Need ü or Ü right now? You can copy either character here:
ü Ü
The quickest keyboard methods are:
| Device | Lowercase ü | Uppercase Ü |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Alt + 0252 | Alt + 0220 |
| Mac | Option + U, then U | Option + U, then Shift + U |
| iPhone or Android | Press and hold U | Tap Shift, then press and hold U |
Windows Alt codes require a numeric keypad. If your keyboard does not have one, use one of the alternatives below.
How to Type ü on Windows
Use the Windows Alt code
To type a lowercase ü:
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold down the left Alt key.
- Type 0252 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt.
For an uppercase Ü, follow the same steps using Alt + 0220.
Include the initial zero and use the numeric keypad—not the number row across the top of the keyboard. Microsoft lists 0252 and 0220 as the Windows codes for ü and Ü.
If your keyboard has no numeric keypad
The easiest solution is to copy ü or Ü from this page. You can also use the Accent Character Finder to locate and copy accented letters.
Windows also includes Character Map:
- Open the Start menu.
- Search for Character Map.
- Find and select ü or Ü.
- Choose Select, then Copy.
- Paste the character into your document.
This visual method is also useful if pressing several keys simultaneously is difficult.
In Microsoft Word and Outlook
Many desktop versions of Word and Outlook provide another shortcut:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + :, release the keys, and then press U for ü.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + :, release the keys, and then press Shift + U for Ü.
This is an application-specific shortcut, not a general Windows command.
With the US International keyboard
If the United States-International keyboard layout is enabled:
- Press the quotation-mark key, release it, and then press U for ü.
- Press the quotation-mark key, release it, and then press Shift + U for Ü.
The quotation-mark key becomes a “dead key”: Windows waits to see which letter you type next. To enter an ordinary quotation mark while using this layout, press the quotation-mark key and then the spacebar.
How to Type ü on Mac
With the standard ABC or U.S. input source:
- Press Option + U, release the keys, and then press U for ü.
- Press Option + U, release the keys, and then press Shift + U for Ü.
The first combination creates the two-dot mark. The second keystroke places it over the letter.
Use the press-and-hold menu
You can also press and hold U until the accent menu appears. Choose ü with your mouse, arrow keys or the number displayed beneath the character.
For uppercase Ü, turn on Shift or Caps Lock before holding the U key.
Apple notes that the accent menu is not available in every application. If holding U only repeats the letter, use the Option-key shortcut or Character Viewer instead.
Use Character Viewer
Character Viewer provides a visual alternative:
- Press Fn/Globe + E, or choose Edit → Emoji & Symbols.
- Search for u with diaeresis or umlaut.
- Select ü or Ü to insert it.
If Option + U does not work, check your active keyboard input source. Option-key combinations can change when a different layout is selected, and some applications assign their own commands to them.
How to Type ü on iPhone and iPad
- Press and hold the U key.
- When the character menu appears, slide your finger to ü.
- Release your finger.
For uppercase Ü, tap Shift before pressing and holding U.
How to Type ü on Android
On Gboard and many other Android keyboards:
- Press and hold U.
- Slide to ü.
- Release your finger.
If ü does not appear, the available characters may depend on your keyboard app and enabled languages. Try adding a German or Spanish keyboard, switching to Gboard, or copying the character from this page.
What Are the Two Dots Called?
The two dots above ü may be called an umlaut or a diaeresis, depending on what they do in the language.
The German umlaut
In German, the umlaut changes the sound of the vowel. The letters u and ü are not interchangeable.
Common examples include:
- über
- Tür
- Glück
- Küche
- München
If an umlaut cannot be entered because of a technical limitation, German sometimes substitutes ue for ü. For example, München may be written Muenchen. Using the actual ü is preferable whenever it is available.
See the complete guide to German umlauts and ß for the rest of the German special characters.
The Spanish diaeresis
In Spanish, the diaeresis shows that the U should be pronounced in the combinations güe and güi.
Examples include:
- pingüino
- vergüenza
- bilingüe
- lingüística
Without the two dots, the U in gue or gui is normally silent. The diaeresis therefore gives readers important pronunciation information.
The complete guide to Spanish accent marks explains how ü fits alongside á, é, í, ó, ú and ñ.
Don’t Confuse ü, ú and û
These are three different characters:
| Character | Mark | Common uses |
|---|---|---|
| ü | Umlaut or diaeresis | German, Spanish and other languages |
| ú | Acute accent | Spanish, Portuguese, Irish and others |
| û | Circumflex | French and other languages |
Be sure to copy or type the character your word actually requires.
Why Isn’t the Shortcut Working?
The Alt code produces the wrong character
Use 0252 or 0220, including the leading zero. Confirm that Num Lock is on and that you are using the numeric keypad.
Your laptop has no number pad
Use copy and paste, Character Map or the Accent Character Finder. In Word and Outlook, use the application-specific Ctrl + Shift + : shortcut.
Option + U does not work on your Mac
Check the active input source and try the shortcut in another application. Character Viewer provides a reliable fallback when an application intercepts the Option-key combination.
Holding U does not display ü
The choices depend on your operating system, keyboard app, enabled languages and application. Add a German or Spanish keyboard, or copy the character directly.
Copy and Paste ü
If you only need the character once, copy it here: