Alt Gr key: how to access hidden keyboard functions

Some keys on your computer keyboard are assigned to multiple functions. When writing, the secondary function of keys is often used with capital letters. By pressing the Shift key at the same time as a letter, you can use the re­spec­tive uppercase variant. Special char­ac­ters such as the $ or @ sign, which are generally used less fre­quent­ly, are stored as third char­ac­ters. These can also be accessed by si­mul­ta­ne­ous­ly pressing another key: the Alt Gr key. Below, you’ll find out where Alt Gr is located on your keyboard and which symbols can be generated with it.

The ab­bre­vi­a­tion “Alt Gr” is short for “alternate graphic,” which describes the function of this key. With Alt Gr, you can make use of al­ter­na­tive key as­sign­ments quickly and easily. For example, while using the Shift key to control the second al­lo­ca­tion, you can use the Alt Gr key to access third al­lo­ca­tions. The Alt Gr key has no function on its own – if you press the key alone, it does not execute a command.

On an American computer keyboard, the Alt key is located to the left of the space bar. Although this key is similar to the Alt Gr key, their functions are fun­da­men­tal­ly different. The Alt key also provides access to al­ter­na­tive key as­sign­ments. However, the naming con­ven­tion also points to the de­vel­op­ment of the modern keyboard: Older keyboards (and many English layouts) have two identical Alt keys. The Alt Gr key, including its function as a com­bi­na­tion key for third-party as­sign­ments, came to replace the Alt key to the right of the space bar on many European keyboard layouts to simplify the use of special char­ac­ters, which are more commonly used in European languages.

With Alt Gr or Ctrl + Alt key on Windows, you can quickly access various special char­ac­ters. In text editing programs like Word, you can also access functions via key com­bi­na­tions with the Alt Gr or Alt and Ctrl keys. This saves time because you don’t need to search for char­ac­ters or functions in the menu. Below, you’ll find an overview of the most important Alt Gr commands and key com­bi­na­tions.

Special char­ac­ters are often printed in the lower right corner of a key. However, some char­ac­ters are not listed. By knowing the cor­re­spond­ing shortcut, you can save time and work more ef­fi­cient­ly. The table below provides an overview of the most important special char­ac­ters that can be accessed using the alternate graphic key com­bi­na­tion on Windows.

Microsoft Word provides numerous functions that can be accessed via the menu bar. Shortcuts allow you to work pro­duc­tive­ly and provide direct access to a desired function. The following overview shows which commands are available using Alt and Ctrl key com­bi­na­tions when your keyboard lacks the Alt Gr key.