A with Circumflex ( â) on Keyboard: How to Type  and â
The circumflex is the small “hat” (also called a crown) that sits on top of a letter.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to type A with circumflex in both forms:
- Â (uppercase)
- â (lowercase)
You’ll also see the fastest copy/paste option, plus simple steps for Windows, Mac, Word, Excel, and Google Docs.
1-Minute Answer (fastest ways)
Copy & paste (fastest):
Windows (Alt codes):
- Â = Alt + 0194
- â = Alt + 0226
(You must use the numeric keypad.)
Mac (keyboard):
- â = Option + i, then a
For Â, use Character Viewer (quick and reliable).
Microsoft Word (reliable):
- Insert → Symbol → More Symbols → Subset: Latin-1 Supplement → pick  or â → Insert
Phone (safest):
- Use copy/paste from this page, or add a French keyboard and select â / Â from the accented options.
How to type  and â step-by-step (by device/app)
A) Windows
Method 1: Alt codes (most direct)
- Click where you want to type the letter.
- Turn Num Lock ON.
- Hold Alt.
- Type the code on the numeric keypad:
- 0194 for Â
- 0226 for â
- Release Alt.
Laptop note (no keypad):
Some laptops have a hidden number pad. You may need to turn it on using Fn + NmLk (the exact key varies by laptop). If you can’t access a numeric keypad, use Character Map instead.
Method 2: Character Map (reliable fallback)
- Open the Start menu and search Character Map.
- Open Character Map and tick Advanced view.
- In the search box, type: A with Circumflex
- Click  or â, then choose Select → Copy.
- Paste into your document (Ctrl + V).
B) Mac
Method 1: Keyboard shortcut for â
- Click where you want the letter.
- Press Option + i (this activates the circumflex accent).
- Press a to type â.
Method 2: Character Viewer (best for  and also works for â)
- Press Control + Command + Space to open Character Viewer.
- Search for circumflex or a with circumflex.
- Click  or â to insert it.
Optional: If you use these often, add them to Favorites in Character Viewer for faster access next time.
C) Microsoft Word (strongest method)
Method 1: Insert Symbol (fast + consistent)
- Click where you want  or â.
- Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
- Find Subset and choose Latin-1 Supplement.
- Click  or â, then click Insert.
- Close the symbol window.
Method 2: Copy/paste
Copy  â from the copy line above and paste into Word.
Optional (helpful): AutoCorrect / text replacement
If you type these often, you can set Word to replace something like a^ with â (this is optional and totally your choice).
D) Excel + PowerPoint (quick)
- Copy/paste: Copy  â from above and paste where you need it.
- Insert Symbol: Use Insert → Symbol (same idea as Word), then pick  or â.
E) Google Docs + Google Sheets (safe options)
- Best: Copy  â from this page and paste into your Doc/Sheet.
- You can also use Insert → Special characters, then search for “circumflex” or “a with circumflex”.
F) iPhone + Android (simple + safe)
- Best: Copy/paste  â from this page.
- If you need it often, add a French keyboard (or another language keyboard that includes â / Â) and pick it from the accented letter options.
G) Chromebook (short)
- Copy/paste is the easiest.
- If you’re using Google Docs, you can also try Insert → Special characters and search “circumflex”.
Circumflex vs hat vs crown (quick clarification)
These names usually mean the same accent: circumflex (ˆ) — people often call it a hat or crown.
Common mix-ups:
- â vs ä: ä has two dots (umlaut), not a hat.
- â vs á: á has a slanted line (acute), not a hat.
Optional troubleshooting note:
If you ever see  or â, that can be a combining accent version (the hat is added separately). If it looks odd, use the normal  / â from the copy line above.
Meaning + examples (very short)
â appears in some languages (for example, French and Romanian) and changes pronunciation or meaning.
Example words you may see:
- château
- pâte
- âge
Troubleshooting (quick fixes)
Alt code not working (Windows):
- Make sure you used the numeric keypad (not the number row).
- Turn Num Lock ON.
- On laptops, try the Fn + NmLk number layer (if your laptop supports it).
- If you still can’t do Alt codes, use Character Map.
It shows as a box (□) or weird symbol:
- Switch to a more common font (some fonts don’t include the character).
Copy/paste looks odd or the hat is “floating”:
- That’s usually a font issue or a combining accent version.
- Use the normal  / â from the copy line above.
On Mac you typed ˆ and nothing happened:
- That’s normal. After Option + i, you must press the letter (a) to produce â.
FAQ (People Also Ask)
How do I type â on Windows?
Hold Alt and type 0226 on the numeric keypad.
How do I type  on Windows?
Hold Alt and type 0194 on the numeric keypad.
How do I type â on Mac?
Press Option + i, then press a.
How do I insert  in Word?
Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, choose Latin-1 Supplement, then select  and click Insert.
What is the name of the “a with hat” symbol?
It’s a with circumflex (also called a with hat or a with crown) — â (and  for uppercase).
Why isn’t my Alt code working?
Most often: no numeric keypad, Num Lock is off, or you typed the numbers on the top row instead of the keypad.
Quick recap
- Copy/paste: Â â
- Windows: Alt + 0194 (Â), Alt + 0226 (â) using the numeric keypad
- Mac: Option + i, then a for â (use Character Viewer for Â)
- Word: Insert → Symbol → More Symbols → Latin-1 Supplement