What an umlaut is and why you might need one

An umlaut is a pair of dots that sits above a letter — you see it in German words like "Müller" or "Köln", and in some borrowed words used in English. The dots change how you pronounce the letter underneath. On a computer, an umlaut is just a character you can type, the same way you type a comma or a question mark.

You might need to type one if you are writing a German name, a place name, or a word from another language. You might also see umlauts in band names, product names, or borrowed words that have become part of English. The method to type one depends on what device you are using and what keyboard layout you have set up.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, hold Alt and type a four-digit code on the numeric keypad to produce an umlaut — for example, Alt+0220 makes Ü.
  • On Mac, hold Option and press the U key, then type the letter you want the umlaut on — for example, Option+U then O makes Ö.
  • On a phone or tablet, press and hold the letter until a menu of accented versions appears, then tap the one with the umlaut.
  • If you type in German or another language regularly, you can change your keyboard layout in your operating system settings so umlauts appear as regular keys.

Adding an umlaut on Windows

Windows has a built-in system called Alt codes that lets you type special characters. To type an umlaut, you hold down the Alt key and type a four-digit number on the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard — not the numbers across the top. Your computer then produces the character that matches that code.

The codes for the most common umlauts are: Alt+0196 for Ä, Alt+0214 for Ö, Alt+0220 for Ü, Alt+0228 for ä, Alt+0246 for ö, and Alt+0252 for ü. Hold Alt, type the four digits slowly, then release Alt. The letter with the umlaut will appear where your cursor is. If nothing happens, make sure you are using the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, not the number row at the top.

If your keyboard does not have a numeric keypad — for example, on a laptop — you may have a Num Lock key that activates a hidden numeric keypad. Look for a key labeled Num Lock, usually near the top right of the keyboard. Press it to turn on the numeric keypad, then use the Alt code method. When you are done, press Num Lock again to turn it off.

Adding an umlaut on Mac

On a Mac, you use the Option key instead of Alt. Press and hold Option, then press U. Release both keys. Your cursor will show nothing for a moment — this is normal. Then type the letter you want the umlaut on. The umlaut will appear above that letter.

For example, to type ö, hold Option and press U, release, then type O. To type ü, hold Option and press U, release, then type U. This works for both uppercase and lowercase letters. If you make a mistake, just press Escape and try again — the umlaut will disappear and you can start over.

Adding an umlaut on a phone or tablet

On an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone, press and hold the letter you want to add an umlaut to. A menu will pop up showing different accented versions of that letter. Tap the version with the umlaut. For example, press and hold the O key, and you will see options including Ö and ö. Tap the one you want.

This method works in any app where you type — email, text messages, notes, web browsers, and so on. The menu appears automatically, so you do not need to remember codes or key combinations. If the menu does not appear, make sure you are pressing and holding, not just tapping.

Changing your keyboard layout for regular umlaut typing

If you type in German or another language with umlauts regularly, changing your keyboard layout is faster than using codes or key combinations every time. Your operating system lets you add a second keyboard layout so that when you switch to it, the umlaut keys are in their normal positions.

On Windows, go to Settings, then Time & Language, then Language. Click the language you want — for example, Deutsch (German) — and Windows will show you keyboard layout options. Select the one you want and click Add. Then in the taskbar at the bottom right, you will see a language indicator. Click it to switch between your English layout and your German layout. When you switch to German, the keys labeled with umlauts will produce umlauts.

On Mac, go to System Preferences, then Keyboard, then Input Sources. Click the plus sign to add a new language. Select the language you want — for example, German — and choose the keyboard layout. Click Add. Now you can switch between layouts by clicking the flag icon in the top right of your screen, or by pressing Control+Space.

Copying and pasting an umlaut if typing one is not working

If the methods above are not working for you, the simplest backup is to copy and paste. Search online for the letter you need — for example, "ö" or "Ü" — copy it from the search results, and paste it into your document. This is slower than typing, but it works in any situation and requires no setup.

You can also keep a text file open with all the umlauts you use most often, then copy from that file whenever you need one. This is useful if you type the same names or words repeatedly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does nothing happen when I try an Alt code on my laptop?

Laptops usually do not have a dedicated numeric keypad. Look for a Num Lock key, usually near the top right. Press it to turn on the hidden numeric keypad, then try the Alt code again. If your laptop still does not have a numeric keypad, use the Option method on Mac or the copy-and-paste method on Windows.

Can I type an umlaut in a web browser or email?

Yes. The Alt code method, Option method, and phone hold-and-tap method all work in web browsers, email, and any other typing field. If a website seems to reject the character, try copying and pasting instead — some older websites have trouble with special characters.

What if I only need one umlaut and do not want to change my whole keyboard layout?

Use the Alt code on Windows or the Option+U method on Mac. Both are fast once you remember the code or key combination. On a phone, just press and hold the letter. You do not need to change your keyboard layout unless you type umlauts many times a day.

Do I need to do anything special to save a document with umlauts in it?

No. Modern programs and websites handle umlauts automatically. Just type or paste the character and save normally. The umlaut will stay in your document.