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French Keyboard Guide 🇫🇷

French keyboard layout, accents and symbols

See the French layout for Mac or Windows, type French characters online, copy accents in one click, or convert your physical keyboard to French.

Type French now Stickers View layout
✓ Free online keyboard ✓ Mac and Windows layouts ✓ One-click symbol copying

Visual reference

French keyboard layout

Choose your operating system. Mac and Windows may use a different key legends around the keyboard.

French keyboard layout on Mac

French layout for macOS.

Add on Mac

Immediate task completion

Type French online or copy special characters

Use the text box for a sentence, or copy a single symbol directly from the table.

Free French online keyboard

French accents and special symbols

Every symbol has a dedicated one-click copy button.

Symbol Copy
é
è
à
ç
ù
œ
É
È
À
Ç
Œ
Æ
ê
ë
â
î
ï
ô
ö
û
ü
« »
€

System layout instructions

How to add a French keyboard layout

Select your device to see only the instructions you need.

Add French on Windows 11

Start → Settings → Time & language → Language & region
  1. 1
    Add French if needed

    Under Preferred languages, choose Add a language, search for French, and install it.

  2. 2
    Open Language options

    Select the menu next to French, then choose Language options.

  3. 3
    Add the layout

    Under Keyboards, select Add a keyboard and choose the French layout you need.

  4. 4
    Switch while typing

    Press Windows + Space to move between installed keyboard layouts.

Choose the right solution

How often do you type in French?

Choose between immediate copying, a software layout, or visible French legends on the keyboard.

Occasional use

Copy or type online

Best for a few accents, a short message or a form.

  • ✓ No installation
  • ✓ Works on any device
  • ✓ Free and immediate
Use the online keyboard
Regular typing

Add French in settings

Best when you type French often but do not need labels on the physical keys.

  • ✓ Built into your device
  • ✓ Fast layout switching
  • ✓ No physical change
See setup instructions
Best physical solution

Add visible French legends

Best for learning, converting a keyboard, or keeping two languages visible.

Compare French stickers

Common questions

French keyboard FAQ

How to convert my keyboard to French

The easiest way to convert your current keyboard language to French is by keyboard stickers. Keyshorts makes highest quality French keyboard stickers that will fit your keyboard. Keyshorts offers opaque/covering stickers that convert/hide your current layout with French. Learn more below.

LANGUAGE CONVERSION SOLUTION
French (Canadian) Keyboard Stickers
French (Canadian) Keyboard Stickers
Best For Quick Language Change
Will Fit Your Keyboard
Unlimited Language & Colors Choice
Extra Durable Adhesive With Safe-For-Keyboard Removal
Made To Order Exactly For You
LANGUAGE CONVERSION SOLUTION
French AZERTY Keyboard Stickers with French keyboard layout
French AZERTY Keyboard Stickers
Best For Quick Language Change
Will Fit Your Keyboard
Unlimited Language & Colors Choice
Extra Durable Adhesive With Safe-For-Keyboard Removal
Made To Order Exactly For You

How to add French letters to my keyboard on a side without losing backlight?

The easiest way to add French to your current keyboard language - without changing it - is by keyboard stickers. Keyshorts makes highest quality French transparent keyboard stickers that will fit your keyboard. French symbols are added in one of key's corners, without clashing with your existing letters. They are also fully backlight compatible. Learn more below.

100% BACKLIGHT-COMPATIBLE
French (Canadian) Transparent Keyboard Stickers
French (Canadian) Transparent Keyboard Stickers
Best For Adding Second Language
100% Backlight Compatible
Will Fit Your Keyboard
Unlimited Language & Colors Choice
Extra Durable Adhesive With Safe-For-Keyboard Removal
Made To Order Exactly For You
100% BACKLIGHT-COMPATIBLE
French AZERTY Transparent Keyboard Stickers with French keyboard layout
French AZERTY Transparent Keyboard Stickers
Best For Adding Second Language
100% Backlight Compatible
Will Fit Your Keyboard
Unlimited Language & Colors Choice
Extra Durable Adhesive With Safe-For-Keyboard Removal
Made To Order Exactly For You

What is the history of the French keyboard?

The AZERTY keyboard was developed in France during the typewriter era as an adaptation of the QWERTY arrangement. Its name comes from the first six letter keys on the top row: A-Z-E-R-T-Y. Compared with QWERTY, it moves several letter keys and provides direct access to common French characters such as é, è, à and ç. For many years, however, AZERTY referred to a family of similar layouts rather than one precisely standardized French keyboard.

That became increasingly noticeable on computers, especially when typing accented capital letters, ligatures such as œ and æ, French quotation marks and other typographic symbols. In 2019, AFNOR published the voluntary NF Z71-300 standard, proposing an optimized AZERTY layout as well as an updated BÉPO layout. Traditional AZERTY nevertheless remains widely recognized and used.

How to learn French?

For learning French, Français Facile offers a large collection of grammar, vocabulary, and conjugation exercises. RFI's Le français facile combines current-affairs audio with transcripts and exercises, while TV5MONDE Apprendre le français provides video-based lessons for learners at different levels. Coffee Break French is another useful option for structured listening practice.

Need French visible on your keys?

Compare opaque conversion stickers with transparent, backlight-compatible French labels.

Shop French stickers
French stickers
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