How to Get Rid of é on Keyboard Windows 11: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re using a Windows 11 computer, you may find yourself encountering issues with special characters like “é” appearing on your keyboard when you didn’t intend for them to. This can be particularly frustrating when you are typing quickly or doing work that requires constant focus. Understanding why this happens and how to rectify it can significantly enhance your typing experience. In this guide, we will cover step-by-step instructions to help you resolve this issue while providing insights into why it occurs in the first place.
Before jumping into solutions, it’s essential to understand how the keyboard layout and settings can lead to unexpected characters appearing while typing.
Keyboard Layout
: Windows allows users to set different keyboard layouts. For example, if you’re using a French keyboard layout, keys are mapped differently compared to a QWERTY keyboard, which is primarily used in English-speaking countries. If your keyboard layout is not properly set to match your physical keyboard, you may accidentally generate special characters like “é”.
Sticky Keys and Input Methods
: Windows has various accessibility settings like Sticky Keys that can also interfere with how characters are input. Moreover, having multiple input methods or languages enabled may result in sporadic character outputs when trying to type.
International Settings
: If you’ve inadvertently changed your language or region settings to a locale that uses different characters (like accent marks), this may also affect the output on your screen when you hit certain keys.
Now that we have a basic understanding of why this issue may occur, let’s dive into practical solutions to help you get rid of the unwanted “é” character from your keyboard inputs on Windows 11.
The first step in resolving any input issues is confirming that your keyboard layout is correctly set:
Open Settings
:
-
Click on the
Start
button or press the
Windows key
on your keyboard. -
Type
Settings
and hit
Enter
.
Navigate to Language Settings
:
-
On the Settings interface, click on
Time & Language
. -
Select
Language & Region
.
Review Your Preferred Languages
:
-
Check the languages listed under
Preferred languages
. Click on the primary language (e.g., English) and ensure that the
Keyboard
layout listed next to it is correct (e.g., United States – QWERTY).
Change Keyboard Layout, if Necessary
:
-
If it’s not correct, click on
Options
and then add the correct keyboard layout. You can also remove any unwanted layouts related to other languages.
If you have multiple layouts enabled, it can lead to confusion while typing. To streamline the process:
-
In the
Options
settings (from the previous step), look for any keyboard layouts that you aren’t using regularly. -
Click on the layout you wish to remove and select
Remove
. Ensure only the needed layout remains active.
If you have multiple languages or input methods, switching between them can cause unwanted characters:
-
Press the
Windows key + Space
to cycle through the keyboard layouts you have active. Make sure to choose the desired one (e.g., English US).
Next, confirm that your regional settings align with your preferred language and keyboard layout:
-
From the
Time & Language
settings, navigate to
Language & Region
again. -
Review the
Regional Format
setting to ensure it matches your primary language (this could further affect keyboard input).
If you find that you are frequently hitting “é” unexpectedly, it might be due to the Sticky Keys feature being enabled:
Access Ease of Access Settings
:
-
Type
Ease of Access
in the Start menu and press
Enter
. -
Click on
Keyboard
from the left sidebar.
Turn off Sticky Keys
:
-
Find the
Sticky Keys
option and ensure it’s turned off. You can also disable the shortcut for Sticky Keys if you find yourself activating it by accident.
Sometimes, Windows’ input method can cause complications. Here’s how to streamline that process:
Access Advanced Keyboard Settings
:
-
In the
Language & Region
settings, scroll down to
Advanced keyboard settings
. -
Ensure that the option
“Use the desktop language bar when it’s available”
is checked.
Switching Input Method
:
- You can also set the input method to your preference. This helps avoid unexpected character input.
After making these adjustments, it’s time to test your keyboard functionality:
Open a Text Document
:
- Open Notepad or any basic text editor.
- Try typing to check if the issue persists.
Try Different Combinations
:
- Type a sentence and mix in various punctuation or special character keys to ensure that they respond correctly.
Outdated or corrupt drivers can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior with your keyboard:
Access Device Manager
:
-
Right-click on the
Start
button and select
Device Manager
.
Locate Keyboards
:
-
Expand the
Keyboards
section and right-click on your keyboard device.
Update Driver
:
-
Select
Update driver
, then choose
Search automatically for drivers
. Follow any prompts to update your keyboard driver.
Once you have gone through all the steps above, it may be useful to restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect.
-
Click on the
Start
button, then select
Power
followed by
Restart
.
If the issue remains after you have followed all previous steps, you might want to consider testing with another keyboard.
Plug in Another Keyboard
:
- If possible, connect a different keyboard and see if the problem persists. This will help you determine if it’s a hardware or software issue.
Wireless Connections
:
- If you’re using a wireless keyboard, ensure the connection is stable. Try changing batteries or reconnecting to ensure optimal functionality.
It is common to encounter unexpected input issues when typing, particularly with foreign characters finding their way onto the screen. With Windows 11, the configurations and settings that can influence keyboard behavior are numerous. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve any issues related to unnecessary characters like “é” appearing when you type.
By understanding the root causes and addressing them through keyboard layout settings, input methods, and driver updates, you can achieve a more seamless typing experience. While technology can be confusing at times, with patience and practice, you’ll enhance your typing skills while eliminating those pesky characters from your keyboard inputs.