Typing French
Actually produce é è ê à ç — drill it until you stop thinking.
How to set up Canadian French
The other Canadian layout in Windows. The difference that matters: only é is a direct key — è à ù all start with a dead key.
How to add it
- 1WindowsSettings → Time & language → Language & region → add "French (Canada)" → Language options → Add a keyboard → Canadian French
- 2MacSystem Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → add "Canadian French"
- 3Not sure which one you installed? Press the ' key: nothing appears = Canadian French; a straight è = Multilingual Standard
Watch out
- è à ù aren't three keys, they're one dead key plus a vowel: press ' — nothing appears — then e / a / u.
- ç has no direct key either: press the dead ¸, then c — the keyboard below lights up which one.
- We have no verified key positions for œ « » on this layout, so the drill leaves them out here.
How to set up Canadian
The common Canadian layout. The letters stay where QWERTY puts them, but é è à ç all become direct keys with no modifier at all — once it's on, French is easier here than on an English keyboard.
How to add it
- 1WindowsSettings → Time & language → Language & region → add "French (Canada)" → Language options → Add a keyboard → Canadian Multilingual Standard
- 2MacSystem Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → add "Canadian"
- 3Your keycaps still say English; what the screen produces is what counts — trust the picture below
Watch out
- ù is the one detour: its dedicated key only exists on 105-key boards, and a US 104-key board simply doesn't have it. Press AltGr + ^ (nothing appears), then u.
- We have no verified key positions for œ « » on this layout, so the drill leaves them out here.
How to set up Windows
Don't reach for "French (France)" — it moves every letter. "United States-International" is enough: the letters stay exactly where they are, you just gain a few dead keys.
How to add it
- 1Settings → Time & language → Language & region
- 2The ⋯ next to "English (United States)" → Language options
- 3Keyboards → Add a keyboard → United States-International
- 4Switch between the two with Win + Space
Watch out
- ' ` " ^ ~ print nothing when you press them — they wait for the next letter and combine. That is a dead key, not a broken keyboard.
- To get a real apostrophe (the one in l'université), press ' and then the space bar.
How to set up Mac
Nothing to install on a Mac. Two routes: hold the letter down, or use the Option combinations.
How to add it
- 1Hold e down → a strip of accented e's appears → press the number for é
- 2Or: Option + e, let go, then press e — same é
- 3ç is easier still: Option + c, one step
Watch out
- Press-and-hold is fine once in a while; the Option combinations are the ones that become muscle memory.
- You don't need to add a French keyboard in System Settings — unless you want French autocorrect and suggestions.
How to set up French keyboard
This is what a physical French keyboard looks like: the letters sit differently from QWERTY (A and Q swap, M moves right of L), but é è ç à ù are all direct keys with no modifier at all.
How to add it
- 1WindowsSettings → Language & region → add "French (France)", keyboard "French"
- 2MacSystem Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → add "French – PC"
- 3Your printed keycaps will no longer match what appears — trust the picture below, not the caps
Watch out
- Digits need Shift. The unshifted row is & é " ' ( - è _ ç à.
- Capital É and À have no direct key: turn Caps Lock on, then press that key.
- œ « » have no direct key on the Windows French layout, so this page leaves them out of the drill on it.
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é
Wrong characters don't move you on — this one has to come out right.
Which key
Start typing and this keyboard lights up the key you need.