How to Type Umlaut Characters (öäïë…) on Linux

Whether you’re puzzling over Schrödinger’s equation or a Bösendorfer piano, where are the umlaut keys when you need them most? No problem: Linux offers swift ways to input them, diaereses and all. Find out here how to type umlaut characters on Linux ⤓ swiftly using the US-English keyboard layout, the Compose key, Unicode or a character picker.

How to Type Umlaut Characters (öäïë…) on Linux

Using the US-English International Keyboard Layout for Umlauts (Fastest)

Key Combinations for Umlaut Characters

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Using the Linux Compose Key to Insert Umlaut Characters (Universal)

To use the Linux Compose key to input umlaut chars:

1. Configure and enable the “Compose” key.
2. Place the text cursor where you want to insert the umlaut character.
3. Press the key you set up to work as Compose.
4. Now type the key sequence for the desired umlaut from the table below.
   Example: Type o" for ‘ö’.
   

“Compose” Key Sequences for Umlaut Characters

Enter Umlauts Using a Character Picker

To use a character picker to find and copy an umlaut character for pasting anywhere on Linux:

1. Open Characters (Gnome) or kCharSelect (KDE).
2. Search for with diaeresis.
   Here’s why: The accent mark with two dots is called diaeresis, and this is also how Unicode calls the respective characters.
3. Find, highlight and copy the desired umlaut for pasting.
   

How to Type Umlaut Characters on Linux: FAQ

Can I also insert umlaut characters using Unicode code points?

Yes.

To insert umlaut characters using their Unicode code points on Linux:

1. Press Ctrl Shift U.
   Here’s what happens: You will see u.
2. Type the code point from the table below for the umlaut you want to insert.
3. Press Enter.

Unicode Code Points for Umlaut Characters

(Tested with Gnome 49 and KDE 6; first published February 2026)