How to change your keyboard language

Your keyboard language setting controls which characters appear when you type. On Windows, you add a new language through Settings, then switch between them using the language bar or a keyboard shortcut. On Mac, you do the same through System Settings and switch via the flag icon in the menu bar. On phones and tablets, the process is built into your keyboard app itself — usually accessible by holding down the space bar or tapping a globe icon.

The reason you might need this: you're typing in a language your current keyboard doesn't support, you share a device with someone who uses a different language, or you want to keep your system language in English but type in another language for work or family. Changing the keyboard language doesn't change your system language — your menus stay in English, but your typing switches.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Time & Language, select Language, then add a new language and set its keyboard layout.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, choose Keyboard, then Input Sources, and add the language you need.
  • On iPhone and Android, open your keyboard settings (usually found in Settings > Keyboard or Language & Input) and add a new keyboard.
  • Once you've added a language, you can switch between keyboards using a keyboard shortcut, menu icon, or on-screen button — whichever your device offers.
  • Adding a keyboard language does not change your system language or any of your saved settings.

Adding a keyboard language on Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Once Settings opens, click Time & Language on the left side. Then click Language (not Regional Format).

Under "Preferred languages," you'll see your current language listed. Click the Add a language button. A list of languages appears. Find the language you want to type in, click it, then click Next. Windows will ask whether you want to set this as your display language — you don't need to. Just click Install at the bottom right. The read takes a minute or two.

Once installed, the new language appears in your language list. Click on it, then click Options. Under "Keyboards," you'll see one or more keyboard layouts for that language. Most languages have only one option, but some (like Chinese or Arabic) offer several. Pick the one you use, then close Settings. You're done adding it.

Switching between keyboards on Windows

The easiest way is the keyboard shortcut: press Windows key + Space. Each time you press it, you cycle to the next keyboard language. If you have three languages installed, pressing it three times brings you back to the first one.

You can also switch using the language bar. Look at the bottom right of your screen, near the clock. You should see a small box showing your current keyboard language (like "ENG" for English). Click it, and a menu appears showing all your installed keyboards. Click the one you want. If you don't see this box, right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, scroll down to Taskbar items, and toggle Language switcher on.

Adding a keyboard language on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left, then select System Settings. Click Keyboard in the sidebar. Then click Input Sources. You'll see your current keyboard listed (usually "U.S." or "British").

Click the + button at the bottom left. A list of languages and keyboard layouts appears. Scroll to find the language you want, click it, then click Add. The new keyboard now appears in your Input Sources list. Close System Settings.

Switching between keyboards on Mac

Look at the top right of your menu bar. You should see a flag icon or a small box showing your current keyboard. Click it, and a menu drops down showing all your installed keyboards. Click the one you want to switch to.

If you don't see the flag icon, go back to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and make sure Show Input menu in menu bar is checked. You can also set a keyboard shortcut to switch languages: in the same Input Sources window, look for Select the previous input source or Select next source, click it, and press the key combination you want to use (like Control + Option + Right Arrow).

Adding a keyboard language on iPhone and Android

On iPhone: Open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard. Tap Keyboards, then Add New Keyboard. Scroll through the list, find the language you want, and tap it. If the language has multiple keyboard layouts (like Simplified Chinese vs. Traditional Chinese), you'll see them listed — tap the one you use. The keyboard is now added.

On Android: Open Settings, tap System or Languages & input (the exact name varies by phone maker), then Virtual keyboard or On-screen keyboard. Tap your keyboard app (usually Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, or similar), then Languages. Tap Add language, find your language, and tap it. Some Android keyboards let you add multiple layouts for the same language — if you see that option, pick the one you use.

Switching between keyboards on phone and tablet

On iPhone, open any app where you type (Messages, Notes, Mail). Tap in the text field to bring up the keyboard. Look for a globe icon at the bottom of the keyboard, usually to the left of the space bar. Tap it to cycle through your installed keyboards. Each tap switches to the next one.

On Android, the method depends on your keyboard app. Most have a globe icon in the same spot. Tap it to switch languages. Some Android keyboards show a language name instead of a globe — tap that to see your options. If you don't see either, hold down the space bar for a second; a menu of your keyboards should appear.

Fixing a keyboard that won't switch or won't type correctly

If you added a keyboard but can't switch to it, the most common cause is that it didn't fully install. On Windows, go back to Settings > Time & Language > Language, click your new language, click Options, and check that a keyboard layout is listed under "Keyboards." If nothing is there, click Add a keyboard and pick one. On Mac, go back to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and make sure your keyboard is checked.

If you switch to a keyboard but the wrong characters appear, you may have selected the wrong keyboard layout for that language. For example, QWERTY and AZERTY are both French keyboards, but they have different key positions. Go back to your keyboard settings, remove the keyboard you added, and add it again — this time, pay close attention to which layout you're choosing. If you're not sure which one you use, try one; if it's wrong, you can always remove it and try the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my keyboard language change the language of my menus and apps?

No. Your system language stays the same. If your Windows menus are in English, they stay in English even if you add a Spanish keyboard. Only the characters you type change. If you want to change your system language itself, that's a separate setting in the same Time & Language menu.

Can I have more than two keyboard languages at once?

Yes. You can add as many keyboard languages as you want. On Windows and Mac, you cycle through them using a keyboard shortcut or menu. On phones, you tap the globe icon each time you want to switch. The more you add, the more taps or presses it takes to reach the one you want, so most people keep it to two or three.

What if I don't see my language in the list?

Most major languages are available on all devices. If you don't see yours, check the spelling — sometimes languages are listed by their local name rather than the English name. For example, "Español" instead of "Spanish." If it's still not there, your device may not support that language's keyboard, though this is rare on modern phones and computers.

Can I change the keyboard layout for a language I already have?

Yes. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language, click your language, click Options, and under "Keyboards" you can remove the current layout and add a different one. On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources, select your language, and click the minus button to remove it, then add it again with a different layout. On phones, remove the keyboard and add it again, choosing a different layout if one is available.

Do I need to restart my computer or phone after adding a keyboard language?

No. On Windows and Mac, the new keyboard is available when ready after you close Settings. On phones, it's available as soon as you finish adding it. You don't need to restart anything.