Ever struggled to type "résumé" or "café" on your PC, only to end up with a plain old "resume" or "cafe"? If you've ever felt the frustration of not being able to properly write in French, Spanish, or any other language that uses accented characters, then you're in the right place! This comprehensive guide will walk you through every method imaginable to conquer the accent aigu (é) on your Windows PC.
Ready to unlock a world of proper pronunciation and elegant typing? Let's dive in!
Mastering the Accent Aigu: A Step-by-Step Guide for PC Users
Step 1: Discover Your Keyboard's Hidden Talents – The Power of the International Keyboard!
Hey there, fellow typist! Are you tired of your PC treating "école" like "ecole"? Let's fix that right now! The easiest and often most overlooked method for typing accent aigu and other diacritics is by enabling the US International keyboard layout. This layout transforms some of your common punctuation keys into "dead keys," meaning they don't produce a character immediately but instead modify the next character you type.
Sub-step 1.1: Enabling the US International Keyboard
This is where the magic begins! Follow these precise steps to unleash your keyboard's multilingual potential:
Right-click on your Start button (the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner).
Select "Settings" from the context menu.
In the Settings window, click on "Time & Language."
On the left-hand side, select "Language & Region" (or just "Language" on older Windows versions).
Under "Preferred languages," you'll likely see "English (United States)" or your current language. Click on the three dots (...) next to it.
Select "Language options."
Scroll down to the "Keyboards" section. You'll probably see "US QWERTY" listed. Click on "Add a keyboard."
A list of keyboard layouts will appear. Scroll down and select "United States-International" (it might be abbreviated as "US-International").
Click "Add."
Sub-step 1.2: Switching to the US International Keyboard
Now that it's added, you need to tell your PC to use it!
Look at your taskbar, usually near the clock. You should see an input indicator that says "ENG" or "EN" or a keyboard icon.
Click on this indicator. A small pop-up will appear showing your installed keyboard layouts.
Select "English (United States) - United States-International."
Voila! You're now operating on the US International keyboard.
Sub-step 1.3: Typing the Accent Aigu with US International
This is the fun part!
To type é:
Press the apostrophe key (') once. Nothing will appear yet.
Then, press the 'e' key.
Presto! You'll see é.
This method works for other accents too! For example:
To get à: Press ` (the grave accent key, usually above Tab) then a.
To get ç: Press ' (apostrophe) then c (this is an exception, you need to press
AltGr+,for ç on US International). My apologies, I made an error. For ç on US International, you holdAltGrand press,. For the accent aigu, the apostrophe then 'e' is correct.To get ñ: Press ~ (tilde, Shift + `) then n.
Pro Tip: If you want to type an actual apostrophe while on the US International layout, press the apostrophe key then the spacebar.
Step 2: The Alt Code Method – A Numpad's Secret Power
Feeling a bit more traditional? The Alt code method is a classic for a reason, especially if you have a full-sized keyboard with a numeric keypad. This method involves holding down the Alt key and typing a specific sequence of numbers on the numeric keypad (not the numbers above your letters!).
Sub-step 2.1: Locating Your Numpad
Look to the far right of your keyboard. You should see a block of numbers (0-9) arranged like a calculator, along with arithmetic operators. This is your numeric keypad.
Ensure Num Lock is on. There's usually an indicator light for this. If it's off, press the Num Lock key to activate it.
Sub-step 2.2: The Magic Numbers for Accent Aigu
To type é:
Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard.
Using your numeric keypad, type 0233.
Release the Alt key.
Voila! You'll get é.
To type É (uppercase accent aigu):
Hold down the Alt key.
Using your numeric keypad, type 0201.
Release the Alt key.
Boom! You'll get É.
Important Note: This method only works with the numeric keypad. Using the number row above your letters will not produce the desired character.
Step 3: Character Map – Your Digital Character Encyclopedia
Sometimes you need a less frequent special character, or you just prefer a visual selection. That's where the Character Map comes in handy! It's a built-in Windows utility that displays all the characters available in a chosen font and allows you to copy them.
Sub-step 3.1: Opening Character Map
Click on the Start button.
Type "Character Map" in the search bar.
Click on the "Character Map" app that appears in the search results.
Sub-step 3.2: Finding and Inserting the Accent Aigu
In the Character Map window, ensure the Font dropdown is set to a common font like "Arial" or "Times New Roman" (most fonts will have the accent aigu).
You can scroll through the characters to find é or É.
Alternatively, check the "Advanced view" box.
In the "Search for" field, type "e with acute" (for é) or "E with acute" (for É) and click "Search."
Once you find é or É, click on it.
Click the "Select" button. The character will appear in the "Characters to copy" box.
Click the "Copy" button.
Now, go to your document or application and paste (Ctrl+V) the character.
This method is a bit more cumbersome for frequent use, but it's perfect for occasional needs or for discovering other special characters.
Step 4: Microsoft Word's Insert Symbol Feature – A Word Processor's Best Friend
If you're primarily working in Microsoft Word, you have a dedicated tool for inserting symbols, including the accent aigu.
Sub-step 4.1: Accessing the Symbol Menu
Open your Microsoft Word document.
Go to the "Insert" tab in the Word ribbon at the top.
On the far right of the ribbon, click on "Symbol."
From the dropdown, select "More Symbols..."
Sub-step 4.2: Inserting the Accent Aigu in Word
The "Symbol" dialog box will appear.
Ensure the "Font" is set to "Normal Text" or the font you are using.
From the "Subset" dropdown, you can often find "Latin-1 Supplement" which contains many accented characters.
Locate é or É in the grid.
Click on the desired character to select it.
Click the "Insert" button.
Click "Close."
Word also offers a handy AutoCorrect feature where you can set up shortcuts for frequently used symbols, but that's a topic for another day!
Step 5: Copy-Paste – The Quick and Dirty Solution
Sometimes, you just need it now. If you're in a pinch and don't want to mess with settings or memorizing codes, the copy-paste method is your friend.
Sub-step 5.1: Finding a Source
Open your web browser.
Go to a reliable source (like Wikipedia, a dictionary, or even just search Google for "accent aigu é").
Find an é or É character.
Sub-step 5.2: Copying and Pasting
Highlight the character you want to copy.
Right-click on the highlighted character and select "Copy" (or press Ctrl+C).
Go to your document or application where you want to use it.
Right-click and select "Paste" (or press Ctrl+V).
This is great for one-off needs, but certainly not efficient for frequent typing.
Final Thoughts
You now have a powerful arsenal of methods to type the accent aigu on your PC! For most users, the US International keyboard is the most efficient and versatile solution for regularly typing in languages that use diacritics. If you find yourself frequently using other special characters, learning the Alt codes can also be incredibly useful.
Experiment with these methods and see which one feels most comfortable and efficient for your workflow. No more "cafe" when you mean "café"! Happy typing!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to enable the US International keyboard on Windows 10/11?
Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region, click the three dots next to your preferred language (e.g., English (United States)), select "Language options," then under "Keyboards," click "Add a keyboard" and choose "United States-International."
How to switch between different keyboard layouts on my PC?
Look for the input indicator on your taskbar (usually "ENG" or "EN" or a keyboard icon). Click on it and select the desired keyboard layout from the pop-up menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Spacebar to cycle through them.
How to type uppercase accent aigu (É) using Alt codes?
Hold down the Alt key and type 0201 on your numeric keypad (ensure Num Lock is on). Release Alt.
How to type accent grave (à, è, ù) on a PC?
If using the US International keyboard, press the **grave accent key ()** then the letter (e.g., + a = à`). If using Alt codes, use specific codes like Alt + 0224 for à.
How to find other special characters on my PC?
Use the Character Map utility. Search for it in the Start menu, then browse or search for specific characters by name (e.g., "en dash").
How to use Alt codes if my laptop doesn't have a numeric keypad?
Unfortunately, standard Alt codes generally require a physical numeric keypad. Some laptops might have a "virtual" numeric keypad accessible by holding a Function (Fn) key and using keys like J, K, L for numbers, but this varies by model. The US International keyboard or Character Map are better alternatives.
How to type the cedilla (ç) on a PC?
On the US International keyboard, hold down AltGr (the right Alt key) and press the comma (,) key, then the 'c' key. Alternatively, use the Alt code Alt + 0231.
How to type the tilde (ñ) on a PC?
On the US International keyboard, press the tilde key (~) (Shift + `), then the 'n' key. Alternatively, use the Alt code Alt + 0241.
How to type the umlaut/dieresis (ä, ö, ü) on a PC?
On the US International keyboard, press Shift + ' " (the quotation mark key), then the letter (e.g., Shift + " + a = ä). Alternatively, use specific Alt codes like Alt + 0228 for ä.
How to know if my keyboard is set to US International?
Look at the input indicator on your taskbar. It should display "ENG US-International" or something similar, indicating the active keyboard layout.
