Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

My alt codes aren't working properly in Firefox

  • 10 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Jof1994

more options

For a paper I need to use the Polish alphabet a decent amount, but it's not enough for me to consider downloading a Polish language pack. To the rescue come the ALT codes. Outside of Firefox (say, in the outlook email client I use for work or in Microsoft Word) ALT + 0322 gives a ł, inside Firefox (address bar) or in Google Docs in Firefox, Google Keep, Facebook or any other website) the ALT code gives a B, so just a regular capital b.

Maybe this is not an issue that pertains only to firefox, but I was wondering if there was a workaround for this. I can always copy/paste, but it'd be neat if I could use the ALT codes, as it is just a lot simpler.

I didn't go through the time to check my specs specifically, but it's Windows 10 and on a laptop. I can't imagine it'd have an effect on something like this, though.

Thanks in advance!

For a paper I need to use the Polish alphabet a decent amount, but it's not enough for me to consider downloading a Polish language pack. To the rescue come the ALT codes. Outside of Firefox (say, in the outlook email client I use for work or in Microsoft Word) ALT + 0322 gives a ł, inside Firefox (address bar) or in Google Docs in Firefox, Google Keep, Facebook or any other website) the ALT code gives a B, so just a regular capital b. Maybe this is not an issue that pertains only to firefox, but I was wondering if there was a workaround for this. I can always copy/paste, but it'd be neat if I could use the ALT codes, as it is just a lot simpler. I didn't go through the time to check my specs specifically, but it's Windows 10 and on a laptop. I can't imagine it'd have an effect on something like this, though. Thanks in advance!

Chosen solution

I found the Unicode Utility Input tool which is a neat little program that allows you to use Unicode characters regardless of the application by ALT++ (the + on the numpad), after which a little window pops up and you can enter the unicode. Works well enough, though I am still curious why Firefox alt codes don't extend beyond 0255.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (10)

more options

What about Alt+0179?

more options

Thank you for replying!

ALT+0179 gives me a ³, so a superscript 3.

Could it be that there's a different set of ALT codes here? Is there any chance that I can still get a ł here?

more options

I'm checking it on the charmap app on Win10. For ł I got explaination: U+0142: Mała litera L z kreską (polska litera ł). Naciśnięcie klawisza Alt+0179.

And it's working on Notepad++ and Firefox.

more options

Thanks again! But huh... that's really curious.

ALT+0179 gives me a ³ both in Firefox and in the Outlook Mail Client, even though ALT+0322 gives me the ł in Mail Client and a B here.

As copy/pasting works just fine I can't imagine it being so that the font doesn't support it either.

It feels as if after ALT+0255 (which is ÿ for both the Mail Client and Firefox), meaning ALT+0256 and up, there's different sets of ALT codes for me.

I have this feeling there's something really simple that causes this, but I just can't find anything about it.

more options

So my current best guess is this.

Firefox uses the set of alt codes that can be found on alt-codes.net. In this list, the ł doesn't appear. There is, however, also an extended list of alt codes that does include the ł, which is available in at least a few writing applications, but definitely not in Firefox.

more options

Przejdź w Ustawieniach systemowych na Ustawienia pisania -> Zaawansowane ustawienia klawiatury. Ja mam ustawione Polski (programisty). To chyba niestety tam się wybiera obłożenie klawiatury i ciężko coś z tym zrobić.

more options

I'm sorry I gave the impression I'm Polish, I'm not! But Google Translate is helpful enough.

Thing is, because I'm not Polish, it's not really worth it to install the Polish language on the PC. I just happen to work in a field in academics in which a few Polish people are doing a lot of good work, so I end up citing them a lot. This means I have to use (coincidentally only) the ł a lot (there's a few names, but this is the only non-standard letter that appears). It seems that actually only in a few Windows apps the extended list of alt codes works so that also non-Polish people can easily type the ł.

Thanks for your help either way!

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

I found the Unicode Utility Input tool which is a neat little program that allows you to use Unicode characters regardless of the application by ALT++ (the + on the numpad), after which a little window pops up and you can enter the unicode. Works well enough, though I am still curious why Firefox alt codes don't extend beyond 0255.

more options

Note that you need to switch on Num Lock to make Alt+number combinations work properly. Otherwise you get the action (e.g. Alt+7 -> Alt + Home).

more options

If you read the discussion above, you'll see certain alt codes work normally. It seems the use of alt works inconsistently across applications. The Unicode Utility Input Tool solves the issue though.