What Does the Alt Key Do?
Alt means "alternate". It does not type anything by itself. Hold it with another key to do something different, like switching windows or typing special characters.
Alt + Tab is like a magic door between your open windows!
Where is the Alt key?
The highlighted keys are the Alt key on a typical Windows laptop keyboard, with a number pad on the right. Keyboards vary a little by brand.
What the Alt key does
- Alt + Tab: switch between open windows.
- Alt + F4: close the current window (Windows). Save your work first!
- Alt + Left arrow: go back a page in your web browser.
- Alt codes (Windows): hold Alt and type a number on the number pad to make a special character. Alt + 0233 makes é and Alt + 0169 makes ©.
- Tap Alt in many Windows apps to show the menu shortcuts as underlined letters.
Windows, Mac and Chromebook
Windows
There is an Alt on each side of the space bar. On many European keyboards the right one is AltGr, used to type extra characters like € and @.
Mac
Macs call it Option (⌥), and older ones print "alt" on it too. Option + a letter types special characters: Option + G makes ©, Option + 2 makes ™, and Option + E then E makes é.
Chromebook
Chromebooks have Alt. Alt + Search turns Caps Lock on or off, Alt + Backspace deletes forward, and Alt + [ or Alt + ] snaps a window to the left or right.
Which finger presses it?
Use your thumb. The left thumb reaches Alt easily while your fingers stay near the home row.
Fun fact
AltGr means "Alternate Graphic". It lets people in many countries type letters and symbols their language needs, without a giant keyboard.
Keep learning
- Practice the reach in Lesson 4: Add A and ;.
- More keys: Ctrl key, Windows key, Tab key, Command key.
- See every keyboard key explained.
- Names of all the symbols: Keyboard Characters and Meanings.
Quick drill: find the Alt key
Press the key on your keyboard, or click or tap it below, when Rocky asks. Wrong key? We will tell you what it was.
Alt key FAQ
What is the Alt key on a Mac?
It is the Option key, marked ⌥.
What does Alt + F4 do?
On Windows it closes the window you are using. On the desktop it opens the shut down menu.
How do I type é with an Alt code?
On Windows, with Num Lock on, hold Alt and type 0233 on the number pad, then let go of Alt.