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Accent marks are easiest to add in Outlook with a keyboard sequence, a Windows Alt code, or the Windows symbol picker. The right method depends on whether you use Classic Outlook, New Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac.
For the most reliable results, click inside the message body before using any shortcut. The methods below apply to common characters such as é, ñ, ü, ç, å, and ø.
First, identify your Outlook version
Microsoft uses different instructions for Classic Outlook and New Outlook. Look at the ribbon:
- If you see Settings on the ribbon, you are using New Outlook.
- If Settings is not on the ribbon, you are using Classic Outlook.
The accent-key combinations in this guide work in both Classic Outlook and New Outlook for Windows. Microsoft documents these shortcuts for Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2024, Outlook 2021, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, and New Outlook for Windows.
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Method 1: Use Outlook’s accent shortcuts
These shortcuts use a “dead key.” Press the accent combination first, release it, and then type the letter. For example, to type é:
- Press Ctrl and the apostrophe key together.
- Release both keys.
- Press e.
A plus sign means press the keys together. When a shortcut includes Ctrl and Shift, release the accent keys before typing the letter. A comma in Microsoft’s shortcut instructions means press the keys in sequence.
| Character type | Press first | Then type | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grave accent | Ctrl and grave accent | The letter | à è ì ò ù |
| Acute accent | Ctrl and apostrophe | The letter | á é í ó ú ý |
| Circumflex | Ctrl, Shift, and caret | The letter | â ê î ô û |
| Tilde | Ctrl, Shift, and tilde | The letter | ã ñ õ |
| Umlaut | Ctrl, Shift, and colon | The letter | ä ë ï ö ü ÿ |
| Ring | Ctrl, Shift, and @ | a or A | å Å |
| Cedilla | Ctrl and comma | c or C | ç Ç |
| Slash | Ctrl and slash | o or O | ø Ø |
| Ligature | Ctrl, Shift, and & | a, A, o, or O | æ Æ œ Œ |
| Eszett | Ctrl, Shift, and & | s | ß |
| Eth | Ctrl and apostrophe | d or D | ð Ð |
For example, press Ctrl, Shift, and tilde together, release the keys, and then type n to produce ñ.
Method 2: Use Windows Alt codes
Alt codes are useful when you already know the code for the character. They require a numeric keypad and Num Lock must be enabled.
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- Hold down Alt.
- Type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt.
The number row above the letters does not work for these standard Alt codes. On a laptop without a separate numeric keypad, this method may do nothing or insert the wrong character.
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| Character | Alt code | Character | Alt code |
|---|---|---|---|
| à | Alt+0224 | À | Alt+0192 |
| á | Alt+0233 | Á | Alt+0193 |
| é | Alt+0233 | É | Alt+0201 |
| í | Alt+0237 | Í | Alt+0205 |
| ó | Alt+0243 | Ó | Alt+0211 |
| ú | Alt+0250 | Ú | Alt+0218 |
| ñ | Alt+0241 | Ñ | Alt+0209 |
| ü | Alt+0252 | Ü | Alt+0220 |
| ç | Alt+0231 | Ç | Alt+0199 |
| å | Alt+0229 | Å | Alt+0197 |
| ø | Alt+0248 | Ø | Alt+0216 |
| æ | Alt+0230 | Æ | Alt+0198 |
| œ | Alt+0156 | Œ | Alt+0140 |
| ß | Alt+0223 | ¿ | Alt+0191 |
| ¡ | Alt+0161 |
Note about Microsoft’s tables: Microsoft currently lists conflicting codes for some characters in different Outlook documentation. In particular, one New Outlook table lists lowercase á as Alt+0224, while Microsoft’s international-character page lists Alt+0233. That international-character page assigns Alt+0224 to à. If a code produces an unexpected character, use the dead-key shortcut or the Windows symbol picker instead.
Method 3: Open the Windows symbol picker
Windows 11 includes accented letters in its built-in symbol panel.
- Place the cursor in the Outlook message.
- Press the Windows key and period together.
- Select Symbols in the panel.
- Choose the accented letter or symbol you need.
This is often the simplest option on a laptop because it does not require a numeric keypad. You can also copy a character from another document and paste it into the message.
Method 4: Enter a Unicode character with Alt+X
In Outlook desktop, type a character’s Unicode hexadecimal code and then press Alt+X. For example:
- Type 20AC.
- Press Alt+X.
- The code changes to €.
This method is useful for symbols that are difficult to find, but Microsoft documents it for Outlook desktop editions rather than as a general Outlook on the web command.
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Adding accents in Outlook on the web
Outlook on the web and Outlook.com do not have a Microsoft-documented equivalent of the desktop accent-shortcut table. Do not assume that Ctrl accent combinations from desktop Outlook will work in your browser.
Instead, use one of these options:
- Use the Windows 11 symbol picker with the Windows key and period.
- Copy and paste the character into the message.
- Use your operating system’s keyboard layout or international keyboard.
Outlook on the web has configurable keyboard-shortcut schemes. To change them:
- In Outlook.com or the new Outlook on the web, select Settings.
- Go to General > Accessibility.
- Under Keyboard shortcuts, choose Outlook.com, Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Outlook, or Off.
- Select Save.
In classic Outlook on the web, the path is Settings > Mail > General > Keyboard shortcuts. Press Shift+? to display the shortcut list for the selected scheme. These settings control mail and editing shortcuts; they are not a universal accented-character menu.
Adding accents in Outlook for Mac
In Outlook for Mac, press Command+Control+Spacebar to open the special-character picker. Search for the accented letter, select it, and insert it into the message.
You can also press and hold a letter in many macOS text fields to display available accent variations, then select the required character.
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What to do if accents become question marks
Classic Outlook for Microsoft 365 has had a documented encoding issue in which accented and extended characters were replaced with question marks. Examples included é, ü, ñ, £, and ®.
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| Version | Fixed build |
|---|---|
| 2601 | 19628.20252 |
| 2602 | 19725.20164 |
| 2603 | 19822.20032 |
If you are still using an affected build, update Office first. As a temporary workaround, Microsoft recommends using Outlook on the web or New Outlook. In Classic Outlook, you can also try:
- Open File > Options > Advanced.
- Scroll to International Options.
- Clear Automatically select encoding for outgoing messages, or set Preferred encoding for outgoing messages to Unicode (UTF-8).
Check the message in your Sent folder and send a test email to another account before relying on the workaround for important correspondence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which method should you use?
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| You regularly type French, Spanish, German, or Portuguese words in desktop Outlook | Use the dead-key shortcuts |
| You know a character’s numeric code and have a full keyboard | Use an Alt code |
| You use a laptop without a numeric keypad | Use the Windows symbol picker |
| You need an uncommon symbol in desktop Outlook | Use Unicode code plus Alt+X |
| You use Outlook on the web | Use the Windows symbol picker, copy and paste, or an international keyboard |
| You use Outlook for Mac | Use Command+Control+Spacebar |
FAQ
Why does Ctrl plus an accent key not work in Outlook on the web?
Microsoft documents the dead-key accent combinations for Classic Outlook and New Outlook for Windows, not as a universal Outlook web command. In a browser, use the Windows symbol picker, copy and paste, or an international keyboard layout.
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Can I use Alt codes with the number row above the letters?
No. Standard Windows Alt codes require the numeric keypad, with Num Lock enabled. The top number row normally will not produce these characters.
How do I type é quickly in Outlook?
In Classic Outlook or New Outlook for Windows, press Ctrl and apostrophe together, release the keys, then press e. With a numeric keypad, you can also use Alt+0233 according to Microsoft’s international-character table.
What can I do if my laptop has no numeric keypad?
Press the Windows key and period to open the Windows symbol picker and choose Symbols. You can also copy the character from another app or use an international keyboard layout.
Why did Outlook replace my accented letters with question marks?
A documented Classic Outlook for Microsoft 365 encoding problem could replace extended characters with question marks. Update to a fixed build, use UTF-8 as the preferred outgoing encoding, or temporarily use Outlook on the web or New Outlook.
How do I insert accents in Outlook for Mac?
Press Command+Control+Spacebar to open the macOS special-character picker, search for the required letter, and insert it.
The Bottom Line
For Windows desktop Outlook, the dead-key shortcuts are usually the fastest option: press the accent combination, release it, and type the letter. Use Alt codes only with a numeric keypad, and use the Windows symbol picker when you are on a laptop. Outlook on the web does not have the same documented desktop accent shortcuts, so rely on the symbol picker, copy and paste, or an international keyboard. If accents arrive as question marks, update Classic Outlook and check that outgoing messages use Unicode (UTF-8).
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