How to Change Keyboard Language in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you work with multiple languages or simply want to type in a different layout, knowing how to change your keyboard language in Windows 11 is essential. Windows 11 makes it easy to add, switch, and manage keyboard languages, whether you’re multilingual or need special characters.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through step by step how to change keyboard languages, set shortcuts, and customize your typing experience.

Table of Contents

Summary — Key Takeaways

Windows 11 allows multiple keyboard languages to be installed and switched easily.
You can change the keyboard language through Settings, Taskbar, or keyboard shortcuts.
Adding a new language also installs language-specific spellcheck and text suggestions.
You can remove unused languages to keep your system clean.

Why Change Keyboard Language?

Changing keyboard language is useful for:

Typing in multiple languages without memorizing key positions.
Accessing special characters and symbols specific to a language.
Improving productivity for work, study, or communication.
Customizing your PC to match regional preferences.

Step 1: Open Windows 11 Settings

Press Win + I to open Settings.
Click Time & Language from the sidebar.
Select Language & Region.

Step 2: Add a New Keyboard Language

Under Preferred Languages, click Add a language.
Search for your desired language (e.g., Spanish, French, Japanese).
Click the language → Next.
Ensure Install language pack is checked. Optionally check Set as my Windows display language.
Click Install.

💡 Tip: Adding a language also installs keyboard layouts specific to that language.

Step 3: Switch Between Keyboard Languages

There are several ways to switch keyboard languages in Windows 11:

Option 1: Using Keyboard Shortcut

Press Win + Spacebar to cycle through installed keyboard languages.
Press Alt + Shift to switch back and forth (optional shortcut, configurable).

Option 2: Using Taskbar

Look at the language indicator on the taskbar (e.g., ENG, ESP).
Click it and select the language you want.

Step 4: Customize Keyboard Shortcuts

Go to Settings → Time & Language → Typing → Advanced Keyboard Settings.
Click Input language hot keys.
Assign custom shortcuts for switching input languages or keyboard layouts.

This is useful if you frequently switch between multiple languages.

Step 5: Remove Unused Keyboard Languages

Go to Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region.
Under Preferred Languages, select the language you no longer need.
Click Remove.

This keeps your language menu clean and easier to manage.

Step 6: Additional Tips

Enable On-Screen Keyboard: Useful for typing in new languages. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard → On-Screen Keyboard.
Text Suggestions: Some languages provide suggestions as you type. Enable under Settings → Typing → Suggestions.
Emoji & Symbols: Press Win + . (period) to access emojis and symbols for different languages.

Troubleshooting Keyboard Language Issues

Problem	Solution
Cannot type in new language	Ensure the language pack and keyboard layout are installed.
Keyboard shortcut not working	Check Advanced Keyboard Settings → Input language hot keys.
Language indicator not visible	Right-click the taskbar → Taskbar settings → Enable Input Indicator.
Special characters not working	Switch to the correct keyboard layout or use Alt codes.

Benefits of Changing Keyboard Language

Increased productivity for multilingual users.
Access to special characters and symbols.
Better typing accuracy with language-specific spellcheck.
Convenience for communication, work, and study.

Conclusion

Now you know how to change keyboard language in Windows 11 step by step.

To recap:

Open Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region.
Add the desired language and keyboard layout.
Switch languages using Win + Spacebar, Alt + Shift, or the taskbar indicator.
Customize shortcuts and remove unused languages for convenience.

Changing keyboard languages makes your Windows 11 PC more versatile and productive, especially if you work across multiple languages.

FAQs

1. Can I add multiple keyboard languages in Windows 11?
Yes, you can install and switch between as many languages as needed.

2. What is the shortcut to switch keyboard languages?
Default is Win + Spacebar, but it can be customized in Advanced Keyboard Settings.

3. Does adding a language change Windows display language?
Optional — you can choose to keep your display language or change it during installation.

4. Can I remove a keyboard language I no longer use?
Yes, go to Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region and remove it.

5. How do I type special characters in a different language?
Switch to the desired keyboard layout, use Alt codes, or enable the On-Screen Keyboard.