How to switch your keyboard language

The way you change keyboard language depends on what device you use. On Windows, you add a new language in Settings, then switch between them using the language bar or a keyboard shortcut. On Mac, you go to System Settings and add the language the same way, then toggle it from the menu bar. On phones and tablets, the process is built into your keyboard app itself — you usually long-press the space bar or tap a globe icon to pick a different language.

Once you add a second language, switching back and forth takes one or two taps or clicks. You do not have to restart your device or reinstall anything. The language you choose affects how your keyboard maps keys — so if you switch to French, pressing the A key types Q instead, because French keyboards have a different layout.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users add a language in Settings under Time & Language, then switch using the language bar at the bottom right or by pressing Windows key + Space.
  • Mac users add a language in System Settings under Keyboard, then switch from the menu bar at the top right or by pressing Control + Space.
  • iPhone and iPad users long-press the space bar in any text field to see all available keyboards, or tap the globe icon if your keyboard app shows one.
  • Android users tap and hold the space bar or look for a globe icon on the keyboard to switch languages without leaving the app you are typing in.
  • Adding a language does not delete your original keyboard — you can switch between them as many times as you want throughout the day.

Changing keyboard language on Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, or click the Start button and type "Settings". Once Settings opens, click Time & Language on the left side, then click Language & Region.

Under "Preferred languages", click the blue Add a language button. A window will pop up showing all available languages. Find the language you want — you can scroll or type the first letter to jump down the list. Click it once to select it, then click Next.

Windows will ask whether you want to set this as your display language or just add it as a keyboard option. If you only want to type in that language and keep your menus in English, uncheck the box that says "Set as my Windows display language", then click Install. If you want your entire system in that language, leave the box checked.

Once the language installs, go back to Settings and look for the language bar at the bottom right of your screen — it shows your current keyboard language as two letters (EN for English, FR for French, and so on). Click it to see a dropdown menu of all your keyboards, or press Windows key + Space to cycle through them quickly.

Changing keyboard language on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click Keyboard in the sidebar, then click the Input Sources tab.

Click the plus button at the bottom left of the window. A list of languages will appear. Find the language you want and click it. If the language has multiple keyboard layouts (for example, French has both AZERTY and QWERTY options), you will see them listed underneath — select the one you want, then click Add.

Once you add a language, a flag or language code will appear in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Click it to switch between keyboards, or press Control + Space to cycle through them. If you do not see the menu bar icon, go back to Input Sources, make sure your new language is checked, and look for a checkbox that says "Show Input menu in menu bar" — check it if it is not already.

Changing keyboard language on iPhone and iPad

Open any app where you can type — Messages, Notes, Mail, or a web browser search box. Tap in the text field to bring up the keyboard. Look at the bottom of the keyboard for a globe icon or a key labeled with your current language code.

Long-press (hold your finger down) on the space bar for about one second. A menu will pop up showing all the keyboards you have added to your device. Tap the one you want to use. If you do not see a globe icon or the long-press does not work, you may not have added a second keyboard yet.

To add a new keyboard on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap General, then Keyboard. Tap Keyboards, then Add New Keyboard. Scroll through the list of languages, tap the one you want, and tap it again to confirm. You can add as many keyboards as you want — they will all appear in the menu when you long-press the space bar.

Changing keyboard language on Android

Open any app where you can type and tap in a text field to bring up your keyboard. Look for a globe icon on the keyboard itself — it is usually near the space bar. Tap it once to switch to your next keyboard, or tap and hold it to see a list of all available keyboards.

If you do not see a globe icon, your keyboard app may not support multiple languages, or you have not added a second language yet. To add a new keyboard, open Settings and search for "Languages" or "Keyboard". The exact path varies by phone manufacturer and Android version, but look for an option like Languages and Input or Keyboard Settings.

Once you find keyboard settings, tap Virtual Keyboard or the name of your keyboard app (such as Gboard or Samsung Keyboard). Look for an option to add languages or keyboards. Tap it, find the language you want, and tap to add it. The new keyboard will appear in the globe menu the next time you type.

What happens when you switch keyboard languages

When you change to a different keyboard language, the physical layout of keys changes. If you switch from English (QWERTY) to French (AZERTY), the top row of letter keys will type AZERTYUIOP instead of QWERTYUIOP. This is because different countries use different keyboard layouts for efficiency in their own languages.

Your device remembers which language you last used in each app. If you type in French in Messages and then switch to Mail, Mail might still be set to English. You can switch back and forth as many times as you want — there is no limit, and switching does not slow down your device or use extra storage.

If you add a language but never use it, it takes up very little space. You can remove a keyboard at any time by going back to your keyboard settings and deleting it. Your original keyboard will always remain unless you actively remove it.

Troubleshooting keyboard language problems

If you added a language but the keyboard does not appear when you try to switch, restart your device. On Windows, restart your computer. On Mac, restart your Mac. On phone, turn it off and back on. This refreshes the keyboard system and usually fixes the problem.

If the globe icon does not appear on Android, your keyboard app may not support multiple languages. Some older or simpler keyboard apps only work with one language at a time. Try switching to Gboard (Google's keyboard) or another app that supports multiple languages — you can read these free from the Play Store.

If you are typing in the wrong language by accident, check which keyboard is currently active. On Windows, look at the language bar in the bottom right. On Mac, look at the menu bar in the top right. On phone, look for the language code or flag on the keyboard itself. If it shows the wrong language, tap or click to switch before you start typing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use two keyboard languages at the same time?

No, you type in one language at a time. But you can switch between them when ready — on Windows by pressing Windows key + Space, on Mac by pressing Control + Space, and on phone by tapping the globe icon. You can switch as many times as you want within a single message or document.

Will changing my keyboard language change the language of my apps and menus?

Not unless you tell it to. On Windows, when you add a language, you can uncheck the box that says "Set as my Windows display language" to keep your menus in English while adding a keyboard. On Mac and phone, adding a keyboard does not change your system language at all — only how your keys map when you type.

What if I want to type in a language that uses a different alphabet, like Arabic or Chinese?

You add these languages the same way as any other. When you switch to Arabic or Chinese, your keyboard will show the correct alphabet or characters. On phone, you may see a different keyboard layout or input method — for example, Chinese keyboards often use pinyin (typing the sound of the character) rather than drawing it. The process is the same: add the language in settings, then switch to it when you want to type.

Do I need to read anything to add a new keyboard language?

No. All common languages are built into Windows, Mac, and phone operating systems. When you add a language, your device uses what is already installed. You do not need to visit a website or read a separate app unless you want a specialized keyboard for a language your device does not include by default.

Can I remove a keyboard language after I add it?

Yes. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region, find the language you want to remove, click it, and click the Remove button. On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources, select the language, and click the minus button. On phone, go to keyboard settings and delete it from your list. Your original keyboard will remain unless you remove that too.