Change your keyboard language in your operating system settings

Your keyboard language is a setting in your computer or phone, not something built into the physical keyboard itself. When you change the language, you are telling your device which letters and symbols to produce when you press each key. The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS.

Most people need to add a second language keyboard rather than replace their first one. This lets you switch between languages without losing your original setup. You can usually toggle between them using a keyboard shortcut or by clicking a language indicator on your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Keyboard language is a software setting, not a hardware change, and you can add multiple languages to switch between them.
  • Windows users add languages through Settings > Time & Language > Language, while Mac users go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources.
  • You can switch between keyboard languages using a keyboard shortcut (usually Windows key + Space on Windows, or Control + Space on Mac) or by clicking the language indicator on your screen.
  • Adding a language keyboard does not change your operating system language — only which letters and symbols your keys produce.
  • If your keyboard layout does not match the language you selected, you may have chosen the wrong variant (such as QWERTY versus AZERTY).

How to add a keyboard language on Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then pressing Enter. Click Time & Language on the left side. Select Language & region, then scroll down and click Add a language.

A list of languages will appear. Find and click the language you want to add. Windows will show you keyboard layout options for that language — for example, French (France) offers both AZERTY and QWERTY layouts. Choose the one that matches your physical keyboard. Click Next, then Install. The language will appear in your language list once the installation finishes.

To switch between languages while typing, press the Windows key and the Spacebar at the same time. A small menu will show your available keyboards. You can also click the language indicator in the bottom right corner of your screen (it shows your current language code, like "EN" or "FR") and select a different one from the dropdown.

How to add a keyboard language on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click Keyboard in the sidebar. Select Input Sources. Click the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the list.

A window will open showing available languages and keyboard layouts. Find your language in the list on the left, then select the specific keyboard layout on the right (for example, "French" and then "AZERTY"). Click Add. The new keyboard will appear in your Input Sources list.

To switch between keyboards on Mac, press Control and the Spacebar at the same time. You can also click the input menu in the top right corner of your screen (it shows a flag or language code) and select a different keyboard from the dropdown.

How to add a keyboard language on Android

Open Settings and scroll to find System or Languages and input (the exact name varies by phone manufacturer). Tap Languages and input or Keyboard and input methods. Select your keyboard app — most phones use Gboard by default.

Tap Languages and then Add language. Find your language in the list and tap it. Some languages offer multiple keyboard layouts; choose the one you need. The language will now appear in your keyboard options.

When you are typing, look for a globe icon or language indicator on your keyboard. Tap it to cycle through your available languages, or press and hold it to see a menu of all your keyboard options.

How to add a keyboard language on iPhone or iPad

Open Settings and tap General. Scroll down and tap Keyboard. Tap Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. A list of languages will appear. Find and tap your language. If the language offers multiple layouts, tap the one you want to use.

The keyboard will now be available when you type. To switch between keyboards, look for the globe icon on your keyboard and tap it. Each tap cycles to the next keyboard. Press and hold the globe icon to see all your available keyboards at once.

Troubleshooting when your keyboard layout does not match

If you added a language but the keys do not produce the letters you expect, you likely selected the wrong keyboard layout variant. For example, French keyboards come in AZERTY (the standard in France) and QWERTY (less common but used in some places). Spanish keyboards may be QWERTY or a different layout. Go back to your keyboard settings and check whether another layout option exists for your language.

On Windows, open Settings > Time & Language > Language, find your language in the list, click it, then click Options. You will see all available layouts for that language. On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources, select your keyboard, and click the Edit button to see layout options. On Android and iPhone, delete the keyboard and add it again, paying close attention to which layout variant you select.

Switching between languages while you type

Once you have added multiple keyboard languages, you can switch between them without closing what you are typing. The keyboard shortcut is usually Windows key + Spacebar on Windows, Control + Spacebar on Mac, and the globe icon on Android and iPhone. Some people find it faster to use the language indicator on their screen instead — on Windows it appears in the bottom right corner, on Mac in the top right corner.

If you switch languages often, you can customize which keyboard shortcut triggers the switch. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Advanced keyboard settings and look for Switching input methods. On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts and find Input Sources in the left menu. You can assign your own key combination there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my keyboard language change the language of my whole computer?

No. Keyboard language only affects which letters and symbols your keys produce when you type. Your operating system language, menus, and apps remain in their original language. You can have an English Windows computer with a French keyboard, or vice versa.

Can I use the same physical keyboard for multiple languages?

Yes. You can add as many keyboard languages as you want and switch between them when ready. Your physical keyboard does not change — only what your computer thinks each key means. This is how people who speak multiple languages type in different languages on the same device.

What if I cannot find my language in the keyboard list?

Most major languages are available by default, but some regional or minority languages may require downloading a language pack first. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language and click Add a language — if your language does not appear, check whether Windows offers a language pack read. On Mac, the language should appear in the Input Sources list; if not, your language may not have a keyboard layout available.

Why does my keyboard show a different layout than what I selected?

You likely selected a layout that does not match your physical keyboard. For example, if you chose AZERTY but your keyboard is QWERTY, the letters will be in the wrong places. Go back to your keyboard settings and select the layout that matches your actual keyboard hardware.

Can I switch keyboard languages with a mouse instead of a keyboard shortcut?

Yes. On Windows, click the language indicator in the bottom right corner of your screen. On Mac, click the input menu in the top right corner. On Android and iPhone, tap the globe icon on your keyboard. All of these let you select a different language without using a keyboard shortcut.