How to Type French Accented Characters in Word on a Chromebook
Question details
The user needs to type French accented characters such as â, é, è, ê, ë, î, ô, ù, û, ü and ç in Microsoft Word running as an Android app on a Chromebook.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Android on Chromebook
- Device & OS
- ChromeOS
- Scenario
- The user is editing a Word document on a Chromebook and needs to enter French accented characters without the Windows or macOS Insert Symbol tools.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word on ChromeOS does not provide the usual Insert > Symbol command, and Windows Alt codes or Ctrl shortcuts do not work as they do on a Windows PC.
Make sure your Chromebook is updated to the current version of ChromeOS and that you have the latest Microsoft Word app installed from Google Play. These ChromeOS input methods also work in WPS Office Writer if you open a .docx file.
Type French accents with ChromeOS Unicode input
Use this method when you occasionally need to insert an accented character and do not want to change your keyboard layout.
ChromeOS includes a Unicode entry method that works in Microsoft Word and other Android apps. You can also open the ChromeOS special-character table to find hexadecimal codes if you do not know them.
Open your document in Word on the Chromebook and click or tap where the accented character should appear.
Press Ctrl+Shift+U simultaneously. An underlined u appears to show ChromeOS is ready for the code.
Type the hexadecimal code for the character, for example 00E2 for â, 00E9 for é, or 00E8 for è.
Press Enter or the spacebar to confirm the Unicode code and insert the accented character into the document.
Switch to the ChromeOS French keyboard layout
Use this method when you need to type many French accented characters and want direct keys or simpler key combinations.
Type French Accents Easily with WPS Office on a Chromebook
Microsoft Word on ChromeOS has limited symbol and keyboard features, but WPS Office provides a free, lightweight Office alternative with full .docx compatibility, a familiar ribbon UI, and seamless migration from Word—so you can type French accents using ChromeOS input methods without switching file formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Windows Alt codes not work in Word on a Chromebook?
ChromeOS does not use the same Alt-code system as Windows. Word on a Chromebook runs as an Android app, so you need to use ChromeOS Unicode input (Ctrl+Shift+U followed by the hexadecimal code) or a French keyboard layout instead.
What is the Unicode shortcut for typing â in Word on a Chromebook?
Place the cursor in Word, press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 00E2, and then press Enter or the spacebar. The â character appears at the cursor.
Can I type French accents in WPS Office on a Chromebook using the same methods?
Yes. WPS Office Writer runs on ChromeOS and accepts the same ChromeOS Unicode entry and French keyboard layout, so you can open a .docx file and type accented characters the same way.
Does Word on Chromebook have an Insert Symbol command?
The Android version of Microsoft Word on Chromebook may not include the same Insert > Symbol command as the Windows or macOS desktop versions. Use the ChromeOS special-character/Unicode method or add a French keyboard layout instead.
Can I use a US keyboard to type French accents on a Chromebook?
Yes. You can keep the US keyboard and use Ctrl+Shift+U with the character code for occasional accents, or add the French keyboard input method and switch with Ctrl+Space when needed.
