Alt code

Updated: 04/09/2024 by Computer Hope
Alt key

Utilized on IBM-compatible and Windows computers, Alt codes are key combinations used to produce special characters. They work by pressing either Alt key and typing a sequence of numbers on the numeric keypad. For example, pressing Alt+160 creates the accented letter "á."

In this example, the Alt code creates an "a" with an accent (á) in all programs that allow text to be typed. An Alt code is written as "Alt+number" (e.g., Alt+160), which indicates pressing Alt, and while keeping it pressed, type 1, 6, and 0 on the numeric keypad.

Tip

The code page 437 includes a large list of available Alt codes and their associated glyphs.

What is the number in an Alt code?

The number in an Alt code is the decimal value of the ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) character you want to create. For example, a capital "A" has a decimal value of 65. Knowing the decimal value lets you surmise that the Alt code for this character is Alt+65. See our ASCII page for the decimal values of all characters.

Commonly-accented letter Alt codes

The following table contains accented characters in various languages, their name or meaning, and Alt code.

Note

When using Alt codes, Num Lock must be enabled, and you must use the number keys on the numeric keypad.

Accented Letter Alt Code Name or meaning
á 0225 Lowercase "a" with an acute accent.
Á 0193 Uppercase "A" with an acute accent.
à 0224 Lowercase "a" with a grave accent.
À 0192 Uppercase "A" with a grave accent.
â 0226 Lowercase "a" with a circumflex.
 0194 Uppercase "A" with a circumflex.
å 0229 Lowercase "a" with a ring.
Å 0197 Uppercase "A" with a ring.
ã 0227 Lowercase "a" with a tilde.
à 0195 Uppercase "A" with a tilde.
ä 0228 Lowercase "a" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
Ä 0196 Uppercase "A" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
ā 0257 Lowercase "a" with the line (macron).
Ā 0256 Uppercase "A" with the line (macron).
æ 0230 Lowercase "ae" ligature.
Æ 0198 Uppercase "AE" ligature.
ç 0231 Lowercase "c" with a cedilla.
Ç 0199 Uppercase "C" with a cedilla.
č 0269 Lowercase Latin C with a caron.
Č 0268 Uppercase Latin C with a caron.
é 0233 Lowercase "e" with an acute accent.
É 0201 Uppercase "E" with an acute accent.
è 0232 Lowercase "e" with a grave accent.
È 0200 Uppercase "E" with a grave accent.
ê 0234 Lowercase "e" with a circumflex.
Ê 0202 Uppercase "E" with a circumflex.
ë 0235 Lowercase "e" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
Ë 0203 Uppercase "E" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
í 0237 Lowercase "i" with an acute accent.
Í 0205 Uppercase "I" with an acute accent.
ì 0236 Lowercase "i" with a grave accent.
Ì 0204 Uppercase "I" with a grave accent.
î 0238 Lowercase "i" with a circumflex.
Î 0206 Uppercase "I" with a circumflex.
ï 0239 Lowercase "i" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
Ï 0207 Uppercase "I" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
ī 0299 Lowercase "i" with the line (macron).
Ī 0298 Uppercase "I" with the line (macron).
ñ 0241 Lowercase "n" with a tilde.
Ñ 0209 Uppercase "N" with a tilde.
ó 0243 Lowercase "o" with an acute accent.
Ó 0211 Uppercase "O" with an acute accent.
ò 0242 Lowercase "o" with a grave accent.
Ò 0210 Uppercase "O" with a grave accent.
ô 0244 Lowercase "o" with a circumflex.
Ô 0212 Uppercase "O" with a circumflex.
ø 0248 Lowercase "o" with a slash.
Ø 0216 Uppercase "O" with a slash.
õ 0245 Lowercase "o" with a tilde.
Õ 0213 Uppercase "O" with a tilde.
ö 0246 Lowercase "o" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
ő 0337 Lowercase "o" with double acute accents.
Ö 0214 Uppercase "O" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
ð 0240 Latin small letter eth.
ß 0223 Ess-tsett.
ř 0345 Lowercase "r" with a caron.
š 0353 Lowercase "s" with a caron.
Š 0352 Uppercase "s" with a caron.
ú 0250 Lowercase "u" with an acute accent.
Ú 0218 Uppercase "U" with an acute accent.
ù 0249 Lowercase "u" with a grave accent.
Ù 0217 Uppercase "U" with a grave accent.
û 0251 Lowercase "u" with a circumflex.
Û 0219 Uppercase "U" with a circumflex.
ü 0252 Lowercase "u" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
Ü 0220 Uppercase "U" with a diaeresis/umlaut.
ū 0363 Lowercase "u" with a line (macron).
Ū 0362 Uppercase "U" with a line (macron).
ÿ 0255 Lowercase "y" with diaeresis/umlaut.

Nothing happens when entering an Alt code

If nothing appears when entering an Alt code, you're most likely using the number keys in the row above the alphabet keys and not on the numeric keypad. If your computer keyboard doesn't have a keypad, you cannot enter Alt codes.

Tip

On desktop and laptop computers, press the Num Lock key to enable and disable the numeric keypad.

Alt code creates a different character

When entering an Alt code, your computer may return a character you didn't expect. The different character could be caused by any of the following reasons.

  • The Alt code number was not entered correctly.
  • The Alt code begins with a 0, and it was not entered. For example, the German Eszett character is created with the Alt code Alt+0223. If the zero is not entered, a different character appears.
  • Num Lock is not enabled.
  • That specific Alt key may not be working; try using the other one on the keyboard.
  • The computer's operating system or program uses a different code page.

Alt, ASCII, Code, IBM compatible, Keyboard terms, Windows