How to Type French Accents

You don't need to buy a French keyboard or any software to type French accents. There are several different ways to type them on Windows, Apple, and Linux computers.

Typing French Accents in Windows

You have several options, based on your computer and current keyboard:

• If you currently use the English-US keyboard layout, the international keyboard is far and away your best option for typing accents. It is not a separate keyboard, just a Windows setting.


• If you use an English-UK keyboard, the UK extended keyboard is the best.


• Your other options are the French keyboard, the Canadian French keyboard, and ALT codes.

Typing French Accents on an Apple

Depending on your OS, you can choose between:

• Option key accents


• KeyCaps


• Special character palette


• Setting the language of your OS to French

Windows: International Keyboard

For U.S. English keyboard users, the international keyboard (which is not a physical keyboard, but rather a simple Control Panel setting) is the easiest and most convenient method for typing French accents because it maintains the QWERTY layout, with just a few changes and additions:

• To type accent grave (à, è, etc), type ` (to the left of 1) then the vowel.


• Accent aigu (é), type ' (single quote) then e.


• Cédille (ç), type ' then c.


• Circonflexe (ê), type ^ (shift + 6) then e.


• Tréma (ö), type " (shift + ') then o.


• To type French quotation marks « » use ctrl + alt + [ and ], respectively.

Note: The minor disadvantage of the international keyboard is that when you want to type the "helping" character (e.g., single or double quotes) by itself rather than above a vowel, you have to type the symbol then hit the space bar. For example, to type c'est, type c then ' then hit the spacebar then type e s t. It takes a little while to get used to typing that extra space when you just want to type ' or "

If you are plagued by strangeness such as cést when you try to type c'est, re-read the note above.

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Windows: UK Extended

If you currently use a UK keyboard, you will probably find the UK extended keyboard the easiest way to type French accents. The keyboard layout will be maintained, but you can type most accents with the AltGr key, which is located to the right of the spacebar.

• To type accent grave (à, è, etc), type ` (to the left of 1) then the vowel.


• Accent aigu (é), click AltGr and e at the same time.


• Cédille (ç), click AltGr and c at the same time.


• Circonflexe (ê), click AltGr and ^ at the same time, then the vowel.


• Tréma (ö) click AltGr and " at the same time, then the vowel.

In order to use the UK extended keyboard to type French accents, you need to select that keyboard layout.

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Windows: French keyboard

The layout of the French keyboard, known as AZERTY, is somewhat different than the layouts of other keyboards. If you're used to QWERTY, I recommend that you use the international keyboard.

• To type anything with a circumflex (â, ê, etc), type ^ then the vowel


• For a tréma, (ä, ë, etc), type ¨ and the vowel

In order to use the French keyboard to type French accents, you need to select that keyboard layout.

Canadian French Keyboard

The layout of this keyboard is similar to QWERTY, making it somewhat simpler if that is what you are used to (though I still believe that the international keyboard is better).

• To type an acute accent (é), type ´ (next to the right-hand shift key) and then e


• To type a grave accent (à, è, ù), type ' (apostrophe / single quote) then the vowel


• The circumflex ˆ and tréma ¨ are in the upper-right corner, side by side next to the enter key


• For ç, type ¸ (left of "enter") and then c

In order to use the Canadian French keyboard to type French accents, you need to select that keyboard layout.

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Windows: Selecting a Keyboard Layout

In order to use one of these alternate keyboard layouts, you need to add it to Windows. Once you've done this, you can either set it as your default keyboard, or use alt plus shift to toggle between two or more layouts. The way to do this is slightly different for each operating system.

1. Open Control Panel


2. Under "Clock, Language, and Region," click "Change input methods"


3. Click "Options" to the right of your language


4. Click "Add an input method"


5. Scroll down to the language you want to add, click + next to it, then select the layout*


6. Click OK in each dialog window.

1. Open Control Panel


2. Under "Clock, Language, and Region," click "Change keyboards or other input methods"


3. Click "Change keyboards"


4. Click Add


5. Scroll down to the language you want to add, click + next to it, then select the layout*


6. Click OK in each dialog window.


7. To use the layout, click the language input button on the taskbar (it probably says EN) and select it.

1. Open Control Panel


2. If in Classic View, click "Control Panel Home" in upper-left corner


3. Under "Clock, Language, and Region," click "Change keyboards or other input methods"


4. Click "Change keyboards"


5. Click "Add"


6. Scroll down to the language you want to add, click + next to it, then select the layout*


7. Click OK in each dialog window.

1. Open Control Panel


2. Double-click "Regional and Language Options"


3. Click "Languages"


4. Click "Details"


5. Click "Add"


6. Under "Input Language," pick the language you want to add*


7. Under "Keyboard layout/IME" make your selection


8. Click OK in each dialog window.

1. Open Control Panel


2. Double-click "Keyboard"


3. Click "Language"


4. Click "Properties," "Settings," or "Details" (whichever you see)


5. Click "Add"


6. Pick the layout you want to add*


7. Click OK in each dialog window.

1. Open Control Panel (via Start menu or My Computer)


2. Double-click "Keyboard"


3. Click "Input Locales"


4. Click "Change"


5. Click "Add"


6. Pick the layout you want to add*


7. Click OK in each dialog window.

International Keyboard: English (United States), US-Int'l UK Extended Keyboard: English (UK - extended) French Keyboard: French (Standard) French Canadian Keyboard: French (Canadian)

Windows: ALT codes

The best way to type accents on a PC is by using the international keyboard, which requires a simple control panel configuration - there is no keyboard to purchase or software to download.

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Apple: Option Key and KeyCaps

Note: In these instructions, "and" means to keep holding the option key and the first key listed while typing the second. "Then" means to release the option key and the first key before typing the second.

acute accent é Hold option key and e then e

cedilla ç Hold option key and c

oe ligature œ Hold option key and q

To type any of the above as capital letters, add shift key to the first step. So for É, hold shift key, option key, and e, then e.

French quotation marks « Hold option key and \

Euro symbol € Hold option key and shift key and 2

KeyCaps (OS9 and below) is similar, but it gives you a keyboard to click.

1. Click on the apple on the top left of the screen


2. Open KeyCaps (a little keyboard will appear on the desktop)


3. Hold down the option key - the accents will appear and you can click on them with the mouse.


4. For example, to type ù, hold option, click `, type u. The accented character will appear.

Please note that I don't use an Apple and that these instructions were provided to me by Apple users. If there are mistakes, please let me know.

Apple: Special Character Palette

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Apple: French OS

Character Palette (Ubuntu 10.04)

Right-click on the top bar and click on "Add to Panel," select and add "Character Palette." The small arrow on the left will give a choice of palettes which you can modify to contain any accented or other character required. Left-click a character, then hold down Control Key and type V to insert it at the cursor position.Compose Key

Specify a particular unused key (e.g., the Windows key) to be the Compose Key, then you can hold down Compose Key and type e` to get è, or o" to get ö. The combinations are pretty intuitive. Where to specify the Compose Key changes from system to system. On a SuSE installation, go to Control Center > Accessibility Options > Keyboard Properties > Options > Compose Key option.Please note that I don't use Linux and that these instructions were provided to me by Linux users. If there are mistakes or omissions, please let me know.

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If you have an Android tablet or smart phone, you can download the app Smart Keyboard to get access to accented letters.

1. Download the trial version or pro version of the app and install it on your device


2. Go to "Language and keyboard" and check the "Smart Keyboard" box


3. Go to "Settings > Language > Current Language" and choose "English (International)"


4. Go any app with a text box and press inside it in order to activate a popup menu. Choose "Input Method" and then "Smart Keyboard"

You're all set! Now you can type accents by pressing and holding the button for the unaccented letter for a moment. A list of accented letters will pop up for you to choose from.