How to change keyboard language in Windows

If you need to type in a foreign language on your computer, you can do so by changing the input language (i.e. keyboard language). Just follow the instructions below

 

Windows 10 Windows XP

Instructions for Windows 10

  1. Press the Windows key and the letter I ( + I )
  2. Click Time & language icon
  3. Click Region and Language on the left list
  4. Click Add a language
  5. Choose the language that you want to add

Switch between different input languages

If you've added more than one language to your PC you can switch between different input languages by using one of the following methods:

  • Method 1: Click the language abbreviation button on the taskbar (bottom right corner of your screen, next to the clock) and then click the input method you want to switch to

  • Method 2: Press and hold the Windows logo key and then press the Spacebar repeatedly

Instructions for Windows XP

  1. Click Start and then Control Panel
  2. In Control Panel, if you are in Category View, click on Switch to Classic View (top left corner)
  3. Open Regional and Language Options.
  4. Click on the Languages tab.
  5. Under Text services and input languages, click on the Details button.
  6. Under Installed services, click Add.
  7. In the Add Input Language dialog box, choose the input language and keyboard layout or Input Method Editor (IME) you want to add.
  8. Click OK twice. You should now see a language indicator in the System Tray (located at bottom right hand corner of the desktop by default). You can switch between different input languages (= keyboard languages) by pressing the Alt + Shift keys

If a language does not appear in the Input language list, the fonts for that language might not be installed. If that is the case, follow the instructions below.

 

Add language support

  1. Click Start and then Control Panel
  2. In Control Panel, if you are in Category View, click on Switch to Classic View
  3. Open Regional and Language Options in Control Panel.
  4. Click on the Languages tab.
  5. Under Supplemental language support, select the check box beside the applicable language collection
  6. Click OK or Apply. You will prompted to insert the Windows CD-ROM or point to a network location where the files are located. After the files are installed, you must restart your computer.
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