How to Type Characters with Accents on Windows

Typing accented characters on Windows is important for users working with languages like French, Spanish, or Portuguese. It can be difficult to type these characters on a standard US-English keyboard without the right settings. Many users stick with default keyboard layouts that don’t support accented characters. Installing a specialized layout, like the United States-International keyboard, makes adding accents easier.

Another option is using Alt codes or the Character Map tool for manual entry of accented characters. After Windows updates, keyboard settings may reset, so it’s important to check that the correct layout is still active after major changes.

1. Use the Windows Character Map

Windows features a built-in Character Map that provides a wide selection of characters from various languages. Users can easily search for any character they need, discover its ASCII code, or copy it to their clipboard for pasting as needed. This Character Map includes all the accented characters a user might require.

1. Open the Windows Character Map. You can do this by opening the Start Menu, searching for “character map“, and clicking the result titled Character Map. Alternatively, press the Windows Logo key + R, type charmap into the Run dialog, and press Enter.
   
   
2. In the Character Map, find the accented character you need and click on it for a closer look.
3. Click Select to add the character to the Characters to copy: field.
   
   
4. Click Copy to move the selected character to your clipboard. Paste it anywhere needed by pressing Ctrl + V.
   
   

2. Type accented characters using their Alt codes

You can use ASCII codes (or Windows Alt codes) to type accented characters on Windows computers. Each accented character has a unique Alt code, allowing you to enter it into any field that processes ASCII codes. If you know the Alt code, typing these characters is straightforward.

1. Place your cursor where you want to type the accented character.
2. Ensure Num Lock is on. Alt codes work when typed on your keyboard’s number pad. If you’re using a laptop without a number pad, use the numbers above the letter keys.
3. Press and hold the Alt key.
4. While holding Alt, type the Alt code for the desired accented character. You can find Alt codes for each character here:
   
   
   
   You can also find the Alt code in Windows Character Map by selecting the character to see its code in the bottom-right corner.
   
   
5. Release the Alt key. The accented character will appear on your screen.

3. Type accented characters using keyboard shortcuts

You can type accented characters on Windows using keyboard shortcuts. Windows provides shortcuts for all five accent types. Typing a shortcut for a specific accent along with the corresponding English letter gives you the desired accented character.

1. Press and hold the Ctrl key.
2. Press the corresponding key for the accent you need:
   • ` for grave accent
   • ‘ for acute accent
   • Shift + ^ for circumflex
   • Shift + ~ for tilde
   • Shift + : for umlaut
3. Type the letter you need. Use the Shift key before the letter for capitalization.

A sample key sequence would be Ctrl + ` + e to type è or Ctrl + Shift + ~ + Shift + N to type Ñ.

4. Switch to a different keyboard layout

Switching to a different keyboard layout, like the United States-International layout, allows easy typing of accented characters using specific key combinations. This simplifies typing accents like á, é, í, and ñ without using Alt codes or the Character Map, making multilingual typing more efficient.

1. Open the Start Menu and search for “language settings“.
2. Select the option titled Language settings.
3. Under Preferred languages, click Add a language.
   
   
4. Choose the language you need (e.g., Spanish (Mexico)) and click Next.
   
   
5. In the Install language features window, ensure Keyboard is selected, then click Install.
6. Once installed, use the language selector in the taskbar to switch between keyboard layouts as needed.

Once you have multiple input languages or keyboard layouts selected, a language selector appears in your computer’s Notification Area. Click it to switch to the language with the accented character you need, type the character, and then switch back to your usual input language. For example, to type a lowercase acute e (é), click the language selector in your taskbar, switch to Spanish (Mexico), press the ‘ key, then press e. The accented e will appear.