proporties (or Defaults if you like) and choose some font that supports your language (like KaiTi in Chinese case):

Now you are set to go:

Answer 5

This works for me:

Console.OutputEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.Default;

To display some of the symbols, it's required to set Command Prompt's font to Lucida Console:

1. Open Command Prompt;

2. Right click on the top bar of the Command Prompt;

3. Click Properties;

4. If the font is set to Raster Fonts, change it to Lucida Console.