How to Type French Accents in Windows

Through the use of the "Alt" key and the number pad, French accents are created in Microsoft Windows.

At first glance, a standard American keyboard doesn't seem to contain any of the accents necessary for typing French, but by using the "Alt" key and a simple series of numbers, all French accents can be created in any Windows application.

Instructions

1. Set the number lock, or "Num Lock," on your keyboard number pad for both desktop and laptop computers. The only way for the "Alt" codes to work is when the number lock is set.

2. Open the application of choice, and type all letters of the French word previous to the accented letter. For example, an informal way to say hello in France is allô. Type a-l-l.

3. Scan the list below to find the letter and corresponding code needed for the French word you are spelling. For our example, the ô in allô, the code is "Alt"+0244.

   À "Alt"+0192

   Â "Alt"+0194

   Ä "Alt"+0196

   È "Alt"+0200

   É "Alt"+0201

   Ê "Alt"+0202

   Ë "Alt"+0203

   Î "Alt"+0206

   Ï "Alt"+0207

   " "Alt"+0212

   ' "Alt"+0140

   Ù "Alt"+0217

   Û "Alt"+0219

   Ü "Alt"+0220

   Ÿ "Alt"+0159

   à "Alt"+0224

   â "Alt"+0226

   ä "Alt"+0228

   è "Alt"+0232

   é "Alt"+0233

   ê "Alt"+0234

   ë "Alt"+0235

   î "Alt"+0238

   ï "Alt"+0239

   ô "Alt"+0244

   œ "Alt"+0156

   ù "Alt"+0249

   û "Alt"+0251

   ü "Alt"+0252

   ÿ "Alt"+0255

   Ç "Alt"+0199

   ç "Alt"+0231

4. Press and hold "Alt" and type the four-digit code on the keyboard number pad. In our example, type 0-2-4-4 while holding down the "Alt" key to create the ô in allô.

References

• Penn State University: Computing with Accents, Symbols and Foreign Scripts
• Microsoft Support:Accented International Characters
• Alt Codes: French Alt Codes