Want to type special characters more easily and type in a foreign tongue naturally? Trying to match the characters Windows produces to what you see on your computer’s keyboard? Find out here how to add new keyboard layouts and how to change the current keyboard layout quickly on Windows 11 ⤓ (using the taskbar or a keyboard shortcut).
On This Page
First, Words Across
When one of its kind first appeared in the New York World and diamond shape, the crossword puzzle was called a “Word-Cross” puzzle. A typesetting error not much later turned that into “Cross-Word” (and later, of course, “crossword”).
Speaking of letters and their arrangement, what’s one across? Here’s the clue:
Keys laid out in sequence, but not for music
How to Change the Keyboard Layout on Windows
Using a Keyboard Shortcut to Switch Keyboard Layouts
Time needed: 1 minute
To quickly switch to a different keyboard layout in Windows:
- Add the keyboard layout to the language in Windows so it is available for switching (see below).
- Press Windows Space and keep holding Windows.
- Now press Space until the desired keyboard layout appears in the second line of the highlighted language and key layout combination.
Language: Also note the language, of course, and pick the language and keyboard layout combination that suits the task best.
Example: Highlight English (United States) - United States-International, for example, to switch to the US-International keyboard layout for typing English text in the US variant. - Let go of the Windows key.
Back at a familiar layout?
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Using the Taskbar Input Method Picker
To choose the desired keyboard layout using the language and input method picker in the Windows taskbar:
- Add the language and keyboard layout combination you want to use to Windows.
- Click the current language and input method (keyboard layout) combination in the Windows taskbar’s notification area.
- Select the desired keyboard layout and language from the menu that appears.
Choices: The choices are the same, of course, as those offered when you use the keyboard shortcut for switching.
Example: Select Hawaiʻi - Hawaiian for the Hawaiian keyboard layout.
Add a New Keyboard Layout to Windows
To add a new keyboard layout to Windows so you can switch to it or make it your new default:
- Open Windows settings.
Here’s how: Open the Start menu and select Settings.
Windows keyboard shortcut: You can also open Windows settings by pressing Windows I. - Go to the Time & language category.
- Open Language & region.
- Click the three-dots menu (⋯) for the language to which you want to add the keyboard layout.
Anything goes: You can add any keyboard layout to any language, not just the ones typically associated with it; you can add and use a French AZERTY keyboard layout with English, for instance.
New language: You can also add a new language to go with the new keyboard layout, of course. - Select Language options from the menu that appears.
- Click Add a keyboard under Keyboards.
- Choose the keyboard layout. you want to add.
Order: The keyboard layouts are sorted by those native to the language on top (sorted alphabetically by name) followed by all other layouts (sorted strictly alphabetically by name).
Example: You will find the Latin American Spanish keyboard layout under “L” (Latin American), the Spanish keyboard layout under “S” (Spanish).
How to Change the Keyboard Layout on Windows: FAQ
Can I preview a keyboard layout before adding it to Windows?
No, alas, not in Windows itself.
To examine a keyboard layout:
- Add it to Windows.
- Switch to it.
- Open the Windows on-screen keyboard to examine the keyboard layout.
(Tested with Windows 11 Version 24H2–25H2; first published December 2024, last updated January 2026)