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Even with a top-tier keyboard, learning how to switch between keyboard languages isn’t as straightforward as we might wish. That said, you can set multiple keyboard layouts to match your preferred languages without too much trouble. So, whether you’re learning a foreign language or want to match your display language, read this guide to learn how to change the language on a keyboard.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Having multiple input languages on your computer allows you to communicate with family or practice a new primary language. While you’ll need to access your settings menu, you can change your keyboard options back to normal using steps similar to this guide.
Insider Tip
You can change your current language using the settings app on your smartphone and PC.
You can follow our guide to adding a language pack to your keyboard if you’re on a PC or android phone. The setup process involves accessing the advanced keyboard settings, just like in this guide.
So, let’s get to the computer, and you can change your input language with a few keypresses and clicks of the mouse.
Open the settings control panel with the Windows Key + I keyboard shortcut. You can also access the settings icon by clicking the Windows icon in the lower-left corner of your screen.
Find the Time & Language icon and click on it to access the Date & Time menu.
Navigate to the left menu, and click the Language tab.
Now, click the Add a Language + icon under the Preferred languages section.
A dialog box should appear, and you can search the language list for your new input method. Once you’ve selected your new language pack, press the Next button at the bottom left.
You can now install the language pack. Depending on the language you picked, you can mark dialog boxes so that the download process includes text-to-speech, handwriting, and speech recognition. You can also make your new language the Windows display language, which will set your menus and apps to your new input language.
Click the install button on the dialog box, and you should have access to your new input language. You can switch your keyboard languages with the Language icon on the lower-right corner of the taskbar. Alternatively, you can use the switch keyboard language shortcut, Shift+ALT.
Select the Apple menu and go to System Preferences.
Click the keyboard icon, and then click Input Sources.
Click the Add button, and search for the language you want in the window that opens. You’ll also need to choose at least one input source.
Next, you’ll need to click Add before you can select a new language.
In the Input menu, choose your desired language.
You can view the keyboard layout for your alternative language by clicking Show Keyboard Viewer.
Warning
Do not mark the “Set as my Windows display language” check box unless you are fluent in the new language pack. If not, you may have issues navigating your PC.
STAT: According to a 2021 poll from Pew Research Center, over 80% of Americans use the internet at least once per day. (source)
