German special characters
German Accents & Special Characters
To type German accents, click a letter below to copy it, or use the shortcut next to it: on Windows hold Alt and type the code on the number pad (Alt+0228 = ä), on a Mac use the Option key (Option+U, then A), and on a phone press and hold the letter.
Click to copy
German has three umlauts – ä, ö and ü – and the sharp s ß. When they cannot be typed they are written ae, oe, ue and ss, but the correct letters are needed in names and formal text. German quotations open with „ and close with “.
Keyboard shortcuts for every German character
| Character | Name | Windows (Alt code) | Mac | US-International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ä | a with umlaut / diaeresis | Alt+0228 | Option+U, then A | " then A |
| Ä | capital a with umlaut / diaeresis | Alt+0196 | Option+U, then Shift+A | " then Shift+A |
| ö | o with umlaut / diaeresis | Alt+0246 | Option+U, then O | " then O |
| Ö | capital o with umlaut / diaeresis | Alt+0214 | Option+U, then Shift+O | " then Shift+O |
| ü | u with umlaut / diaeresis | Alt+0252 | Option+U, then U | " then U |
| Ü | capital u with umlaut / diaeresis | Alt+0220 | Option+U, then Shift+U | " then Shift+U |
| ß | sharp s (eszett) | Alt+0223 | Option+S | AltGr+S |
| „ | low double quotation mark | Alt+0132 | Option+Shift+W | – |
| “ | left double quotation mark | Alt+0147 | Option+[ | – |
| € | euro sign | Alt+0128 | Option+Shift+2 | AltGr+5 |
How to type German accents on Windows
- Alt codes: turn on Num Lock, hold Alt, type the four digits on the number pad (not the number row), then let go of Alt.
- United States-International layout: in Settings → Time & language → Language & region, add the keyboard “United States-International” to English. Then press the accent key and the letter – for example ' then e gives é. Type the accent key followed by a space to get the plain symbol.
- A German keyboard: add German as a language in the same settings to use its own layout.
How to type German accents on a Mac
- Press and hold a letter: a menu shows its accented versions – press the number or click one.
- Option shortcuts: press the Option combination, let go, then type the letter (add Shift for a capital) – see the table above.
How to type German accents on Android and iPhone
Press and hold the letter on the on-screen keyboard, slide your finger to the accented letter and let go. Adding German as a keyboard language also gives you the right autocorrect.
German Accents – Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type German accents on Windows?
Hold Alt and type the four-digit code on the number pad – for example Alt+0228 gives ä. Without a number pad, add the United States-International keyboard in Windows settings and use its accent keys, or copy the letters from this page.
How do I type German accents on a Mac?
Press and hold a letter key to see its accented versions, or use the Option shortcuts – for example Option+U, then A gives ä.
How do I type German accents on a phone?
Press and hold the letter on the on-screen keyboard (Android and iPhone) and slide to the accented letter.
Can I type German with accents online?
Yes. Use the German keyboard: its keys type every accented letter directly, and you can copy the text anywhere.
Why do Alt codes not work on my laptop?
Alt codes need the separate number pad. On laptops without one, use the United States-International layout, the on-screen keyboard on this site, or click a letter above to copy it.
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Last updated 14 October 2026