Add a new keyboard language option windows

Add a New Keyboard Language Option in Windows for Multilingual Typing

Whether you’re bilingual, learning a new language, or need to type characters specific to a different region, knowing how to add a new keyboard language option in Windows is essential. Windows 10 and Windows 11 make it straightforward to install multiple keyboard layouts and switch between them seamlessly. This guide will walk you through the process.

Why Add a New Keyboard Language Option?

Adding different keyboard language options to your Windows setup allows you to:

• Type in various languages using their specific characters and diacritics (e.g., é, ñ, ü).
• Access different keyboard layouts (like QWERTY, AZERTY, or QWERTZ) that suit your typing style or regional needs.
• Easily switch between languages when writing multilingual documents or communicating with people in different languages.
• Utilize language-specific proofing tools if the display language is also changed or a language pack is fully installed.

How to Add a New Keyboard Language Option in Windows 11

Windows 11 has a slightly redesigned Settings app, but the core process remains intuitive.

Accessing Language Settings

1. Open Settings:
   • Click the Start button (the Windows logo) on the taskbar.
   • Select the Settings app (the gear icon). Alternatively, press the Windows key + I.
2. Navigate to Time & Language:
   • In the Settings window, click on Time & language in the left-hand sidebar.
3. Go to Language & region:
   • Click on Language & region.

Adding the Language and Keyboard

1. Add a Display Language (which usually includes a keyboard):
   • Under the “Language” section, click the + Add a language button next to “Preferred languages.”
   • In the “Choose a language to install” window, type the name of the language you want to add or scroll through the list.
   • Select the desired language from the search results and click Next.
   • On the “Install language features” screen, ensure “Language pack” is checked. You can also choose to install optional features like “Text-to-speech” or “Handwriting.” Importantly, this step typically adds a default keyboard for that language.
   • You can also choose whether to “Set as my Windows display language” here. If you only want the keyboard, you can leave this unchecked.
   • Click Install. Windows will download and install the language pack and associated keyboard.
2. Add a Specific Keyboard Layout to an Existing Language (if needed):
   • Once a language is added to your “Preferred languages” list (or if you want a different keyboard layout for an already installed language like English), click the three dots (…) next to that language.
   • Select Language options.
   • Scroll down to the “Keyboards” section.
   • Click the + Add a keyboard button.
   • Select the specific keyboard layout you want from the list (e.g., “United States-International” for typing special characters with an English keyboard, or “French (AZERTY)”).

How to Add a New Keyboard Language Option in Windows 10

The steps in Windows 10 are very similar, primarily done through the Settings app.

Accessing Language Settings

1. Open Settings:
   • Click the Start button.
   • Select the Settings app (the gear icon).
2. Navigate to Time & Language:
   • In the Settings window, click on Time & Language.
3. Go to Language:
   • In the left-hand pane, click on Language.

Adding the Language and Keyboard

1. Add a Display Language (which includes a keyboard):
   • Under the “Preferred languages” section, click the + Add a preferred language button.
   • In the “Choose a language to install” window, search for or select the language you wish to add.
   • Click Next.
   • Ensure “Install language pack” is checked. You can also choose optional features.
   • You can also choose whether to “Set as my Windows display language.”
   • Click Install.
2. Add a Specific Keyboard Layout to an Existing Language:
   • Under “Preferred languages,” click on the language to which you want to add a keyboard (e.g., English (United States)).
   • Click the Options button that appears.
   • Under the “Keyboards” section, click the + Add a keyboard button.
   • Select the desired keyboard layout from the list.

Switching Between Keyboard Language Options

Once you’ve added multiple keyboard language options, switching between them is easy:

• Using the Language Bar (Input Indicator): Look for the language abbreviation (e.g., ENG, FRA) in the notification area of your taskbar (usually near the clock). Click on it to see a list of your installed keyboard layouts and select the one you want to use.
• Using Keyboard Shortcuts: The most common shortcut to switch between keyboard layouts is Windows key + Spacebar. Pressing these keys together will cycle through your installed keyboards. Another shortcut often used is Left Alt + Shift.

Removing a Keyboard Language Option

If you no longer need a specific keyboard layout or language:

1. Go back to the language settings where you added it:
   • Windows 11: Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
   • Windows 10: Settings > Time & Language > Language.
2. For a specific keyboard layout within a language:
   • Click the three dots (…) next to the language (Windows 11) or click the language and then “Options” (Windows 10).
   • Under “Keyboards,” click the three dots (…) next to the keyboard layout you want to remove and select Remove.
3. To remove an entire language (and its associated keyboards):
   • In the “Preferred languages” list, click the three dots (…) next to the language you want to remove (Windows 11) or click the language itself (Windows 10).
   • Select Remove. (Note: You cannot remove the language if it’s currently set as your Windows display language. You’d need to set another language as the display language first).

Knowing how to add a new keyboard language option in Windows empowers you to type efficiently in multiple languages and use various regional character sets, making your PC a more versatile tool for global communication and work.