Typing special characters means entering characters that are not directly available as ordinary keys on your active keyboard layout or in your current app. That can include an accented letter such as á, inverted punctuation such as ¿, a typographic dash such as —, a currency or copyright sign such as ©, or a mathematical symbol such as ×.
“Special” is relative, not a fixed category: a character that needs a shortcut or picker on one keyboard may be an ordinary key on another. The right method depends on the character, your device and app, and whether you need it once or often.
What counts as a special character?
A special character is any character you cannot conveniently type with an ordinary key in your current setup. The phrase is practical rather than a universal technical classification. Accents, punctuation, symbols and some characters from other writing systems may all count, depending on your language, keyboard layout and task.
For example, an em dash (—) may require a symbol picker or shortcut on one layout, while it is readily available on another. Likewise, an accented character may be a frequent, ordinary part of one language’s typing and an occasional special character for someone using a different layout.
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Which way should you type one?
For a one-off character, a built-in symbol or character picker is often the most direct option. If you regularly write in another language, adding its keyboard layout or input source may be easier than repeatedly inserting individual characters. Shortcuts and character codes can also help, but they vary by operating system, keyboard layout and app.
- One-off symbol: try the operating system’s symbol or character viewer.
- Frequent accented letters: use an appropriate keyboard layout, input source or supported accent feature.
- Character in a specific app: check that app’s own insert-symbol tools and shortcuts.
- Alt codes on Windows: use them only if your keyboard has a numeric keypad and follow the code format for the character.
How to enter special characters on Windows
Use the symbols panel
In Windows 11, press Windows key + period (.) while entering text, then select Symbols in the emoji panel. Microsoft says the panel includes punctuation, accented keys and other symbols. See Microsoft’s Windows keyboard tips and tricks for its instructions.
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Use an Alt code when you have a numeric keypad
Microsoft’s Alt-code method requires the numeric keypad: hold Alt, type the code using that keypad, then release Alt. Include a leading zero when the code calls for one. The number row above the letter keys does not work for this method. Microsoft’s examples include Alt+0169 for ©, Alt+0150 for – and Alt+0151 for —.
Switch to a language keyboard for regular use
If you often type characters from another language, Microsoft recommends installing and switching to that language’s keyboard rather than relying on isolated codes. The same support guide covers Windows 10 and Windows 11; Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so Windows 10 users should not treat those instructions as a statement that the operating system remains supported.
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How to enter special characters on Mac
Show an accent menu
In apps that support it, press and hold a letter key to display available accent marks, then choose the character you want. Apple notes that accent menus are not available in every app. Its instructions are in Enter characters with accent marks on Mac.
Use dead keys for recurring accents
For repeated use, a dead key lets you enter an accent first and combine it with a letter. On the ABC layout, Apple’s example for typing ã is Option-N, then a. Keyboard Viewer can show which dead keys are available. Apple also identifies ABC-Extended as an input source for Latin-script languages.
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Choose from Character Viewer
Character Viewer provides a visual way to select accented characters and symbols. It is useful when you do not know a shortcut or need a character only occasionally.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Word and Unicode input differ from system shortcuts
Microsoft Word
In Word, use Insert > Symbol > More Symbols to browse and insert characters. Word also supports character-code features and app-specific shortcuts. For example, Microsoft documents Ctrl+Shift+~, followed immediately by a, for ã. These are Word instructions, not universal Windows shortcuts. See Microsoft’s Word symbol instructions.
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Unicode hexadecimal entry
Unicode describes several environment-specific ways to enter a character from its hexadecimal code. Some versions of Word and Outlook accept a hex value followed by Alt+X; macOS can use Unicode Hex Input after that input source is enabled; GNOME supports Ctrl+Shift+U, the hex value, then Space or Enter. Those are distinct methods, not a single cross-platform shortcut. The Unicode Fonts and Keyboards FAQ also describes visual character-map tools for Windows, macOS, GNOME and KDE.
What about phones and tablets?
The Unicode FAQ says there is no official hexadecimal-code input method on iOS or Android, although third-party keyboards exist. That does not establish one best everyday method for typing special characters on mobile: the available keys and menus depend on the device, keyboard app and character. For ordinary mobile typing, use the symbols and accent options provided by your active keyboard rather than assuming desktop shortcuts apply.
Make symbols understandable to everyone
Some screen readers skip symbols or other nonalphabetic characters without announcing them. Microsoft advises considering whether to spell out words instead; for a symbol used in an interface control, provide a descriptive accessible label so the control’s purpose is clear. See Microsoft Learn’s guidance on special characters.
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