The quickest way depends on your device

On Windows, hold Alt and type 0233 on the numeric keypad to get é, or 0200 for è. On Mac, hold Option and press e, then press e again for é. On a Chromebook, hold Ctrl+Shift+U, type 00e9, then press Space for é. On an iPhone or iPad, press and hold the e key until a menu appears with accent options. On Android, long-press the e key for the same menu.

Each method works within the program you're already using — email, documents, social media, anywhere you type. You don't need to install anything or switch to a special keyboard layout.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can type accented e characters using Alt codes on the numeric keypad: Alt+0233 for é and Alt+0200 for è.
  • Mac users hold Option and press e twice for é, or Option+e followed by a different key for other accented e variants.
  • Chromebook users hold Ctrl+Shift+U, type the Unicode code point, and press Space to insert the character.
  • Phones and tablets show accent options when you long-press or hold down the e key, making accents the easiest on mobile devices.

Windows: Using Alt codes

Windows has a built-in system called Alt codes that lets you type special characters by holding Alt and typing a number on the numeric keypad (the number pad on the right side of your keyboard, not the numbers above the letters).

For accented e characters, the most common codes are: Alt+0233 for é (e with acute accent), Alt+0200 for è (e with grave accent), Alt+0202 for ê (e with circumflex), and Alt+0235 for ë (e with diaeresis). Hold Alt the entire time you're typing the numbers, then release. The character appears where your cursor is.

If your keyboard doesn't have a numeric keypad, you can enable Num Lock or use the on-screen keyboard. Open the Start menu, search for "on-screen keyboard," and click the Num Lock button to activate the numeric pad section.

Mac: Using the Option key

On Mac, the Option key (also labeled Alt) combined with the e key opens a special accent mode. Press and hold Option, then press e once. You'll see a small accent mark appear on your screen. Now press the letter e again to create é.

To get other accented e variants, use Option+e and then press a different key: press ` (backtick, usually left of the 1 key) for è, press ^ (Shift+6) for ê, or press : (Shift+;) for ë. The accent appears on the e automatically.

This method works in any Mac application — Mail, Pages, web browsers, text editors, everything. If nothing appears when you press Option+e, check that your keyboard language is set to U.S. English or another standard layout in System Settings.

Chromebook: Using Unicode input

Chromebooks use a Unicode input method. Hold Ctrl+Shift+U, type the character code, then press Space. For é, type 00e9. For è, type 00e8. For ê, type 00ea. For ë, type 00eb.

The character code appears as you type it, then converts to the accented letter when you press Space. This works in Google Docs, Gmail, web forms, and most text fields on a Chromebook.

iPhone and iPad: Long-press the e key

On any iPhone or iPad, press and hold the e key on the keyboard. A menu pops up showing e, é, è, ê, ë, and sometimes other variants depending on your keyboard language. Tap the accented version you want.

This works in Messages, Mail, Notes, web browsers, and any app with a text field. It's the fastest method on mobile because you don't need to remember codes or key combinations.

Android: Long-press the e key

Android works the same way as iPhone. Press and hold the e key, and a menu appears with accent options. Tap the one you need.

The exact accents shown depend on your keyboard app. Most default Android keyboards show é, è, ê, and ë. If you use a third-party keyboard like Gboard or SwiftKey, the menu may look slightly different but works the same way.

Using copy-paste if you can't remember the method

If you need an accented e and can't recall the keyboard shortcut, the simplest backup is to find one online and copy it. Search "accented e" in your browser, find the character you want, select it, copy it (Ctrl+C on Windows or Cmd+C on Mac), and paste it (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) wherever you need it.

This is slower than learning the shortcut, but it works on any device and requires no special knowledge. Once you've pasted it once or twice, you'll remember the keyboard method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't Alt+0233 work on my Windows laptop?

Laptops often don't have a dedicated numeric keypad. Try enabling Num Lock (usually Fn+Num Lock or Fn+F11), or use the on-screen keyboard instead. Search "on-screen keyboard" in the Start menu, open it, and click Num Lock to activate the number pad section.

Can I change my keyboard layout to make accents easier?

Yes. Windows and Mac both let you add a second keyboard layout. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region, click your language, then add a layout like "French" or "Spanish." On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and add a layout. You can then switch between layouts with a keyboard shortcut.

What if I need accented letters all the time?

If you type in French, Spanish, or another language with accents regularly, switching to that language's keyboard layout is faster than Alt codes. You can keep your English layout as a second option and switch between them instantly.

Do these methods work in Google Docs and Microsoft Word?

Yes. All the methods described here work in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and any other text editor or web form. The keyboard shortcut is built into your operating system, so it works everywhere you type.