Updated on November 10, 2026.
If your keyboard stopped typing accents, press Windows + Space to check the active layout. Then open Notepad and test the same keys there. This helps you tell whether the layout changed, an app is using a different shortcut, or a key is repeating.
Match the fix to what you see
| What happens in Notepad | What to check |
|---|---|
| You get an apostrophe and a separate letter instead of é. | Check whether you switched to a layout without the accent combination you expect. |
| The accent key seems to do nothing until you type a letter. | That can be normal. A dead key waits for the next key so Windows can combine them. |
| One tap produces two marks or the key repeats. | Try the correct layout and compare a second keyboard. Check keyboard macros or remapping software if it happens with both. |
| Accents work here but fail in one app. | Check that app’s shortcuts, keyboard settings, or extensions. |
Switch or add the correct keyboard layout
- Press Windows + Space and select the layout you normally use. If Windows offers no choice, check the layouts installed in Settings.
- In Windows 11, open Settings > Time & language > Language & region. Open the menu beside the language, select Language options, and find Add a keyboard.
- In Windows 10, open Settings > Time & Language > Language, choose the language under Preferred languages, then select Options > Add a keyboard.
- Choose a layout that matches your keyboard and typing habits. On a U.S. keyboard, United States-International adds common accents. If you normally use Spanish or Portuguese, choose the specific layout that matches your physical keys.
Windows can use a different keyboard layout while keeping the menus in the same language. See Microsoft’s keyboard layout instructions.
Test the accent key in plain text
With United States-International selected, press and release the apostrophe key, then press e to type é. Press the apostrophe key followed by Space when you want an ordinary apostrophe. The key sequence differs on other layouts. Check Microsoft’s United States-International layout.
If the right layout still produces doubled marks in several apps, disconnect the keyboard and try another. For a laptop, use an external keyboard to compare. Check for a stuck key, a custom mapping, or a change to the keyboard’s own profile. See our guide to testing a keyboard key in Windows.
Frequently asked questions
Why did accents stop working after I pressed a shortcut?
Windows may have switched layouts. Press Windows + Space to select your usual layout, then test in Notepad. If you keep switching by accident, review which layouts you have installed.
Why does the accent key type two marks?
Compare the result in Notepad and with a second keyboard. If it happens with one keyboard only, the key may be repeating. If it happens with both, check your layout, macros, and any keyboard utility.
How can I type an accented letter right now?
Open Character Map from Start, find the letter, and copy it. In Word or Outlook, you can also use their own accent shortcuts.