German Keyboard

About the German keyboard

German has four letters an English keyboard does not show: the umlauts ä ö ü and the sharp s ß (Eszett). German also opens a quote low: „so“.

This page gives you all of them. Click a letter in the quick bar, use the on-screen German QWERTZ keyboard, or keep typing on your own keyboard and add the umlaut with one key. Then copy your text into an email, a form or a chat.

Features

• Quick bar — ä ö ü ß „ “ € in one click; hold Shift for Ä Ö Ü
• Umlaut key on your own keyboard — type a, o, u or s, then press ` (left of 1): a → ä, s → ß
• QWERTZ on screen — the keyboard of Germany and Austria, with ü ö ä on the right and ß next to 0
• QWERTZ mode — your own keys can type like a German keyboard, to learn the layout
• Accent keys — ´ and ` then a vowel give é or è, for French names like Café
• Copy, search, translate — one click each; the text stays on this device for next time
• Private — everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded

German letters and how to type them

The last column is the official way out when a system cannot show umlauts: Müller becomes Mueller, Straße becomes Strasse.

What is different on QWERTZ

If you pick German QWERTZ at the top, your own keys type like a keyboard from Germany:

• Z and Y swap places — the Y key gives z and the Z key gives y
• ü is right of P, ö right of L and ä right of ö
• ß sits right of 0, and ? is Shift + ß
• ^ (top left) and ´ ` (left of Backspace) are dead keys: press one, then a vowel
• Many symbols move: " is Shift + 2, / is Shift + 7, ( and ) are Shift + 8 and 9

In the As printed mode (the default), your keys type what is printed on them, so an English keyboard keeps working as usual.

German typing tips

• Nouns start with a capital letter: der Hund, die Straße, das Haus.
• ß has no capital in normal use. In capitals people write SS: STRASSE. A capital ẞ has been allowed since 2017, but it is rare.
• Switzerland does not use ß — the Swiss write ss: Strasse. Swiss keyboards also look a little different.
• Umlauts change the sound and the meaning: schon (already) and schön (beautiful) are two words.

Frequently asked questions

How do I type ä, ö and ü on an English keyboard?

Type the letter and then press the ` key (left of 1), or click it in the quick bar. In the QWERTZ mode, the keys right of P and L give them, as on a German keyboard.

How do I type ß?

Type s and then press `, or click ß in the quick bar. In the QWERTZ mode it is the key right of 0.

Can I write ae, oe, ue instead of ä, ö, ü?

Yes, it is the accepted spelling when umlauts are not possible, for example in some email addresses and old systems. With this page you can type the real letters instead.

Why do Z and Y swap when I pick QWERTZ?

That is how German keyboards are made: Z is used much more in German than Y, so it sits in the middle of the keyboard. Switch back to "As printed" to type the letters on your keys.

Is my text saved or uploaded?

Nothing is uploaded. Your text is kept in this browser only, so it is still there when you come back.

Related tools

• French Keyboard — é è ç and AZERTY
• Spanish Keyboard — á é ñ ¿ ¡
• Russian Keyboard — type in Cyrillic
• Text to Speech — hear your German text read out
• Typing Test — check your typing speed

How to use it

• Click the letters on the screen, or just type on your own keyboard — no need to click the text box first
• Need an umlaut? Click it in the quick bar, or type a, o, u or s and press ` (left of 1)
• Hold Shift for capitals: Ä Ö Ü
• Want your keys to work like a keyboard from Germany? Pick German QWERTZ at the top
• Click Copy and paste your text anywhere, or Search Google / Translate in one click