How to Type Accents in French on Windows, Mac, & Mobile

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Master the keyboard codes to insert French accents

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: March 21, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Copy & Paste
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• Windows 11
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• Windows 10
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• Mac
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• Android, iPhone, & iPad
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• Video
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• Expert Q&A

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Need to type letters with French accents but don't have a French keyboard? Don't worry–you can easily insert French accents, including l'accent eigu, grave, circonflexe, tréma, and la cédille using hotkeys, international keyboard layouts, and other tricks on your PC, Mac, phone, or tablet's English keyboard. Read on to learn how!

Making French Accents on a Keyboard

• On Windows, you can install the US, UK, or Canadian international keyboard to insert French accented letters quickly.
• On a Mac, press and hold a letter on the keyboard to bring up the character selector, then select the French accented version of that letter.
• On a phone or tablet, press and hold a letter on the keyboard, then drag your finger to the French accented version to insert it.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Copy & Paste French Accents

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1. 1
   A quick way to type French accents is to paste them from somewhere else. If you just need one or two accents to send a message or add a word to a document, this list of copy-and-paste French characters contains all the possible French characters you don't see on your PC or Mac keyboard:

   • L’accent aigu: é / É
   • L’accent grave: è à ù / È À Ù
   • La cédille: ç / Ç
   • L’accent circonflexe: â ê î ô û / Â Ê Î Ô Û
   • L’accent tréma: ë ï / Ë Ï
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Type French Accents in Windows 11

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1. 
   1
   Try using a shortcut key combination first. If you're typing in a word processing app like Microsoft Word or similar, you can press a combination of keys to type French-accented characters. This is helpful for when you don't need to type in French very often. Here's the list of shortcuts:

   • é: Press and hold Control+', and then type an e.
   • è à ù: Press and hold Control+`, then press the key for the desired vowel.
   • ç: Press Control+, and then type a c.
   • â ê î ô û: Press Control+^, then press the key for the desired vowel.
   • ë ï: Press Control+:, then press the key for the desired vowel.
2. 2
   Open the Start

   

   menu and click Settings

   

   . If you need to type in French a little more often, you can use the International Keyboard. This keyboard lets you use fast keyboard shortcuts in any app to create accented characters without having to change your whole keyboard layout.
3. 3
   Click Time & language. This option is in the left panel.
4. 4
   Click Language & region. You'll find this option in the right panel.
5. 5
   Click ••• on your current display language and select Language options. You'll see the ellipsis on the right side of the language.
6. 6
   Click Add a keyboard. This is just beneath the Keyboards header next to "Installed keyboards."
7. 7
   Select an international keyboard. For example, if you're in the US or any other country and have your primary keyboard language set to an English one, select United States-International. In Canada, you can use the Canadian Multilingual Standard keyboard. This adds the keyboard to the "Keyboards" section, and you'll now see your default keyboard language appear in the taskbar.

   • Close the Settings window before you continue.
8. 
   8
   Open the app in which you need to type French accented letters. This can be a word processing app, a web browser, or any other app that allows typing.
9. 9
   Click your current keyboard language in the taskbar. It'll be in the bottom-right corner of the screen near the clock. The keyboard language is abbreviated–for example, click ENG US if you're using an English US keyboard.
10. 10
    Select the international keyboard. For example, if you installed the US international keyboard, click United States-International.
11. 
    11
    Type the accented letter. Any of these accents will work with upper and lower-case letters.

    • é: Type an apostrophe ' and then an e.
    • è à ù: Type a backquote ` (at the top-left corner of the keyboard, left of the "1" key) and then type the vowel.
    • ç: Type an apostrophe ' and then a c.
    • â ê î ô û: Press ⇧ Shift+6 to type a caret ^ and then type the vowel.
    • ë ï: Type a double-quote " and then the vowel.
    • When the international keyboard is enabled, your apostrophe and quote keys will work a little differently than normal. To type a regular apostrophe ' or ", you'll have to press the space bar right after.
12. 
    12
    Switch back to your normal keyboard. You'll usually only want to switch to this keyboard when you have to type in French. To switch back, click ENG INT in the taskbar and select your default language.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Type French Accents in Windows 10

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1. 
   1
   Try using a shortcut key combination first. If you're typing in a word processing app like Microsoft Word or similar, you can press a combination of keys to type French-accented characters. This is helpful for when you don't need to type in French very often. Here's the list of shortcuts:

   • é: Press and hold Control+', and then type an e.
   • è à ù: Press and hold Control+`, then press the key for the desired vowel.
   • ç: Press Control+, and then type a c.
   • â ê î ô û: Press Control+^, then press the key for the desired vowel.
   • ë ï: Press Control+:, then press the key for the desired vowel.
2. 
   2
   Open the Start

   

   menu and click Settings

   

   . If you need to type in French a little more often, you can use the International Keyboard. This keyboard lets you use fast keyboard shortcuts in any app to create accented characters without having to change your whole keyboard layout.
3. 
   3
   Click Time & Language. Look for the Time & Language icon in the third row of settings.
4. 4
   Click Language. You'll see it in the left panel.
5. 
   5
   Select your current language and click Options. This will allow you to add the international English keyboard layout, which contains all the French accents and characters you'll need.

   • If you prefer, you can also (or instead) add the French keyboard layout.
6. 
   6
   Scroll down and click + Add a keyboard. It's under the "Keyboards" header in the right panel. A list of keyboards will appear.
7. 
   7
   Click United States-International or UK International Keyboard in the menu. This adds the keyboard to the list under the "Keyboards" header.

   • If you prefer having the entire French keyboard, you can select a French option instead.
   • You can now close the Settings window.
8. 
   8
   Click your keyboard language on the taskbar. The language appears to the left of the clock in the taskbar, which usually runs along the bottom of the screen. A menu will expand.

   • For example, if you're using US English, click ENG US beside the clock.
9. 
   9
   Select ENG INTL. You are now using the international keyboard.
10. 
    10
    Open the app in which you need to type French accented letters. This can be a word processing app, a web browser, or any other app that allows typing.
11. 
    11
    Type the accented letter. Any of these accents will work with upper and lower-case letters.

    • é: Type an apostrophe ' and then an e.
    • è à ù: Type a backquote ` (at the top-left corner of the keyboard, left of the "1" key) and then type the vowel.
    • ç: Type an apostrophe ' and then a c.
    • â ê î ô û: Press ⇧ Shift+6 to type a caret ^ and then type the vowel.
    • ë ï: Type a double-quote " and then the vowel.
    • When the international keyboard is enabled, your apostrophe and quote keys will work a little differently than normal. To type a regular apostrophe ' or ", you'll have to press the space bar right after.
12. 
    12
    Switch back to your normal keyboard. You'll usually only want to switch to this keyboard when you have to type in French. To switch back, click ENG INT in the taskbar and select your default language.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Type French Accents on a Mac

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1. 
   1
   Open the app in which you need to type French accented letters. This can be a word processing app, a web browser, or any other app that allows typing.
2. 
   2
   Press and hold the key on which you want to add an accent. A menu with different accent options above the key will appear. Don't lift your finger from the key.
3. 
   3
   Press the number below the accent you want to use. You'll want to press the corresponding number while you're still holding the letter key down on the keyboard.

   • Alternatively, you can click the character to insert it.
4. 
   4
   Release your fingers from both keys. The selected accented letter now appears.

   • This method may not work in all apps, though it should work in most. If you're running into problems, you can use one of a combination of keystrokes to make the accents appear. Read on to learn how.
5. 
   5
   Use the ⌥ Option key to insert accents. If the previous steps didn't work in the app you're using, you can use these shortcuts instead:

   • é: Press ⌥ Option+e, then press e.
   • è à ù: Press ⌥ Option+`, then press the key for the desired vowel.
   • ç: Press ⌥ Option+C.
   • â ê î ô û: Press ⌥ Option+i, then press the key for the desired vowel.
   • ë ï: Press ⌥ Option+u, then press the key for the desired vowel.
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Type French Accents on a Phone or Tablet

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1. 
   1
   Tap the field in which you want to type a French-accented letter. This springs open your keyboard.

   • Typing accented characters is generally the same regardless of the keyboard app. You should be able to use this method on any Android, iPhone, or iPad.
   • If you're using the SwiftKey keyboard, you'll need to enable accented characters first. Here's how:
     • Open the SwiftKey app and Layout & keys.
     • Slide the "Accented Characters" switch to the On (purple) position.
2. 
   2
   Tap and hold the key with the letter that needs the accent. In about a second, you'll see all possible accents for that letter. Don't lift your finger from the screen.
3. 
   3
   Drag your finger to the accented letter. This highlights the selected letter.
4. 
   4
   Lift your finger from the screen. The selected accented letter will appear.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How do I put an accent over a letter?

  

  Marc Crabbé
  Google Suite Expert

  Marc is a translator and International Project Manager, who has been working in Google Suite for project management since 2011.

  

  Marc Crabbé

  Google Suite Expert

  Expert Answer

  As French keyboards aren't always available out of the French-speaking countries, consider using a Spanish keyboard if available as it allows you to type most accents. Since I use a Spanish keyboard, I have almost all of the accents I need for special French characters, although I don't have dedicated keys as I would on a real French keyboard.

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