To type ñ on Windows 11 in an app that accepts Alt codes, turn on Num Lock, hold Alt, type 0241 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. On a Mac, hold N and choose ñ from the accent menu in a supported app. On an iPhone or iPad, touch and hold n, slide to ñ, and lift your finger. The Windows settings steps below use Windows 11 menus.
The short version
- Windows: In a compatible app, hold Alt, enter 0241 for ñ or 0209 for Ñ on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on, then release Alt.
- Mac: Hold N and choose ñ from the accent menu in a supported app.
- Phones and tablets: Touch and hold n on an Apple keyboard or a compatible Gboard layout to select ñ.
- Quick fallback: Copy ñ or Ñ and paste it into your text field.
| Method | How to enter ñ | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Copy and paste | Copy ñ, then paste it | A field accepting Unicode and clipboard input |
| Windows Alt code | Hold Alt, enter 0241, then release Alt | Numeric keypad, Num Lock on, compatible app |
| Windows international layout | Right Alt + N | United States-International active |
| Windows Spanish or Latin American layout | Press ñ to the right of L | Matching software layout |
| Mac accent menu | Hold N and select ñ | An app supporting the accent menu |
| Mac ABC shortcut | Option + N, release, then N | ABC input active |
| Mac Character Viewer | Search for 00F1 and select ñ | Edit > Emoji & Symbols |
| iPhone or iPad accent selection | Hold n and slide to ñ | A keyboard with Latin-letter variants |
| iPhone Spanish keyboard | Tap ñ | A Spanish keyboard added and selected |
| Android Gboard accent selection | Hold n and select ñ | An enabled language offering ñ |
| Android Gboard Spanish layout | Tap ñ | A Spanish layout added and selected |
| Samsung Keyboard Spanish layout | Tap ñ | Spanish enabled and selected |
| Chromebook accent menu | Hold N and select ñ | The accent-menu setting enabled |
| Chromebook international layout | Right Alt + N | US International input active |
| Word or classic Outlook accent shortcut | Ctrl + Shift + ~, release, then N | Microsoft 365 or 2024 desktop versions on Windows |
| Word Unicode conversion | Select 00F1, then press Alt + X | Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows |
| Word Symbol dialog | Find ñ and double-click it | Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 desktop |
| Google Docs or Slides picker | Search for 00F1 and select ñ | A document or presentation open in a desktop browser |
Copy and paste ñ or Ñ
For a single letter, select the character you need here: ñ Ñ. Copy it, place the cursor where it belongs, and paste it into a text field that accepts Unicode and clipboard input.
On Windows and ChromeOS, press Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste. On a Mac, use Command + C and Command + V. On a phone or tablet, select the character and choose Copy, then select Paste at the destination.
Use Windows Alt codes with a numeric keypad
Turn on Num Lock, then hold Alt while entering 0241 on the numeric keypad. Release Alt to insert ñ. For the capital letter Ñ, hold Alt, enter 0209, and release Alt.
The number row above the letters is not a substitute for the numeric keypad. These codes work in Windows 11 applications that accept Alt-code input, including current classic Outlook and new Outlook for Windows. If your keyboard lacks a numeric keypad or the app does not accept the code, use copy and paste or add the international layout below.
Add a Windows keyboard layout for regular typing
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Time & language > Language & region. Open the ellipsis beside the relevant language and select Language options. Under Keyboards, select Add a keyboard and choose United States-International.
Available layouts depend on the selected language, and adding a keyboard does not require changing the complete display language. Press Windows + Space, or use the taskbar input-language icon, to activate the layout. With United States-International active, press Right Alt + N for ñ or Right Alt + Shift + N for Ñ.
The shortcut requires United States-International; it does not apply to the ordinary US layout. If it does not produce ñ, use Windows + Space to select United States-International before trying again. You can use the same switching shortcut to return to your previous layout afterward.
A Spanish or Latin American layout is another option in Add a keyboard. With matching Spanish-layout hardware and software settings, press ñ immediately to the right of L, or hold Shift while pressing it for Ñ. On a US physical keyboard mapped to Latin American, use the physical ; key position.
Type ñ on a Mac
In a supported text field, press and hold N until the accent menu opens, then click ñ. You can also press the corresponding number key shown beneath the character. For Ñ, hold Shift + N and select the capital letter.
Some apps do not support the accent menu. With the ABC keyboard layout active, press Option + N, release both keys, then press N to enter ñ. For Ñ, press Option + N, release, then press Shift + N. Other layouts can assign different accent keys.
For another way to insert the letter, open Character Viewer through Edit > Emoji & Symbols. Search for 00F1 for ñ or 00D1 for Ñ, then click the character. In the expanded viewer, double-click the character to insert it and select Add to Favorites to save it for reuse.
Use your phone or tablet keyboard
On an iPhone or iPad keyboard with Latin-letter variants, touch and hold n, slide your finger to ñ, then lift it. For Ñ, activate Shift first, then hold N and select Ñ. The same system-keyboard method works inside Word mobile.
To give ñ its own key on an iPhone, open Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard and choose a Spanish keyboard. While typing, hold the Emoji button or Switch Keyboard key and select that keyboard. You can then tap its ñ key directly.
On Android with Gboard, touch and hold n and select ñ from the alternate characters. Activate Shift first for the uppercase variant. The choices depend on your enabled keyboard languages, so add Spanish if ñ is missing.
Within Gboard, tap Settings > Languages > Add keyboard, choose Spanish and the desired layout, then tap Done. Hold Space to switch languages and use the Spanish ñ key. Some of these setup steps require Android 7.0 or later.
On a Galaxy phone or tablet using Samsung Keyboard, open Settings > General management > Samsung Keyboard settings > Languages and types > Manage input languages. Enable Spanish if downloaded, or tap the download icon beside the desired Spanish language. Return to the keyboard, tap the globe language icon to switch, and use ñ. Samsung says options vary by device and software; if yours differ, you can copy and paste the character.
Enable accented letters on a Chromebook
Select the time, then open Settings > Device > Keyboard and inputs. Under Repeat keys and accent marks, turn on Show accent marks and special characters. Hold N, then click ñ or press its displayed number key. You can also press Tab, select ñ with the arrow keys, and press Enter or Space.
For an international-layout alternative, select the time and open Settings > Device > Keyboard and inputs > Input settings > Add input methods. Add English (US) with International keyboard and activate it. Press Right Alt + N for ñ.
With that international input method active, you can also press Shift + `, release, then press N for ñ or Shift + N for Ñ. Press Ctrl + Shift + Space to cycle input methods. Use Ctrl + Space to switch back.
Insert ñ in Word or classic Outlook
In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + ~, release all keys, then press N for ñ. For Ñ, use Shift + N after releasing the first combination. On a US keyboard, the first combination uses the grave-accent and tilde key.
The same accent shortcut works while composing a message in classic Outlook for Microsoft 365 and Outlook 2024 on Windows. For new Outlook for Windows, use the numeric-keypad Alt codes described above. The Word shortcut is not a universal browser shortcut, so use a method for your device or copy and paste when working in a browser.
In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, you can also convert a character code directly. Type 00F1, select those four characters, then press Alt + X for ñ; use 00D1 for Ñ. Selecting the code keeps adjacent text that looks like hexadecimal digits from being converted with it.
For a menu option in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 desktop, place the cursor where the letter belongs and open Insert > Symbol > More Symbols. Choose a font containing Latin characters, find ñ or Ñ, and double-click it. Select Close to return to the document.
Insert ñ in Google Docs or Slides
In a desktop browser, open your document or presentation and choose Insert > Symbols > Special characters. Enter 00F1 to find ñ or 00D1 to find Ñ, then click the matching character. You can also draw the letter in the right-hand box and select the matching result.
Google Sheets has no equivalent direct special-character dialog. To put the letter in a spreadsheet, copy the character you inserted in Docs or Slides and paste it into a cell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the shorter Windows Alt codes work?
In compatible Windows desktop applications, turn on Num Lock, hold Alt, enter 164 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt for ñ; use 165 for Ñ. These shorter codes depend on the applicable character encoding. If the result differs, use 0241 for ñ or 0209 for Ñ with the same procedure.
How do you type ñ on Linux?
In a compatible GNOME text field, press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00f1, then press Enter or Space for ñ; use 00d1 for Ñ. Support varies by application and input configuration. On a GNOME desktop with Characters installed, open Activities, launch Characters, search for LATIN SMALL LETTER N WITH TILDE or LATIN CAPITAL LETTER N WITH TILDE, and select and copy the character into your destination.
Can an iPhone abbreviation turn into ñ automatically?
On an iPhone, open Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement and tap the Add button. Enter ñ in Phrase and a distinctive abbreviation such as ntilde in Shortcut, then tap Save. Create a separate replacement for Ñ if needed.
Can a spreadsheet formula produce ñ?
In Excel for Microsoft 365 or Excel 2024 on Windows or Mac, enter =UNICHAR(241) in a cell and press Enter to produce ñ, or use =UNICHAR(209) for Ñ. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(241) for ñ or =CHAR(209) for Ñ.