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How to type accents and special characters

The quickest way to type é, ñ, ü and ç on Windows, Mac, Chromebook and phones, without copying and pasting.

Keyboards and devices · · 5 min read

Most keyboards sold in English-speaking countries have no keys for accented letters, but every computer and phone can type them. Which method is fastest depends on how often you need them: an accent menu or a shortcut is fine for a name now and then, while an international keyboard layout is worth setting up if you write French, Spanish or German every day.

The quick answer

DeviceFastest built-in methodExample: é
MacPress and hold the letter, then press the number shownHold e, press 2
Windows (any program)Alt code on the numeric keypad, or the symbol panelAlt + 0233
Windows, in WordControl shortcut, then the letterCtrl+', then e
Windows or Chromebook with US InternationalRight Alt with the letterRight Alt+e
ChromebookPress and hold the letter to open the accents menuHold e, then pick é
iPhone, iPad or AndroidTouch and hold the letter, slide to the accentHold e, slide to é

On a Mac

Press and hold. Hold down a letter such as e and a small menu of accented versions appears. Press the number under the one you want, or move to it with the arrow keys and press Space. Letters with no accented forms show no menu.

Option dead keys. Faster once learned: press an Option combination for the accent, release, then type the letter. On the standard US layout:

AccentPress, then the letterResult
AcuteOption+Eé á í ó ú
GraveOption+`è à ù
CircumflexOption+Iê â î ô û
TildeOption+Nñ ã õ
UmlautOption+Uü ö ä ë

A few characters have their own Option key: Option+C gives ç, Option+S gives ß, Option+1 gives ¡ and Option+Shift+? gives ¿. To see every dead key on your layout, open the Keyboard Viewer and hold Option: dead keys are outlined in orange.

On Windows

Alt codes (works almost everywhere). Turn on Num Lock, hold Alt and type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. The number row above the letters does not work for this, so laptops without a keypad need another method.

CharacterAlt codeCharacterAlt code
é0233ç0231
è0232ß0223
á0225¿0191
ñ0241¡0161
ü0252€0128
ö0246°0176

The symbol panel. Press Windows+. while typing to open the emoji panel, then choose Symbols. It lists accented letters and punctuation, so it is handy on laptops without a keypad.

Word and Outlook shortcuts. In Microsoft Word, press a Control combination for the accent, release, then the letter: Ctrl+' then e gives é, Ctrl+` then a gives à, Ctrl+Shift+~ then n gives ñ, Ctrl+Shift+: then u gives ü, and Ctrl+, then c gives ç. You can also type a character's Unicode number, such as 20AC, and press Alt+X to turn it into €. These shortcuts belong to Word, so they do nothing in a browser.

US International layout (best for regular use). Add the "United States-International" keyboard in Settings under language and keyboard options. With it, Right Alt plus a letter types the accented version: Right Alt+e gives é, Right Alt+n gives ñ and Right Alt+y gives ü. The apostrophe and quotation mark become accent keys: ' then e gives é. The catch is that an ordinary apostrophe now needs ' followed by Space, which trips people up at first.

On a Chromebook

Hold down a letter to open the accents menu, press Tab or the right arrow to enter it, choose with the arrow keys and press Enter or Space. For regular use, add the "US International" keyboard in the Chromebook keyboard settings: then Right Alt+e gives é, Right Alt+n gives ñ, Right Alt+y gives ü and Right Alt+, gives ç.

On a phone or tablet

On iPhone, iPad and Android keyboards, touch and hold a letter until the accented versions appear, then slide your finger to the one you want and lift. If you write in two languages, add the second language's keyboard: it adds the right accents and autocorrect suggestions for that language, and you switch with the globe or language key.

Which method to learn

  • A few accented names a month: the press-and-hold menu (Mac, Chromebook, phone) or the Windows symbol panel. Nothing to remember.
  • Weekly, in Word: the Control shortcuts. Three or four cover most French and Spanish words.
  • Every day, in any program: the US International layout on Windows or Chromebook, or Option dead keys on a Mac. After a week they feel like normal typing.
  • Writing mainly in one other language: switch to that country's layout (French AZERTY, Spanish or German QWERTZ). See keyboard layouts explained for what changes.

Practise accents in a typing test

The French, Spanish and German typing tests use real accented text, so they are a good way to make a new method automatic. Each has an "Accents and special letters" switch: turn it off while you are still finding the keys, and on again once you can type them without stopping.

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