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How to Type the AE Symbol (Æ and æ) on Keyboard

Æ (uppercase) and æ (lowercase) are AE ligature letters — a single character that combines A + E. It’s also called the AE Symbol.

You’ll see them in:

  • Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic (Æ/æ is a real letter)
  • Names and place names
  • Older spellings like encyclopædia (today you’ll often see “encyclopedia”)

Quick note: You can always type AE/ae if you’re stuck, but Æ/æ is the correct character when it’s required.

1-Minute Answer (fastest ways)

Windows (Alt code)

  • Æ: Hold Alt and type 0198 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
  • æ: Hold Alt and type 0230 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
    (Alt codes need a number pad — the top row numbers usually won’t work.)

Mac (fast)

  • Best “works on any Mac” method: press Control + Command + Space to open Character Viewer, then search ae and click Æ or æ.

Word (very fast)

  • Word Alt+X (Windows):
    • Type 00C6 then press Alt + X → Æ
    • Type 00E6 then press Alt + X → æ

iPhone / Android

  • Press and hold a (if available), then choose æ.
  • If you don’t see it: use copy/paste (see the copy box below), or add a Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic keyboard.

Google Docs

  • Insert → Special characters, then search ae, AElig, or ligature.
AE Symbol (Æ / æ) — Click to Copy
Click a button to copy, then paste anywhere.
Tip: If you type this often, add a Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic keyboard layout.

Quick Reference (Æ / æ)

ItemÆ (uppercase)æ (lowercase)
SymbolÆæ
Official nameLatin Capital Letter AELatin Small Letter AE
UnicodeU+00C6U+00E6
Windows Alt code (numpad)Alt + 0198Alt + 0230
HTML named entityÆæ
HTML decimalÆæ
HTML hexÆæ
ae symbol alt code and shortcut for windows and mac

A) How to type Æ and æ on Windows

Method 1: Alt code (fastest if you have a number pad)

  1. Click where you want the symbol to go.
  2. Turn Num Lock ON.
  3. Hold down the Alt key.
  4. On the numeric keypad, type:
    • 0198 for Æ
    • 0230 for æ
  5. Release Alt.
how to type ae symbol on keyboard

Important notes

  • Alt codes usually require the numeric keypad (right-side number pad).
  • The number row above the letters usually won’t work for Alt codes.
  • If you’re on a laptop without a numpad, use Character Map (next method) or copy/paste.

Method 2: Character Map (works on any Windows PC)

  1. Open Start and search Character Map.
  2. Open the Character Map app.
  3. (Optional) Tick Advanced view.
  4. Search for AE or Latin letter AE.
  5. Click Æ or æ, then click Select → Copy.
  6. Paste it where you need it (Ctrl + V).
copy and paste ae symbol on the character map

Method 3: Windows symbol panel (only if you see it)

Some Windows symbol/emoji panels don’t show every letter clearly depending on version and layout. If you don’t see Æ/æ, skip this and use Character Map instead.

B) How to type Æ and æ on Mac

Method 1: Character Viewer (works for everyone)

  1. Click where you want the letter.
  2. Press Control + Command + Space (Character Viewer opens).
  3. Search ae, AElig, or ligature.
  4. Double-click Æ or æ to insert it.

Method 2: Mac keyboard shortcut (if you’re using a U.S. keyboard layout)

On many Mac keyboards (U.S. layout):

  • Option + ' → æ
  • Shift + Option + ' → Æ
make ae symbol on Mac

If this doesn’t work on your Mac, use Character Viewer above (it always works).

C) How to insert Æ/æ in Microsoft Word (Windows + Mac)

Method 1: Insert Symbol (easy, visual)

  1. In Word, click where you want the letter.
  2. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
  3. In Subset, choose Latin-1 Supplement.
  4. Click Æ or æ, then click Insert.
  5. Close the box.
insert ae sign in Word or Excel or PowerPoint

Method 2: Alt+X (Windows Word only — very fast)

  1. Type 00C6 then press Alt + X → Æ
  2. Type 00E6 then press Alt + X → æ

Optional: AutoCorrect your own shortcut (if you type it often)

You can make Word automatically change something like (ae) into æ.

  • Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
  • Add a replace rule you’ll remember.

Keep it simple so you don’t accidentally replace normal “ae” in words.

D) How to use Æ/æ in Excel (and Google Sheets)

Most of the time, Æ/æ is for display/text (names, labels, titles). Formulas usually don’t “need” the ligature, but you can build it if you want.

Excel formulas (Windows)

  • Æ: =CHAR(198)
  • æ: =CHAR(230)

Excel + Google Sheets (modern Unicode)

  • Æ: =UNICHAR(198)
  • æ: =UNICHAR(230)

Example (works in modern Excel and Google Sheets):
="H"&UNICHAR(230)&"kon" → Hækon

Tip: If a formula result looks wrong, check your font (see troubleshooting).

E) PowerPoint (quick)

Use any of these:

  • Copy/paste (fastest)
  • Insert → Symbol (same idea as Word)
  • Type it in Word first, then copy into PowerPoint

F) Google Docs

  1. Go to Insert → Special characters.
  2. In the search box, type ae, AElig, or ligature.
  3. Click Æ or æ to insert.

G) iPhone + Android

Method 1: Press-and-hold (if available)

  • Press and hold a and look for æ.
  • For uppercase Æ, switch to caps/shift and try press-and-hold again (if your keyboard supports it).

Method 2: Copy/paste (always works)

Copy Æ or æ from the copy section near the top, then paste into your app.

Method 3 (best if you type it a lot): Add a Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic keyboard

If you frequently write in a language that uses Æ, adding the keyboard layout is the easiest long-term fix.

H) Chromebook (short)

Most Chromebook users do this fastest:

  • Copy/paste from this page
  • Or, in Google Docs, use Insert → Special characters and search ae

Best long-term solution (if you type Æ often)

If Æ/æ is part of your regular writing (school, names, Scandinavian languages), add a keyboard layout that includes it.

Windows

  • Add a Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic keyboard in Language settings.
  • Switch layouts quickly with Win + Space.

Mac

  • Add an input source in Keyboard settings.
  • Switch input sources with Control + Space (or the Globe key, depending on your Mac).

Mobile

  • Add a Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic keyboard in keyboard settings.
  • Switch keyboards using the globe icon.

Troubleshooting

Alt code not working on Windows

Common causes:

  • You don’t have a numeric keypad
  • Num Lock is OFF
  • You’re using the top row numbers instead of the numpad
  • You’re on a laptop that needs an Fn key for the embedded numpad

Fix: Use Character Map or copy/paste instead.

I can’t find Æ/æ on my phone keyboard

  • Try press-and-hold a
  • If it’s not there, add a Danish/Norwegian/Icelandic keyboard
  • Or use copy/paste from this page

The symbol shows as a blank box ▢

That usually means your font doesn’t support the character.

  • Switch to a common font like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or another modern font.

FAQ

How do I make the AE symbol on my keyboard?

Use Alt + 0198 on the numeric keypad, or copy/paste it from this page.

How do I type æ on Mac?

Use Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space) and search ae.
On many U.S. Mac keyboards, Option + ' produces æ.

What is the Alt code for Æ/æ?

  • Æ: Alt + 0198
  • æ: Alt + 0230
    (Requires the numeric keypad.)

How do I insert Æ/æ in Word?

Use Insert → Symbol, or in Windows Word use Alt+X:

  • 00C6 + Alt+X → Æ
  • 00E6 + Alt+X → æ

What is the Unicode/HTML for Æ/æ?

  • Unicode: U+00C6 (Æ), U+00E6 (æ)
  • HTML: Æ / æ or Æ / æ

Quick recap

  • Windows: Alt + 0198 (Æ) / Alt + 0230 (æ) on the numpad
  • Mac: Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space) → search ae
  • Word: 00C6 Alt+X (Æ) / 00E6 Alt+X (æ)
  • Docs/Sheets: Insert special characters (Docs) or UNICHAR(198/230) (Sheets)
  • Phone/Chromebook: copy/paste is the fastest reliable method