How to Type Accent Letters on iPhone and Android Phones

To type an accent on a phone, press and hold the letter on the keyboard, then slide your finger to the accented version and let go. This works the same way on iPhone, Gboard and Samsung Keyboard: hold e for é, è, ê and ë, or hold n for ñ.

Long-press covers most needs. If you write in another language often, adding that language's keyboard and setting up shortcuts will save you time.

Press and hold on iPhone

1. Open any app with a text box, such as Messages or Notes.
2. Press and hold the letter, for example e.
3. A row of accented letters appears above your finger.
4. Without lifting, slide to the letter you want and release.

For a capital, tap Shift first, then press and hold. The pop-up shows the capital forms, such as É.

Some letters you can hold on the English keyboard:

The exact options and their order can change between iOS versions and keyboard languages. If a letter is missing, add the keyboard for that language (see below).

Press and hold on Android

Gboard

Gboard is the Google keyboard used on Pixel phones and many other Android devices.

1. Tap a text box to open the keyboard.
2. Press and hold the letter until a small pop-up appears.
3. Slide to the accented letter and release.

Gboard can also show numbers or symbols on long-press for some keys. If you see symbols instead of accents, open Gboard's settings and look in the preferences section for the long-press option. Adding the right language also adds its accents to the pop-up.

Samsung Keyboard

Samsung Galaxy phones use Samsung Keyboard by default. The method is the same: press and hold the letter, then slide to the accent. If a key shows a symbol instead, hold it a moment longer, or add the language you need in the keyboard settings.

Add a keyboard for another language

Adding a second keyboard does two things. It adds that language's letters to the long-press pop-ups, and it switches on autocorrect and word suggestions in that language. Type "cancion" on a Spanish keyboard and autocorrect will offer "canción".

iPhone

1. Open Settings, then General, then Keyboard.
2. Tap Keyboards, then Add New Keyboard.
3. Pick the language, for example Spanish or French.

To switch while typing, tap the globe key at the bottom left of the keyboard, or press and hold it to pick from a list.

Gboard

1. Open Gboard's settings. You can tap the gear icon on the keyboard's top row, or find Gboard in your phone's Settings under the system or language section.
2. Tap Languages, then Add keyboard.
3. Choose the language and layout.

Switch languages with the globe key, or by pressing and holding the space bar, depending on your settings.

Samsung Keyboard

Open your phone's Settings, find the Samsung Keyboard settings in the general management or keyboard section, and open Languages and types. Add the language there. Swipe the space bar or tap the language key to switch.

If you mostly need Spanish, our guide on adding a Spanish keyboard goes through each device step by step.

Shortcuts for words you type often

If you type the same accented words again and again, such as a name like Zoë or a word like café, a text shortcut is faster than long-press.

iPhone Text Replacement

1. Go to Settings, then General, then Keyboard, then Text Replacement.
2. Tap the plus (+) button.
3. In Phrase, type the word with its accent, for example "Renée".
4. In Shortcut, type what you want to type instead, for example "renee".
5. Tap Save.

Now when you type "renee" and press space, it turns into "Renée". Use a shortcut that is not a real word you will need to type plainly.

Gboard personal dictionary

1. Open Gboard's settings and tap Dictionary.
2. Tap Personal dictionary and choose your language.
3. Tap the plus (+) button.
4. Type the accented word, then add a shortcut in the shortcut field.

When you type the shortcut, Gboard suggests the full word in the suggestion strip. Tap it to insert it.

Samsung Keyboard

Samsung Keyboard has its own text shortcuts in its settings. Look for a section on text shortcuts or smart typing, then add the accented word and the shortcut you want.

When press and hold is not enough

Some letters are rare enough that no keyboard shows them on long-press, such as ŵ, ỹ or ẞ. For those:

• Copy and paste. Every accented letter is on our homepage and in the full accent letters list. Tap to copy, then paste.
• Add the right keyboard. Vietnamese, Welsh or other keyboards may include the letters you need.
• Save it as a shortcut. Copy the letter once, then save it in Text Replacement or your Gboard dictionary.

Quick reference

For computers, see our guide on how to get an accent over a letter, which covers Windows, Mac and Chromebook. For the most common phone question, typing ñ, read how to type n with a tilde.