macOS makes accented characters unusually pleasant to type once you know the two built in methods. Whether you need the occasional Ó or write an accented language every day, this guide covers the press and hold trick, the Option key shortcuts and the Character Viewer for every accented O.
The Press And Hold Method
The simplest route on a modern Mac is to press and hold the O key. After a moment a small popover appears showing the accented variants of O, each with a number. Either click the one you want or type its number. This mirrors the way phones handle accents and needs nothing to be set up.
Press and hold covers the everyday marks: the acute, grave, circumflex, tilde and two dot versions all appear in the popover. If the popover does not show, the feature may be switched off in favour of key repeat, which you can change in the keyboard settings.
Press and hold is the method to reach for first. It requires no memorisation and shows you the options visually, which removes any doubt about which mark you are choosing.
The Option Key Shortcuts
For speed, macOS uses dead keys with the Option key. You press a combination that arms an accent, then type the letter it should sit on. The accent does not appear until you type the O.
| Accent | Keys, then O | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Acute | Option + E, then O | Ó |
| Grave | Option + ` , then O | Ò |
| Circumflex | Option + I, then O | Ô |
| Tilde | Option + N, then O | Õ |
| Two dots | Option + U, then O | Ö |
Hold Shift as well when you type the O to get the capital. The stroke Ø has its own combination, Option and O, because it is a whole letter rather than an accent placed on a vowel.
The Character Viewer
For anything the shortcuts do not cover, such as the macron Ō or the Hungarian double acute, open the Character Viewer. You can summon it from the Edit menu of most apps or with a keyboard shortcut, then search for the character by name and double click to insert it. It reaches the entire Unicode range, including the rarer O accents.
Setting A Language Layout
If you write one accented language constantly, adding its keyboard layout in the input settings is worth the effort. A Spanish or Portuguese layout places the common accents within easy reach and often makes the accent a single dead key press.
When Copying Is Easier
None of this is necessary for a one off character. The finder on this site lets you search and copy any accented O in a tap, and the favourites shelf keeps your regulars close. For a character you need once, copying beats memorising a shortcut.
In Summary
On a Mac, press and hold the O key for a visual menu, use the Option dead keys such as Option and E for a quick acute, and open the Character Viewer for the rarer marks. Set a language layout if you type accents daily, and copy from the tool when you just need one.