How to Add International Keyboard Windows 11

Have you ever needed to type in another language on your Windows 11 PC but didn’t know how to add an international keyboard? Whether you’re learning a new language, working with multilingual documents, or chatting with friends abroad, adding an international keyboard can make typing in different languages smooth and effortless.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to add an international keyboard in Windows 11, explain what it does, how to switch between layouts, and even how to remove it if you no longer need it. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

🧭 What Is an International Keyboard in Windows 11?

An international keyboard layout allows you to type characters and symbols from different languages easily — like ñ, é, ü, ç, or ¿ — without needing separate physical keyboards.

With it, you can:

Type accented letters and diacritical marks.
Communicate in multiple languages seamlessly.
Work with international documents and websites.

Windows 11 makes this easier than ever through its built-in language and region settings.

💡 Why Add an International Keyboard?

Before we jump into the how-to part, let’s understand the “why.”

Here’s why adding an international keyboard in Windows 11 is helpful:

🌍 Multilingual communication: Perfect for typing in English, Spanish, French, German, or any other supported language.
✍️ Academic or work use: Essential for writers, translators, and students dealing with foreign languages.
💬 Global collaboration: Great for messaging, emailing, and social networking in multiple languages.
🎓 Learning aid: Language learners can practice accurate spelling and pronunciation.

In short — if you type in more than one language, this feature is a must-have!

🖥️ How to Add International Keyboard in Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

Now let’s get hands-on! Follow these simple steps to add an international keyboard layout to your Windows 11 PC.

🔹 Step 1: Open Windows Settings

Click the Start Menu (Windows icon) on your taskbar.
Select Settings (you can also press Windows + I).

🔹 Step 2: Go to Time & Language

In the left sidebar, click Time & Language.
Choose Language & region from the right panel.

🔹 Step 3: Add a New Language

Under the Preferred languages section, click Add a language.
A search box will appear — type the language you want (e.g., Spanish, French, German).
Select your preferred version (for example, Spanish – Spain).
Click Next.

💬 Tip: You can also install additional features like text-to-speech or handwriting if needed.

🔹 Step 4: Install the Language Pack

Review the optional features and click Install.
Wait for Windows to download and install the language pack.

🔹 Step 5: Add the Keyboard Layout

Once installed, you’ll see the language listed under Preferred languages.
Click the three-dot menu (⋯) next to the language.
Select Language options.
Under Keyboards, click Add a keyboard.
From the list, choose United States-International or another preferred international layout.

That’s it — your new keyboard is now active!

⌨️ How to Switch Between Keyboards in Windows 11

Once you’ve added multiple keyboards, you’ll want to switch between them easily.

Here are a few ways to do it:

🔸 Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut

Press Windows + Spacebar to toggle between available keyboards instantly.

🔸 Method 2: Language Icon on Taskbar

Look at the right side of your taskbar — you’ll see a language abbreviation (like ENG, ESP, FRA).
Click it to open the list of available keyboards.
Select your desired layout.

🔸 Method 3: Settings Menu

You can also manually switch from:

Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region → Keyboards

🌐 What Is the US-International Keyboard Layout?

The US-International layout is one of the most popular options. It lets you type accented letters and symbols using simple key combinations.

Here’s a handy table for quick reference:

Character	Shortcut (on US-International layout)
á, é, í, ó, ú	Press `'` + letter (e.g., `'` then `a`)
ñ	Press `~` + `n`
ü	Press `"` + `u`
ç	Press `Right Alt + ,`
¿	Press `Right Alt + /`
¡	Press `Right Alt + 1`
€	Press `Right Alt + 5`

This layout is ideal for typing in European languages without constantly switching layouts.

🧩 How to Remove an International Keyboard in Windows 11

Don’t need an extra keyboard anymore? Removing it is just as easy.

Steps:

Go to Settings → Time & Language → Language & region.
Under Preferred languages, select the language containing your keyboard.
Click the three dots (⋯) → Language options.
Under Keyboards, click the keyboard layout you want to remove.
Choose Remove.

Done! The layout disappears instantly.

🛠️ How to Change Keyboard Shortcuts for Switching Languages

If you accidentally keep switching keyboards while typing, you can customize or disable shortcuts.

Open Settings → Time & Language → Typing.
Click Advanced keyboard settings.
Select Input language hot keys.
Choose your preferred key combinations — or disable them entirely.

This gives you total control over how you change input methods.

🔤 How to Use Emoji, Accents, and Symbols with International Keyboard

Want to type emojis, symbols, or accented characters even faster? Windows 11 has built-in tools to help.

✴️ Emoji Panel

Press Windows + . (period) to open the emoji panel.
From here, you can add emojis, kaomoji (╯°□°）╯, and symbols.

✴️ Character Map

Type Character Map in the Start menu search bar.
It shows you all available symbols for your selected font — you can copy-paste any special character.

✴️ Alt Codes

If you know the Alt code, hold Alt and type the numeric code (e.g., Alt + 164 for ñ).

💬 How to Add Multiple International Keyboards

You’re not limited to one international layout! You can add several and switch between them easily.

For example:

English (United States)
French (France)
Spanish (Mexico)
German (Germany)

Follow the same steps above to add each layout. Windows will remember your preferences automatically.

🧠 Common Problems When Adding International Keyboard — and How to Fix Them

Let’s troubleshoot some frequent issues users face.

❌ Keyboard Doesn’t Appear in Taskbar

Go to Settings → Time & Language → Typing → Advanced keyboard settings.
Check “Use the desktop language bar when it’s available.”

❌ Special Characters Not Working

Make sure you selected the correct layout (like US-International).
Restart your computer after changes.

❌ Can’t Switch Keyboards

Try pressing Windows + Spacebar.
If that fails, open the language icon manually.

📱 Can You Add an International Keyboard on Touch Keyboard (Tablet Mode)?

Yes! Windows 11 supports international layouts on touch keyboards too.

Tap the Keyboard icon on the taskbar.
Tap the gear icon ⚙️ → Language & layout.
Add or switch your keyboard layout.

You can now type accented characters by long-pressing keys.

🧰 Advanced Tip: Use PowerShell to Add Keyboards Quickly

For tech enthusiasts, you can use PowerShell to add keyboard layouts programmatically.

Search for PowerShell → right-click → Run as administrator.
Run this command:

Set-WinUserLanguageList -LanguageList en-US, es-ES -Force

This adds both English (US) and Spanish (Spain) keyboards instantly.

⚙️ Note: Replace es-ES with your desired language code (e.g., fr-FR for French, de-DE for German).

🔐 How Adding an International Keyboard Improves Productivity

Here’s why using an international keyboard can be a game-changer:

You can type faster in multiple languages without using online tools.
It helps you avoid translation errors by typing accents correctly.
You can personalize your typing experience for work or study.

In a globalized world, it’s a small step with big benefits!

✅ Conclusion: Master Multilingual Typing on Windows 11

Adding an international keyboard in Windows 11 is quick, simple, and incredibly useful.
With a few clicks, you can unlock the ability to type fluently in any language, access special characters, and communicate globally with confidence.

Here’s a quick recap:

Open Settings → Time & Language → Language & region.
Add a new language and install the international keyboard layout.
Switch layouts using Windows + Spacebar.
Customize, remove, or add more layouts as needed.

Whether you’re typing “¡Hola!” or “Bonjour!”, Windows 11 makes it effortless.

❓FAQs About Adding International Keyboard in Windows 11

1. How do I know which keyboard layout is active?

Look at the language abbreviation on the taskbar (e.g., ENG, ESP, FRA). It shows your active layout.

2. Can I add multiple international keyboards?

Yes. You can add as many as you like — each for different languages.

3. What’s the difference between US and US-International layout?

The US layout doesn’t support accented characters easily, while US-International allows you to type accents and special symbols.

4. Will changing keyboard layout affect my system language?

No. Changing your keyboard layout doesn’t change your Windows display language.

5. How can I type accents without switching keyboards?

Use the US-International layout and shortcuts like ' + e = é, ~ + n = ñ.

📝 Key Takeaways Summary

Topic	Key Point
Feature	Adds multilingual typing capability to Windows 11
How to Add	Settings → Time & Language → Language & region → Add language → Add keyboard
Switch Shortcut	Windows + Spacebar
Popular Layout	US-International
Use Cases	Typing in multiple languages, learning foreign scripts, global communication

With this setup, your Windows 11 device becomes a truly international typing powerhouse — perfect for global communication, studies, and work.

Now it’s your turn: try adding an international keyboard today and experience seamless multilingual typing on your Windows 11 PC!

How to Add International Keyboard Windows 11 – A Step-by-Step Guide