Where is the Alt key on the keyboard?

The Alt key is located to the left of the space bar, on the bottom row of your keyboard.

It is mainly used in combination with other keys to activate shortcuts, navigate through menus, or type special characters like a Upper-case ç.

Where does the Alt key fit on the keyboard?

The Alt key is located to the left of the space bar, on the bottom row of your keyboard QWERTY.

It's a modifier key : On its own, it means almost nothing. It takes on its full meaning when suit along with other features, such as Ctrl and Maj.

To the right of the space bar, you'll find a second key labeled Alt Gr. This isn't just a copy: the two keys have very distinct functions.

• Alt is used for keyboard shortcuts and navigating menus (for example Alt + F4 to close a window, or Alt + Tab (to switch apps).
• Alt Gr gives you access to the third character engraved on certain keys: Alt Gr + 0 for the @, Alt Gr + 3 for the #, Alt Gr + 4 for the opening brace {.

On some keyboards, the right-hand key is simply labeled «Alt» instead of «Alt Gr,» depending on the manufacturer and the keyboard layout.

On a Mac, this key exists but is called Option (⌥). It occupies a similar position, on the bottom row near Ctrl and the space bar.

The order is slightly different because Mac keyboards don't have a Windows between Ctrl and Option.

What features does the Alt key offer?

«Alt» is short for the English word « alternate », which means «to alternate.» That sums up its role pretty well: this key doesn't have a function of its own; it gives you access to a alternative command when you combine it with other keys.

In this respect, it is similar to Ctrl and of Shift (Shift): All three are modifier keys. Ctrl is mainly used for editing shortcuts (copy, paste). Shift is used for capital letters and selections.

The Alt key opens menus and switches between windows.

To learn more about the variant on the right, see Alt Gr and its meaning.

The Alt key for commands in Windows

The Alt key activates shortcuts when you use it correctly with keyboard keys. Here are the most common combinations :

The Alt key also lets you easily switch between a open program to another:

The Alt key in software such as Microsoft Word

In Microsoft Word, the Alt key is very useful when combined with other keys:

It also opens the various tabs in the document. On a French AZERTY keyboard, here are the combinations available in Word :

The Alt key and special characters (Alt codes)

The Alt key can also be used to’display special characters missing from your keyboard. The method is simple: you Hold down the Alt key, you Enter the numeric code on the keypad, then let go.

Important : these Alt codes work only with the keypad (the numbers on the right side of the keyboard), using the "Verr Num" enabled. The numbers at the top of the alphabet keyboard don't work.

On a laptop without a numeric keypad, use the visual keyboard Windows or the character map to enter these symbols.

Here is the complete list of Available Alt codes and the corresponding symbols: