How to Type A With Dots (Ä, ä) on Your Keyboard (a umlaut)
The letter A with two dots is written as ä (lowercase) and Ä (uppercase). You’ll see it a lot in German (example: Mädchen), and also in languages like Swedish, Finnish, and Estonian.
Those two dots are the same mark, but you may hear two names:
- Umlaut: when the dots change the sound of the vowel (common in German).
- Diaeresis: when the dots show that vowels should be pronounced separately (more common on letters like ë in some names/words).
In practice, ä is the same character either way—people just use different names depending on the language.
Quick pronunciation note (very simple): in German, ä is often said like the “e” in “bed” (roughly), depending on the word.
1-Minute Answer (fastest ways)
Windows (works in most apps)
- ä: Hold Alt and type 0228 on the numeric keypad
- Ä: Hold Alt and type 0196 on the numeric keypad
Mac
- ä: Press Option (⌥) + U, then press A
- Ä: Press Option (⌥) + U, then press Shift + A (or turn on Caps Lock, then press A)
Microsoft Word (fast options)
- Word (Windows): Press Ctrl + Shift + : (colon), then press A → ä
(Use Shift + A for Ä) - Word (Mac): Option (⌥) + U, then A
Excel (fast options)
- Alt codes (Windows): Alt+0228 (ä), Alt+0196 (Ä)
- Formula:
=CHAR(228)→ ä,=CHAR(196)→ Ä
Google Docs
- Insert → Special characters, then search a umlaut (or draw it)
iPhone / Android
- Press and hold a → choose ä
- For Ä, turn on Shift/Caps, then press and hold A
Quick reference (Ä ä)
Characters: Ä (uppercase), ä (lowercase)
| Character | Unicode | Windows Alt code | Mac shortcut | HTML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ä | U+00C4 | Alt+0196 | ⌥+U, then Shift+A | Ä or Ä |
| ä | U+00E4 | Alt+0228 | ⌥+U, then A | ä or ä |
Copy and paste Ä and ä
If you just need the characters right now, copy them here:
Ä
ä
How to type Ä and ä on Windows
Method 1: Windows Alt codes (fastest)
Use this when your keyboard has a numeric keypad.
- Click where you want to type the letter.
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold down Alt.
- On the numeric keypad, type:
- 0196 for Ä
- 0228 for ä
- Release Alt.
Tip: The number row at the top of your keyboard usually does not work for Alt codes. You need the numeric keypad.
Method 2: Windows Emoji/Symbol panel (no Alt codes needed)
This is handy on laptops.
- Click where you want the letter.
- Press Windows key + . (dot)
(On some PCs, Windows key + ; also works.) - Go to Symbols (if you see tabs).
- Browse or search for ä / Ä, then click to insert.
Method 3: Character Map (works on any Windows PC)
- Click Start and search Character Map, then open it.
- (Optional) Tick Advanced view.
- Search for diaeresis (or just look in the Latin characters area).
- Click ä or Ä, click Select, then Copy.
- Paste it where you need it (Ctrl+V).
How to type Ä and ä on Mac
Method 1: Mac keyboard shortcut (fastest)
- Click where you want the letter.
- Press Option (⌥) + U (this “prepares” the dots).
- Type:
- A for ä
- Shift + A for Ä
Method 2: Character Viewer (great if you forget shortcuts)
- Click where you want the letter.
- Press Control + Command + Space to open Character Viewer.
- Search a umlaut (or search diaeresis).
- Double-click ä or Ä to insert.
How to type Ä and ä in Microsoft Word
Word method 1: Use your keyboard (fastest)
- Windows Word shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + : then type A → ä
For Ä, use Shift + A. - Mac Word shortcut: Option (⌥) + U, then A (Shift+A for Ä)
Word method 2: Insert Symbol (works on Windows and Mac)
- Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
- Find Ä or ä (often under Latin-1 Supplement).
- Select it and click Insert.
Word method 3: AutoCorrect (best if you type ä a lot)
If you often type German names/words, you can make Word auto-replace something like a.. with ä.
- Go to File → Options → Proofing.
- Click AutoCorrect Options…
- In Replace, type something like:
a.. - In With, paste: ä
- Click Add, then OK.
Do the same for Ä if you want (example replace A.. → Ä).
How to type Ä and ä in Excel
Excel method 1: Alt codes (Windows)
- Ä: Alt+0196
- ä: Alt+0228
Excel method 2: CHAR formula (great for spreadsheets)
In a cell, type:
=CHAR(196)→ Ä=CHAR(228)→ ä
Then press Enter.
Tip: If you see a blank box, change the cell font to something common like Calibri or Arial.
How to type Ä and ä in Google Docs
Method 1: Insert special characters (works everywhere)
- In Google Docs, go to Insert → Special characters.
- Search a umlaut (or type ä into the search box).
- Click ä or Ä to insert.
Method 2: Use your OS shortcut
- On Mac: Option (⌥) + U, then A
- On Windows: Alt codes can work in the browser too, but they’re less consistent on laptops—use Insert → Special characters if Alt codes fail.
How to type Ä and ä on iPhone and Android
iPhone (iOS)
- Tap where you want the letter.
- Press and hold a.
- Slide to ä and release.
- For Ä, tap Shift, then press and hold A.
Android
Steps are very similar:
- Press and hold a.
- Choose ä from the pop-up.
- Use Shift/Caps for Ä.
(Some Android keyboards vary slightly, but long-press is the standard.)
Troubleshooting (why it’s not working)
“Alt code doesn’t work”
Common causes:
- You’re not using the numeric keypad (top row numbers usually won’t work).
- Num Lock is off.
- Your laptop uses a hidden numpad (try Fn + NumLock or similar).
- You’re in an app that doesn’t accept Alt codes reliably—use Character Map or copy/paste instead.
“I get a different character”
Try the version with the leading zero exactly as shown (0228, 0196). Also make sure you’re using the numeric keypad.
“I see a square/box instead of ä”
That usually means the font you’re using doesn’t support the character. Switch to a common font like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman.
“Mac shortcut inserts ¨ but not ä”
That’s normal. Option+U types the dots first. You must press A next to produce ä.
FAQ (quick answers)
What is the Alt code for ä?
Alt+0228 (numeric keypad).
What is the Alt code for Ä?
Alt+0196 (numeric keypad).
How do I type ä on a Mac?
Press Option (⌥) + U, then press A.
How do I type ä in Word?
- Windows Word: Ctrl+Shift+:, then A
- Mac Word: Option+U, then A
How do I insert ä in Google Docs?
Go to Insert → Special characters, then search a umlaut.
Is ä an umlaut or diaeresis?
It’s the same mark and same character. People say umlaut in languages like German (sound change), and diaeresis when the mark is used to separate vowel sounds.
Quick recap
- Fastest on Windows: Alt+0228 (ä), Alt+0196 (Ä)
- Fastest on Mac: Option+U, then A (or Shift+A for Ä)
- No numpad? Use Windows Symbol panel, Character Map, or copy/paste
- Word/Docs: Insert Symbol / Special characters always works