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How to add a French keyboard

French requires many diacritics: é, è, ê, ç, œ and more. Here’s how to type them.

🇫🇷 Français Keyboard

Special characters in French

É accent aigu

È accent grave

Ê circumflex

Ë tréma

Ç cédille

Œ ligature

À accent grave

Ù accent grave

📱 Add a French keyboard on Android

Open keyboard settings

While typing, long-press the 🌐 (globe) icon or the spacebar on Gboard. Or go to:

Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard

Open Gboard → Languages

Tap Gboard (or your active keyboard), then Languages.

Add language

Tap Add keyboard, search for Français (France) and choose the AZERTY layout. Tap Done.

Switch keyboards

While typing, tap the 🌐 (globe) icon to switch between keyboards.

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Gboard tip: Even on an English Gboard keyboard, long-pressing a letter (e.g. a) usually shows accented variants. Check if yours supports it!

🍏 Add a French keyboard on iPhone / iPad

Open Settings

Go to the Settings app on your home screen.

Settings → General → Keyboard

Go to Keyboards

Tap Keyboards (you'll see a list of active keyboards at the top).

Add a new keyboard

Tap Add New Keyboard..., search for French (France), and tap to add.

Switch keyboards

While typing, tap the 🌐 (globe) icon in the bottom-left corner to switch languages.

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Quick method: On the iOS keyboard, long-press a letter to see accent variants. Note: available variants depend on the active keyboard layout.

🪟 Add a French keyboard on Windows

Open language settings

Press Win + I to open Settings, or search for Language settings in the Start menu.

Settings → Time & Language → Language & region

Add a language

Click Add a language, search for Français (France), click Next, then Install.

Switch keyboards

Use Win + Space or click the language indicator in the taskbar to switch.

💻 Add a French keyboard on macOS

Open System Settings

Click the  (Apple) menu in the top-left corner and choose System Settings.

→ System Settings → Keyboard

Add an input source

Go to Input Sources, click Edit... or +, search for Français, and add it.

Show in menu bar

Make sure Show Input menu in menu bar is enabled.

Switch keyboards

Use Ctrl + Space or click the input source indicator in the menu bar.

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Why add a keyboard? Long-press (holding a key) shows variants defined for the active keyboard layout. On an English layout, not all French characters may be available.

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Watch out for AZERTY: The French keyboard uses AZERTY layout (not QWERTY) — A↔Q and Z↔W are swapped. If that’s confusing, look for a “French QWERTY” variant in your keyboard settings.

All set? Test your keyboard!

Go back to learning and try typing: français, château, œuvre

Back to learning →