How To Type Accents On Windows

Some words cannot be written correctly without an accent mark. If your goal is to type like a professional, not knowing how to add accents could be a major setback.

It is feasible to find the word on Google and copy it to your clipboard as a temporary workaround, but that’s scarcely efficient in the long run.

This guide covers everything you need to know about typing accents on Windows. By the end, you will have mastered accenting while typing on your keyboard.

Let’s take a closer look.

Method 1: Use Windows’ Emoji Panel

Thanks to the rise and development of the emoji culture, Windows 10 and 11 finally gained a user-friendly and convenient method of sending emotes. Even better, you can use this panel to insert accented letters while chatting or creating documents easily.

You should note, however, that early versions of Windows 10 are unlikely to have this feature available. You might need to download the latest updates to use this method.

Note: If Windows 10 fails to update on your PC, we have a helpful guide on how to identify and overcome the issue.

Here’s the method it operates:

1. Press Windows + . on your keyboard simultaneously to open the emoji panel. At first, you will only see emotes, which isn’t what we’re looking for but don’t worry.
   
2. Click on the omega symbol (Ω) at the top, then the Latin symbol (Ç) on the navigation bar at the bottom to access the accent section.
   
3. Scroll down until you find the character you want to use. Click it as many times as you want to add it to your message or document. It’s that simple.

When you no longer need the panel, you can close it and re-open it whenever you need to insert characters again.

This panel is also very useful if you need to use international currency symbols, math symbols, and other signs and characters that we don’t use daily.

Note: This method requires you to use the Windows button on your keyboard for ease of access. If this doesn’t work for you, we have a helpful and detailed guide on how to fix your Windows key.

Method 2: Use Windows’ Character Map

Even if your Windows 10 updates work as intended, some users prefer keeping their operating system at the most basic level.

This is a matter of personal preference, but it’s also possible that some Windows updates will slow down or “bloat” your system.

With that in consideration, if you don’t have the Emoji panel incorporated in the subsequent updates, there’s still an effortless way to type accents on Windows.

Here’s how to do it using the Windows Character Map:

1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard to access the Run function.
   Alternative Approach: You can also click the search button (magnifying glass) at the bottom-left corner of your taskbar, type Run, and press OK or hit Enter on your keyboard to open the first result.
   
   
2. With the Run window open, type in charmap and press OK.
   
3. The charmap will now open. You can use it to select any character, or a combination of characters, then copy and paste them anywhere you need.
   

The charmap is slightly less easy to use compared to the emoji panel described in the first method. However, it also offers far more options and has an advanced view which is preferred by experienced users.

The charmap enables you to select the font you desire by using a drop-down menu.

If you find using the charmap useful and effective, you might also want to take a look at the new, updated UWP replacement available on the Microsoft store.

Although this method is fine to use once in a while, it still isn’t the fastest and most convenient way to type accents on Windows if you need to do it regularly.

Take a look at the next section, where we explore using keyboard shortcuts.

Method 3: Use Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows 10 has a lot going on behind the scenes. Thankfully, the developers considered every detail when creating the operating system.

If your job requires you to type in accents and symbols regularly, the most efficient method is to use Windows keyboard shortcuts. This is also the most difficult method to master, as there are many possible button combinations.

Fortunately, there is a detailed, in-depth list by Microsoft that showcases all the keyboard shortcuts for international characters.

If you have a double-monitor setup, you can keep this window open while typing or simply print it out and keep a hard copy close to you while working or chatting with other people.

Method 4: Use ASCII Codes

This might be the most complex technique mentioned, but it’s still important to note because you may only recall a couple of particular codes for the characters you often utilize.

Using ASCII codes to type accents on Windows may seem daunting at first, but in truth, it isn’t very complicated.

If you already utilized the charmap mentioned in the second method of this guide, you have already employed ASCII codes.

Here’s how they work and how to use them:

1. Enable Num Lock on your keyboard, as ASCII shortcuts will only work if you use the numbers on your numeric keypad.
2. Open the document or chat box in which you wish to type.
3. Press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard, then press 164 on your numeric keypad without releasing the Alt key.
4. Release the Alt key, and the character ñ should appear.

You can repeat this for various other characters. To discover the combinations you can use, look at one of the many available ASCII and Unicode cheat sheets.

Conclusion

The best thing about typing accents on Windows 10 or Windows 11 is that you won’t need to download or install anything that’s considered third-party and potentially dangerous to your system. There are plenty of methods available, and we covered them all in this guide.

Go ahead and use this knowledge to type clearer sentences and display your professionalism when communicating with individuals from other parts of the world.