Another option is using Alt codes or the Character Map tool for manual entry of accented characters. After Windows updates, keyboard settings may reset, so it’s important to check that the correct layout is still active after major changes.
1. Use the Windows Character Map
Windows features a built-in Character Map that provides a wide selection of characters from various languages. Users can easily search for any character they need, discover its ASCII code, or copy it to their clipboard for pasting as needed. This Character Map includes all the accented characters a user might require.
2. Type accented characters using their Alt codes
You can use ASCII codes (or Windows Alt codes) to type accented characters on Windows computers. Each accented character has a unique Alt code, allowing you to enter it into any field that processes ASCII codes. If you know the Alt code, typing these characters is straightforward.
3. Type accented characters using keyboard shortcuts
You can type accented characters on Windows using keyboard shortcuts. Windows provides shortcuts for all five accent types. Typing a shortcut for a specific accent along with the corresponding English letter gives you the desired accented character. A sample key sequence would be Ctrl + ` + e to type è or Ctrl + Shift + ~ + Shift + N to type Ñ.
4. Switch to a different keyboard layout
Switching to a different keyboard layout, like the United States-International layout, allows easy typing of accented characters using specific key combinations. This simplifies typing accents like á, é, í, and ñ without using Alt codes or the Character Map, making multilingual typing more efficient. Once you have multiple input languages or keyboard layouts selected, a language selector appears in your computer’s Notification Area. Click it to switch to the language with the accented character you need, type the character, and then switch back to your usual input language. For example, to type a lowercase acute e (é), click the language selector in your taskbar, switch to Spanish (Mexico), press the ‘ key, then press e. The accented e will appear.
