How to Type Accented Letters (Windows, Mac, Phone)
Every method below produces a real, standard character — not a workaround or a lookalike symbol. Pick whichever fits the device you’re actually using.
On Windows: Alt Codes
Hold the Alt key and type the 4-digit code on your keyboard’s numeric keypad (a laptop without a separate numpad may need Num Lock enabled on the embedded number keys, or won’t support this method at all).
- á = Alt+0225, Á = Alt+0193
- é = Alt+0233, É = Alt+0201
- í = Alt+0237, Í = Alt+0205
- ó = Alt+0243, Ó = Alt+0211
- ú = Alt+0250, Ú = Alt+0218
- ñ = Alt+0241, Ñ = Alt+0209
- ü = Alt+0252, Ü = Alt+0220
- ç = Alt+0231, Ç = Alt+0199
These codes work because á, é, í, ó, ú, ñ, ü, and ç are all part of the older Windows-1252 codepage. Letters outside that set — like š, ś, or ş — don’t have a simple Alt code; see the note on those below.
On Mac: Option-Key Shortcuts
Press and release Option plus a key first, then type the letter (add Shift for a capital).
- Option+E, then the letter → á, é, í, ó, ú (acute accent)
- Option+N, then N → ñ
- Option+U, then the letter → ü, ö, ä (umlaut/diaeresis)
- Option+` (grave), then the letter → à, è, ì, ò, ù
- Option+I, then the letter → â, ê, î, ô, û (circumflex)
- Option+C → ç directly, no second key needed
On iPhone and Android
Press and hold the base letter on the on-screen keyboard — a small popup menu of accented variants appears above it. Slide to the one you want and release. This works for every commonly accented letter on both platforms without any special setup.
In Microsoft Word or Google Docs
Use Insert > Symbol (Word) or Insert > Special characters (Google Docs) to browse and click any accented letter. Word also supports typing the character’s 4-digit Unicode hex code, then pressing Alt+X immediately after — this method works for accented letters that don’t have a simple Alt-code, like š (type 0161, then Alt+X).
What to Do When There’s No Simple Shortcut
Some accented letters — š, ś, ş, ž, and others from Central/Eastern European and Turkish — were never included in the older Windows-1252 codepage that Alt-codes and Mac Option-shortcuts are built on. For those, your realistic options are: switch to that language’s keyboard layout in your system settings, use Word’s Alt+X Unicode method, or simply copy the character directly.
The Fastest Option for Any of These
Open the Accent Letters Generator, find the letter you need, and click to copy — no keyboard shortcuts, no layout switching, works the same on any device.
FAQ
Why doesn’t Alt+0233 work on my laptop?
Alt codes need a numeric keypad, or Num Lock enabled on an embedded number pad. Many slim laptops lack both, which is the single most common reason this method fails.
Do Alt codes and Option-key shortcuts produce the same character?
Yes — both methods insert the identical, standard Unicode character. There’s no difference in the result, only in how you get there.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for every accented letter?
No — only the letters included in the older Windows-1252 codepage have simple Alt-codes or Mac Option-shortcuts. Letters like š, ś, or ş need a different method, covered above.
What’s the easiest method if I just need one letter, once?
Copy-pasting from the Accent Letters Generator is faster than memorizing a code you’ll rarely use again.
Do these methods work the same in every app?
Alt-codes and Option-shortcuts work system-wide on Windows and Mac respectively, in any app that accepts text input. Touch-and-hold works the same way across virtually all iPhone and Android apps.
More Accented Letters
Browse individual letter guides: E With an Accent, N With an Accent, S With an Accent, or the full Accent Letters Generator.
