Your keyboard language controls which characters appear when you press a key. Windows, Mac and Chromebook all support dozens of layouts including English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese and more. But sometimes you want to change the keyboard language for many reasons, e.g., your keyboard suddenly types symbols wrong, you want to add a second language, you switched from US to UK layout or you got an international laptop with weird defaults.
Quick fix. The hardest part is finding the setting. Once you do, switching takes 30 seconds.
This easy guide will help you change the keyboard language on your computer by walking you through Windows, Mac and Chromebook steps, explaining the quick shortcut to swap between languages and helping you fix the issue where your keyboard types the wrong character.
Method 1: Change Keyboard Language on Windows 11
This is the standard approach for Windows.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Click Time & language in the left sidebar.
- Click Language & region.
- Find the language you want to use. If not there, click Add a language and download one.
- Click the three dots next to your language and choose Move up to make it primary.
- For keyboard layout, click the three dots again and choose Language options.
- Under Keyboards, add or remove specific layouts.
Done. Your keyboard now types in the new language.
Method 2: Change Keyboard Language on Mac
Mac calls it Input Sources instead of keyboard language. Same idea.
- Click the Apple menu at the top left.
- Click System Settings.
- Click Keyboard in the sidebar.
- Click Edit next to Input Sources.
- Click the plus (+) at the bottom left.
- Pick the language and layout you want.
- Click Add.
New layout is now active. Use the menu bar flag icon to swap between languages.
Method 3: Change Keyboard Language on Chromebook
Chromebook calls these Input methods.
- Click the clock at the bottom right.
- Click the gear icon for Settings.
- Click Advanced > Languages and inputs.
- Click Inputs and keyboards.
- Click Add input methods.
- Pick the language layout you want and click Add.
Switch using Ctrl + Shift + Space when you want to type in the new language.
Quick Shortcut to Switch Between Languages
Real talk, this is the actual useful tip. Once you have two languages set up, use these shortcuts:
- Windows: Windows + Space or Alt + Shift
- Mac: Control + Space or Caps Lock (if enabled)
- Chromebook: Ctrl + Shift + Space
Way faster than going through Settings every time.
What If Your Keyboard Types the Wrong Symbol
Common case. You press @ and you get ” or some other symbol. Means you are on the wrong layout.
- Check your language indicator (US, UK, ENG, etc.) in the taskbar or menu bar.
- If it says something other than what you expect, click and switch.
- If only one option appears, add the correct layout following the steps above.
- If still wrong after switching, restart your computer.
That fixes 95% of accidentally-changed cases.
My Honest Opinion
If you only ever type in one language, just keep that one and remove others. Multiple layouts make the accidental-switch problem more common.
If you genuinely type in two languages, keep both and learn the keyboard shortcut. Way more reliable than digging through Settings every time you switch.
Final Thoughts
Changing keyboard language takes a few clicks in Settings on any OS. Add the layout you want, set it primary, learn the keyboard shortcut for quick switching.
Also, if you follow our steps and still face difficulties changing your keyboard language, seek help from Microsoft, Apple or Google support or leave a comment in the comment section of our blog.