Windows 11 burst into the scene and became an instant favorite for most people. It is loved and touted as one of the most customizable operating systems. There is a host or personalization to play with, from themes, colors, fonts, and backgrounds to lock screens and more. You can even type special characters in Windows 11.
This guide shows you how to type emojis, special characters, and accents on the OS.
1. Type Special Characters on Windows 11 Using the Touch Keyboard
The Touch keyboard is available on the Taskbar by default on Windows tablets or when you use your computer in tablet mode. However, if you do not have a Touch SCreen, you may also enable its feature from the Settings. You may use it to type diacritical marks on a document on Windows 11. Here is how to do it.
Step 1: If you do not have the Touch keyboard on your Taskbar by default, right-click the Taskbar and click Taskbar settings.
Step 2: Scroll down the right pane and set Touch keyboard to Always.
Step 3: Click the keyboard icon to the right of the Taskbar.
Step 4: Long press any letter you want to use. You should have several options and characters.
2. Type Special Characters on Windows 11 Using the Emoji Keyboard
Like the Touch Keyboard, Windows offers other keyboards, including the Emoji Keyboard. You may also use it to type accents and special characters, as shown below.
Step 1: Press Windows + Period (.) on the keyboard to open the Emoji keyboard.
Step 2: You may click any emoji to add to your document.
Step 3: Click the symbols icon at the top for special characters.
Step 4: Select the Latin symbol menu from the top, and you should have all the special characters available to use in your documents.
3. Type Special Characters on Windows 11 Using Alt Hotkeys
On Windows devices, you may use a combination of keys to effect certain commands. These are known as hotkeys. You should be able to type special characters on your documents using the Alt key in conjunction with specific number keys.
Below is a list of some Altcodes you may try:
| Symbol | Alt code |
| ° | 0176 |
| ± | 0177 |
| ½ | 0189 |
| ¼ | 0188 |
| ¾ | 0190 |
| © | 0169 |
| ® | 0174 |
| ™ | 0153 |
| ¡ | 0161 |
| ¿ | 0162 |
| á | 0225 |
| é | 0233 |
| í | 0237 |
| ó | 0243 |
| ú | 0250 |
| ñ | 0241 |
If you want something from this list, check out a complete list of Alt codes for Windows.
4. Type Special Characters on Windows 11 Using the Character Map App
Windows 11 comes with a built-in utility called the Character map. It gives a list of all possible characters and accents that you may need. To use it, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows + R.
Step 2: Type charmap and hit Enter to open the Character Map.
Step 3: Select your desired font type, click on the character you need, and then you may click the copy button to copy it to the clipboard. Now, you can paste it wherever it is required.
5. Using Special Characters in Word Processors
You may also need to use special characters with word processors. However, the method will vary based on the apps you use. You may check for the process on the manufacturer’s website for your specific word processor. In most cases, you should have this option under the insert menu.
FAQ on Typing Special Characters in Windows
1. How do you type this é?
On Windows, you may use Alt + 130 or Alt + 0 2 3 3 on your keyboard’s numeric pad.
2. How do you type symbols on a laptop?
Any of the solutions we discussed in this guide will work on a Windows laptop.
Enhancing the User Experience with Special Characters
When you can easily integrate special characters into your documents or work, it enhances the user experience on Windows. Luckily, the Windows 11 operating system affords many good options for this purpose. You should try all our solutions and stick to whichever feels most seamless and natural.