Windows Alt Codes for Accents: The Complete List
Typing accent marks on Windows doesn’t have to be complicated. Alt codes provide a quick way to insert accented characters without switching keyboard layouts or hunting through character maps. Simply hold the Alt key and type the numeric code on your number pad, and the accented character appears instantly.
This comprehensive guide covers all the essential Alt codes you need for typing accents in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and other languages.
For other platforms, see our guides for typing accents on Mac, iPhone and iPad, or Chromebooks.
How to Use Alt Codes on Windows
Using Alt codes is straightforward once you know the method:
- Make sure Num Lock is on – Your number pad must be active
- Hold down the Alt key – Keep it pressed throughout
- Type the numeric code – Use only the number pad on the right side of your keyboard (not the numbers at the top)
- Release the Alt key – Your accented character appears
Important note: Alt codes only work with the numeric keypad. Laptop users without a dedicated number pad may need to enable the Fn key and use the embedded numeric keypad (usually marked on certain letter keys).
Common Spanish Accent Alt Codes
Spanish uses five accented vowels plus the special ñ character. These are among the most frequently searched Alt codes.
| Character | Alt Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| á | Alt + 160 | Lowercase a with acute accent |
| é | Alt + 130 | Lowercase e with acute accent |
| í | Alt + 161 | Lowercase i with acute accent |
| ó | Alt + 162 | Lowercase o with acute accent |
| ú | Alt + 163 | Lowercase u with acute accent |
| Á | Alt + 0193 | Uppercase A with acute accent |
| É | Alt + 144 | Uppercase E with acute accent |
| Í | Alt + 0205 | Uppercase I with acute accent |
| Ó | Alt + 0211 | Uppercase O with acute accent |
| Ú | Alt + 0218 | Uppercase U with acute accent |
| ñ | Alt + 164 | Lowercase n with tilde |
| Ñ | Alt + 165 | Uppercase N with tilde |
| ü | Alt + 129 | Lowercase u with umlaut |
| Ü | Alt + 154 | Uppercase U with umlaut |
| ¿ | Alt + 168 | Inverted question mark |
| ¡ | Alt + 173 | Inverted exclamation mark |
French Accent Alt Codes
French uses several types of accents including acute, grave, circumflex, and the cedilla.
| Character | Alt Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| à | Alt + 133 | Lowercase a with grave accent |
| è | Alt + 138 | Lowercase e with grave accent |
| ù | Alt + 151 | Lowercase u with grave accent |
| À | Alt + 0192 | Uppercase A with grave accent |
| È | Alt + 0200 | Uppercase E with grave accent |
| Ù | Alt + 0217 | Uppercase U with grave accent |
| â | Alt + 131 | Lowercase a with circumflex |
| ê | Alt + 136 | Lowercase e with circumflex |
| î | Alt + 140 | Lowercase i with circumflex |
| ô | Alt + 147 | Lowercase o with circumflex |
| û | Alt + 150 | Lowercase u with circumflex |
| Â | Alt + 0194 | Uppercase A with circumflex |
| Ê | Alt + 0202 | Uppercase E with circumflex |
| Î | Alt + 0206 | Uppercase I with circumflex |
| Ô | Alt + 0212 | Uppercase O with circumflex |
| Û | Alt + 0219 | Uppercase U with circumflex |
| ç | Alt + 135 | Lowercase c with cedilla |
| Ç | Alt + 128 | Uppercase C with cedilla |
| ë | Alt + 137 | Lowercase e with umlaut |
| ï | Alt + 139 | Lowercase i with umlaut |
| ü | Alt + 129 | Lowercase u with umlaut |
| Ë | Alt + 0203 | Uppercase E with umlaut |
| Ï | Alt + 0207 | Uppercase I with umlaut |
| Ü | Alt + 154 | Uppercase U with umlaut |
| æ | Alt + 145 | Lowercase ae ligature |
| Æ | Alt + 146 | Uppercase AE ligature |
| œ | Alt + 0156 | Lowercase oe ligature |
| Π| Alt + 0140 | Uppercase OE ligature |
German Accent Alt Codes
German primarily uses umlauts and the special ß character.
| Character | Alt Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ä | Alt + 132 | Lowercase a with umlaut |
| ö | Alt + 148 | Lowercase o with umlaut |
| ü | Alt + 129 | Lowercase u with umlaut |
| Ä | Alt + 142 | Uppercase A with umlaut |
| Ö | Alt + 153 | Uppercase O with umlaut |
| Ü | Alt + 154 | Uppercase U with umlaut |
| ß | Alt + 225 | Lowercase sharp s (eszett) |
Portuguese and Italian Accent Alt Codes
Both languages share many accent marks with Spanish and French, but here are some additional characters.
| Character | Alt Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ã | Alt + 0227 | Lowercase a with tilde |
| õ | Alt + 0245 | Lowercase o with tilde |
| Ã | Alt + 0195 | Uppercase A with tilde |
| Õ | Alt + 0213 | Uppercase O with tilde |
Other Useful Accent Alt Codes
| Character | Alt Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ý | Alt + 0253 | Lowercase y with acute accent |
| Ý | Alt + 0221 | Uppercase Y with acute accent |
| ñ | Alt + 164 | Lowercase n with tilde |
| Ñ | Alt + 165 | Uppercase N with tilde |
| å | Alt + 134 | Lowercase a with ring |
| Å | Alt + 143 | Uppercase A with ring |
| ø | Alt + 0248 | Lowercase o with stroke |
| Ø | Alt + 0216 | Uppercase O with stroke |
Troubleshooting Alt Codes
Alt codes aren’t working? Here are common solutions:
- Check Num Lock – Make sure it’s turned on
- Use the number pad – The top row numbers won’t work
- Try four-digit codes – If three-digit codes fail, add a leading zero (e.g., Alt + 0233 instead of Alt + 233)
- Check your keyboard – Some keyboards have different layouts
- Laptop users – Enable your Fn key to access the embedded number pad
For laptops without a number pad:
- Look for numbers printed on keys (usually J, K, L, U, I, O, etc.)
- Press and hold Fn + Alt
- Type the code using these embedded numbers
- Release both keys
Alternative Methods for Typing Accents on Windows
If Alt codes feel cumbersome, consider these alternatives:
Method 1: International Keyboard Enable the US International keyboard layout in Windows settings. This allows you to type accent marks by pressing the accent key followed by the letter.
Method 2: Character Map Open the Character Map app (search for it in Windows), select your character, and copy-paste it.
Method 3: Windows Key + Period Press Windows key + period (.) to open the emoji and symbols panel, which includes accented characters.
Method 4: AutoCorrect Set up AutoCorrect rules in Microsoft Word or other applications to automatically replace text like “e'” with “é”.
Quick Reference: Most Common Alt Codes
Keep this short list handy for the most frequently used accented characters:
- é = Alt + 130
- á = Alt + 160
- ñ = Alt + 164
- ü = Alt + 129
- ç = Alt + 135
- à = Alt + 133
- è = Alt + 138
Printing This Guide
This guide works great as a printed reference sheet. Simply print this page and keep it near your computer for quick access to Alt codes whenever you need them.
Conclusion
Mastering Alt codes takes a bit of practice, but once you memorize the codes for your most-used characters, typing accents becomes second nature. Whether you’re writing in Spanish, French, German, or another language, these Alt codes ensure you can type proper accented characters quickly and accurately on any Windows computer.
Bookmark this page for easy reference, and you’ll never have to search for Alt codes again!