Why is My Keyboard Typing "é" Instead of a Question Mark?

If your keyboard is suddenly typing the “é” character when you try to enter a question mark, you might be confused or frustrated. This is a common issue, especially for users who accidentally switch their keyboard layout or activate a secondary language setting without realizing it. It most often occurs on Windows computers but can happen on Mac as well. In this detailed guide, we will explain why this happens, how different keyboard layouts affect typing, and provide multiple solutions to fix the problem.

Understanding the Problem – Keyboard Layouts

1. What Causes the “é” Instead of a Question Mark?

The issue usually arises when the keyboard layout has been changed from the standard US English layout to another layout, most commonly the Canadian Multilingual Standard or the French (Canada) layout. These layouts are designed for people who type in both English and French, and they allow easy access to French accent marks like “é” or “ç.”

In this layout:

The slash / and question mark ? keys are replaced with “é” and “É.”
Other characters might also be different, leading to a frustrating typing experience when you’re expecting the standard English layout.

This switch can be accidental, often caused by a hotkey combination or a change in regional keyboard settings in your operating system.

2. How Different Keyboard Layouts Work

Keyboard layouts vary between regions and languages. Each layout assigns different functions to the same physical keys on your keyboard. For example:

US Keyboard Layout: Standard for most English-speaking users, where the question mark is placed above the forward slash key (/).
Canadian Multilingual Standard Layout: Used in Canada for bilingual typing in English and French, where the question mark is replaced by “é” on the same key.
French (Canada) Layout: Similar to the multilingual layout but more focused on French, with “é” occupying the spot for a question mark.

When your system mistakenly switches to a non-US keyboard layout, especially a French-based one, you’ll notice these changes.

3. Common Reasons for the Switch

There are several ways your keyboard layout might be switched:

Accidental Key Combination: On Windows, pressing Alt + Shift or Ctrl + Shift can toggle between different keyboard layouts, such as switching from US English to French (Canada).
Language Settings: If you have multiple languages enabled on your system, it may default to a different keyboard layout after a reboot or while using certain applications.
Software Updates: Occasionally, updates to the operating system or certain programs can reset the keyboard settings, leading to an unexpected layout switch.

Solutions to Fix the Issue

1. Check and Change the Keyboard Layout on Windows

On a Windows computer, it’s easy to accidentally switch between installed keyboard layouts. To check and change your keyboard layout, follow these steps:

Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Press Alt + Shift or Ctrl + Shift to toggle between keyboard layouts.
If you find that the issue resolves when you switch, you’ve likely activated a different layout.

Method 2: Changing the Layout Manually

Open Settings: Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
Go to Time & Language: Click on “Time & Language,” then select “Language” from the menu.
Check Installed Languages: Under “Preferred Languages,” look for additional languages like French (Canada) or any others you don’t use.
Change the Keyboard Layout: Click on the language you want to remove or modify, then click “Options.” Under the “Keyboards” section, remove the layouts that are causing the issue or change the default layout to “US English.”
Remove Additional Languages: If you don’t need a bilingual setup, consider removing the additional languages altogether to prevent future accidental switches.

Method 3: Changing the Layout from the Taskbar

Look at the bottom-right corner of your taskbar (next to the clock). You should see the abbreviation for your current language layout (e.g., “ENG” for English or “FRA” for French).
Click on this indicator and select “US English” from the list of available layouts.

2. Fixing the Issue on Mac

Mac users may also experience this problem, especially if they’ve added multiple input methods.

Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts

On a Mac, pressing Command + Space switches between language input sources. If you’ve accidentally switched to a French keyboard layout, using this shortcut can restore the English layout.

Method 2: Changing the Keyboard Layout in System Preferences

Open System Preferences: Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen, then select “System Preferences.”
Go to Keyboard: Choose “Keyboard” and then click on the “Input Sources” tab.
Check Installed Layouts: Make sure “U.S.” is selected as your default layout. If you see other layouts (like French or Canadian Multilingual), remove them by selecting the layout and clicking the minus (-) button.
Enable Show Input Menu: At the bottom of the Input Sources window, check the box that says “Show input menu in the menu bar.” This will allow you to easily switch layouts from the top-right of your screen if needed.

3. Disabling Shortcut Keys to Prevent Future Accidents

If you often find yourself accidentally switching keyboard layouts due to shortcut keys, you can disable these shortcuts entirely.

On Windows:

Open Control Panel: Type “Control Panel” in the search bar and open it.
Change Input Methods: Navigate to “Clock, Language, and Region,” then select “Change input methods.”
Advanced Settings: On the left-hand side, click “Advanced settings.”
Change Language Bar Hot Keys: In the “Switching input methods” section, click on “Change language bar hot keys.”
Disable Shortcuts: Click “Change Key Sequence,” then set both the “Switch Input Language” and “Switch Keyboard Layout” options to “Not Assigned.”

On Mac:

Go to “System Preferences,” then select “Keyboard.”
Under the “Shortcuts” tab, navigate to “Input Sources” and uncheck any unwanted shortcuts, such as “Select the previous input source.”

4. Cleaning Up Unwanted Languages

If you don’t require multiple languages on your computer, consider cleaning up your language preferences.

On Windows:

Go back to “Settings” > “Time & Language” > “Language” and remove any additional languages you don’t use.

On Mac:

In the “Input Sources” menu, remove any unnecessary layouts by clicking on them and selecting the minus (-) button.

Preventing Future Keyboard Layout Issues

To prevent this issue from recurring in the future, here are a few tips:

Stick to One Language: If you don’t need to switch between languages, only keep your primary language installed to avoid accidental toggling.
Disable Hotkeys: As mentioned above, disabling the layout-switching hotkeys will stop the problem at its source, preventing accidental keypresses from changing the layout.
Monitor the Language Indicator: Always keep an eye on the language indicator in the taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) to ensure you’re using the correct layout.

Conclusion

If your keyboard is typing “é” instead of a question mark, the problem is likely due to an accidental switch to a French-based keyboard layout like the Canadian Multilingual Standard or French (Canada) layout. Fortunately, fixing this issue is simple once you know where to look. By understanding how keyboard layouts work and how to change them, you can quickly resolve the issue and prevent it from happening again.

Whether you’re on Windows or Mac, adjusting your language settings, disabling shortcut keys, and removing unnecessary keyboard layouts will help ensure that your keyboard functions as expected. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to restore your keyboard to its default state and avoid future frustrations.

Why is My Keyboard Typing “é” Instead of a Question Mark?