Scrambling to type Fußballstraße or a Markenname without mangling it? Picking up the language of Goethe, Bachmann and Gottfried von Straßburg for fun and profit? Find out here how to type the German sharp s (‘ß’ and ‘ẞ’) using a Windows keyboard ⤓.
How to Type the German Sharp S ( ß ) on a Windows Keyboard
Using the U.S.-International Keyboard
Time needed: 1 minute
To type the German character sharp s or Eszett (ß) most fluidly on Windows:
- Add the U.S.-International keyboard layout to Windows.
Here’s how: You can add the U.S.-International keyboard in Windows Time & Language settings.
- Press Space while holding down Windows until United-States International is selected as the input method.
Up again: You can press Shift Space while still holding the Windows key to go up the list.
- Press AltGr S to insert the character ß.
Upper case: The U.S.-International keyboard layout does not include a key for the uppercase sharp s; you can use a German-language keyboard layout for that or resort to character map (see below).
Word: In Word for Windows, you can also set up a keyboard shortcut for Eszett separately.
Your prose now sharp as an ß?
Tips help fuel these email and tech how-tos.
Using the German Keyboard Layout (Includes Uppercase Sharp S)
To add the uppercase sharp s to a document (in addition to easy access to the lowercase ß) with a German-language keyboard layout for Windows:
- Add German keyboard layout to Windows.
Here’s which: Pick the German QWERTZ keyboard layout.
Here’s how: Go to Time & language | Language & region and choose Language options from your Windows language under Language, then click Add a keboard. - Use Windows Space to switch to the German keyboard layout.
- Press - on the U.S.-English keyboard for the lowercase ß.
German keyboard: On a German hardware keyboard, the key has the label ‘ß’.
Uppercase sharp s: Press AltGr Shift - for uppercase ẞ.
Using a Mac? How to Type German Sharp S on a Mac
On Linux? How to Type a German Sharp S (ß) on Linux
Using Character Map
You can also insert the German sharp s using the Windows character map, however cumbersome it might be.
To insert the upper or lower case German sharp s (ß) using Windows Character Map:
- Open Character Map.
Here’s how: Press Windows, for example, start typingcharacter mapand select the Character Map application. - Choose the font you are using in your document under Font :.
- Click in the Search for : field.
- Type
sharp s. - Double-click the uppercase ẞ or lowercase ß to add it to the Characters to copy : field.
Jump directly: Instead of searching, you can also jump to the characters directly: type00DFunder Go to Unicode : for lowercase ß and1E9Efor uppercase ẞ.
Not found: Not all fonts include the lowercase sharp s, and fewer also include the uppercase sharp s; if the desired font lacks the character you need, you can resort to a standard font (such as Arial, Georgia or Consolas) that best matches your typeface. - Click Copy.
- Paste the German sharp s where you want to insert it in text.
Their word: Microsoft include information on Character Map in Windows help.
How to Type the German Sharp S ( ß ) on a Windows Keyboard: FAQ
I just need the characters once; does copying and pasting work?
Yes.
You can copy the upper- and lowercase German sharp s characters anywhere on this page or using the buttons below and paste them where needed in your documents.
lowercase sharp s ß | |
uppercase sharp s ẞ |
(Tested with Windows 11 Version 22H2–25H2; first published September 2023, last updated February 2026)