How to change keyboard layout on Windows 10

Although Windows 10 allows you to configure multiple keyboard layouts when setting up a new installation, you can always add or remove layouts if you did not select the correct option or you now require to type in another language.

Usually, it is rare having to modify the input settings, but it’s not uncommon. For example, sometimes you may need to switch to the Spanish layout to write words that include special characters like “Ñ,” or prefer a different layout, such as the United States-Dvorak.

Whatever the reason it might be, Windows 10 includes easy to manage settings to add, remove, and change layouts for hardware and touch keyboards.

In this Windows 10 guide, we will walk you through the steps to add, change, and remove keyboard layouts in your current setup.

How to add keyboard layout on Windows 10

To add a new keyboard layout on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Time & Language.
3. Click on Language.
4. Under the “Preferred languages” section, select the default language.

5. Click the Options button.

   Source: Windows Central

6. Under the “Keyboards” section, click the Add a keyboard button.

7. Select the new keyboard layout you want to use.

   Source: Windows Central

8. Repeat steps No. 6 and 7 to add more layouts.

Once you complete the steps, the new keyboard layout will be added to the device, and you can switch between them using the instructions below.

How to change keyboard layout on Windows 10

While the process to change layouts is straightforward, the switch will reconfigure some of the keyboard keys, which means that the keys may print a different character depending on your configuration.

To switch between Windows 10 keyboard layouts, use these steps:

1. Click the Input Indicator icon in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar.

2. Select the alternate layout.

   Source: Windows Central

3. Repeat steps No. 1 and 2 to switch back to the default layout.

After you complete the steps, you can start typing with the new keyboard layout.

Enable Input Indicator

If the Input Indicator is not available in the taskbar, you can enable it using the Settings app.

To enable the Input Indicator in the taskbar, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Taskbar.

4. Under the “Notification area” section, click the Turn system icons on or off option.

   Source: Windows Central

5. Turn on the Input Indicator toggle switch.

   Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, the icon will appear in the taskbar’s notification area, allowing you to see the available layouts and switch between them.

Alternatively, you can also use the Windows key + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to cycle between the available keyboard layouts quickly.

How to remove keyboard layout on Windows 10

To remove a keyboard layout on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Time & Language.
3. Click on Language.
4. Under the “Preferred languages” section, select the default language.

5. Click the Options button.

   Source: Windows Central

6. Under the “Keyboards” section, select the keyboard from the list.

7. Click the Remove button.

   Source: Windows Central

8. Repeat steps No. 6 and 7 to remove additional layouts.

Once you complete the steps, the layout for the keyboard you selected will be removed from the computer.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources: