How To Use Alt Codes On Windows 10

Several Windows 10 users are reporting that they are suddenly unable to use ALT codes. While some users take an issue with several unlike Alt Codes, some users tin't utilise them at all. In almost cases, the output is exactly the aforementioned character regardless of the alt code that is being entered. For most issues, the apparition of this issue seems to be sharp and started occurring with no apparent trigger. As it turns out, the result is exclusive to Windows 10 as we establish no reports of the issue occurring on older Windows versions.

What is causing ALT Codes to terminate working on Windows 10?

We investigated this detail by looking at various user reports and by analyzing the virtually popular fixes that affected users accept deployed in guild to resolve the issue. As it turns out, this item trouble can surface from a number of different causes. Here'south a shortlist of causes that could lead to the ALT codes effect:

Mouse keys don't work when NumLock is On – 1 of the nearly common causes for this error are instances where the use of mouse keys when Numlock is on is not permitted. If this scenario is applicative, you will be able to resolve the result by changing the default behavior so that the mouse keys are on when Numlock key is on.
The entry of Unicode is non enabled via Registry Editor – It'due south possible that your Registry contains a specific fundamental that is preventing Unicode characters from existence added via Alt keys. In this case, you will be able to resolve the outcome by adding an additional string value to the Input Method fundamental.
tertiary party interference – Every bit it turns out, there is certain Phonation over IP applications that are known to cause this behavior. Mumble and Discord are 2 apps that are commonly reported to cause this issue. Several users that encountered this trouble while i of these applications was installed have reported that the issue was only resolved after they uninstalled them for good.
Special Char registry is corrupted – In rare situations, this problem can too be caused by inconsistency with the registry that keeps track of all ALT characters. If this scenario is applicative, you should exist able to circumvent the problem by using the Graphic symbol Map to add special characters. Additionally, y'all can consider 3rd party alternatives like Sharpkeys or Keytweak

If yous're currently for solutions capable of resolving this error message, this article will signal yous towards several unlike troubleshooting guides that might help you fix the problem. Down beneath, you'll discover several different potential fixes that other users in a similar state of affairs accept used successfully to resolve the issue.

For the all-time results, we suggest you lot to follow the methods below in the same guild that they are presented in (we ordered them by efficiency and severity). Eventually, you will run across a potential fix that will allow you to resolve the outcome regardless of the culprit that's causing the issue.

Let's brainstorm!

Method ane: Enabling Mouse Keys when Numlock is ON

If y'all're simply encountering this issue when you're trying to apply the ALT codes using the Numpad, it's almost always because you need to enable a Mouse option from the Ease of Access menu.

Several Windows users that we're struggling to resolve the same problem take reported that the issue was resolved completely after they accessed the Mouse tab of the Ease of Access carte and enabled the 'Use Mouse Keys when Numlock is On' option.

However, if you're likewise encountering the same issues even when you apply the regular numerical keys, this choice will not resolve the issue.

If you lot recall this method might exist applicable to you, follow the instructions below to access your Ease of Access settings and brand the necessary modifications:

Printing Window key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, blazon 'ms-settings:easeofaccess-mouse' and press Enter to open up the Mouse tab of the Ease of Access menu.

Ease of Access Mouse menu
Once you arrive at the correct menu, move over to the right-hand section of the screen and enable the toggle associated with Turn on Mouse Keys to use the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer'.
After y'all do this, yous'll encounter a couple of additional options popping upwardly. Ignore the rest and but ensure that the toggle related to Only use Mouse Keys when Num Lock is on is enabled.

Enabling the toggle associated with 'Only apply Mouse Keys when Num Lock is ON'
After the option in a higher place is enabled, restart your figurer and encounter if the issue is resolved at the next organisation startup by trying to utilise ALT codes once once more.

If the aforementioned issue is still occurring, move down to the next method beneath.

Method 2: Enabling Entry of all Unicode characters via Regedit

If method ane didn't allow you to resolve the outcome, another mode to become around resolving this problem is to ensure that you enable the entry of all Unicode characters by code. This can be accomplished past adding a string value to the Input Method fundamental using Registry Editor.

After doing this modification, you will be able to enter whatever ALT character by holding down the Alt key, pressing the numeric keypad and entering the hex code. Several affected users accept confirmed that this method allowed them to set up the functionality of the ALT keys on Windows 10.

Hither's a quick guide through enabling the entry of all Unicode characters using the Registry Editor:

Press Windows key + R to open up up a Run dialog box. Then, type "regedit" within the text box and printing Enter to open up Registry Editor. When yous're prompted by the UAC (User Account Control), click Yes to grant admin privileges.

Running the Registry Editor
One time you're inside the Registry Editor, use the left-manus pane to navigate to the following location:
```
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Input Method
```
Note: Additionally, you can paste the location directly into the navigation bar and press Enter to get there instantly.
Adjacent, correct-click on Input Method (from the left-manus pane) and choose New > Cord value.

Creating a new string value inside the input Method key
Name the newly created cord value to EnableHexNumpad. So, double-click on information technology from the right-mitt side pane and set it'southward Value data to 1and click Ok.

Assigning the right value to the EnableHexNumpad cord
Close Registry Editor, restart your computer and wait for the side by side startup to complete in social club for the changes to take effect.
In order to enter a graphic symbol, hold down the Alt key and press the + button (on the numeric keypad). Side by side, enter the hex code and release the Alt key to add together the character.

If you're still unable to utilize ALT characters, move downward to the next method below.

Method three: Uninstall interfering application (if applicative)

As it turns out, there are as well several applications with the potential of suppressing the utilize of the Alt keys. The reason for this is that they are kept open for dedicated use. In near cases, the ALT primal is used to enable or disable the push-to-talk feature, which effectively breaks the ability to use ALT characters.

Mumble is most unremarkably reported as the vocalisation-over IP app causing this issue, but there are certainly others that will besides practice this.

Several Windows 10 users that found themselves in an identical scenario have managed to go the issue resolved merely by uninstalling the app that was causing the interference.

Here'southward a step-by-step guide on uninstalling the application that is causing the problem:

Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type "appwiz.cpl" inside the text box and press Enter to open up the Programs and Features carte du jour.

Type appwiz.cpl and Press Enter to Open Installed Programs List
Inside the Programs and Features menu, scroll downwardly through the list of installed applications and locate the app that is causing the interference. Once you see it, right-click on it and choose Uninstall from the newly appeared context menu.

Uninstalling the interfering Awarding
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation, then restart your estimator and see if the issue is resolved at the next system startup.

If the issue is nevertheless occurring or the method above wasn't applicable, move down to the next method below.

Method 4: Adding ALT characters using the Character Map

If none of the methods above worked for you, you lot should be able to use ALT characters using the Character Map, but this process is a little fourth dimension-consuming. Several Windows users that take been unable to use the ALT characters conventionally accept reported that they managed to circumvent the upshot entirely past using the Character Map.

Here'south a quick guide on adding ALT characters using the Character Map:

Press Windows central + R to open upwardly a Run dialog box. Next, type 'charmap' and press Enter to open up the Character map.
In one case you're inside the Grapheme Map, simply ringlet through the bachelor fonts and click on a special character that yous want to insert.
Then, click the Select button to copy it to your clipboard.
Note: Notice that the Keystroke is too displayed in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Use that to verify whether you were typing the right number combination.
Use Right-click > Paste or Ctrl + V to paste the special character you copied at step three.

Adding special characters using the Grapheme Map

If this solution is not to your liking, move down to the next method below to review some 3rd political party alternatives.

Method v: Using tertiary party alternatives

If none of the methods above have immune you to restore the normal functionality of the Alt keys, you might want to consider a 3rd party alternative. Several affected users take reported that they were finally able to use the ALT keys effectively past using tertiary party programs similar Sharpkeys or Keytweak.

These tertiary party solutions will allow you to edit and remap keys in a style that is way easier than doing it manually and getting lost in the official documentation.

A popular set using these tools is to map the right control central to the left ALT key, so you eliminate any interference caused by other functionality being mapped to the same fundamental.