Switch Your MacBook Keyboard Language in System Settings
Open System Settings and go to Keyboard. Click Input Sources on the left sidebar. Click the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the list, find the language you want to add, select it, and click Add. Your new keyboard language now appears in the Input Sources list. To switch between languages while typing, hold the Control key and press the Space bar, or click the Input menu in the top-right corner of your screen and select the language you want.
The Control+Space shortcut works in most applications. If that shortcut conflicts with another program you use, you can change it: go back to Keyboard in System Settings, click Keyboard Shortcuts on the left, select Input Sources, and change the shortcut to something else—for example, Option+Space or Command+Space.
Key Takeaways
- Add a new keyboard language through System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources, then click the plus sign and select your language.
- Switch between keyboard languages while typing by holding Control and pressing Space bar, or by clicking the Input menu in the top-right corner.
- You can change the keyboard-switching shortcut if Control+Space conflicts with another program you use.
- Your MacBook remembers all added languages and keeps them available until you remove them from the Input Sources list.
Use the Input Menu in Your Menu Bar
The Input menu appears in the top-right corner of your screen once you add a second keyboard language. Click it to see all your active languages listed. Select the one you want to use, and your keyboard switches to that language when ready. The menu stays visible so you can switch back and forth as often as you need.
If you do not see the Input menu in your menu bar, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and make sure "Show Input menu in menu bar" is checked. This checkbox appears at the bottom of the Input Sources window.
Remove a Keyboard Language You No Longer Need
Open System Settings and go to Keyboard > Input Sources. Click the language you want to remove from the list, then click the minus sign (−) at the bottom. The language disappears from your Input Sources list and from the Input menu. You can add it back later if you change your mind.
Keep at least one language in your Input Sources list—your MacBook needs a default keyboard language to function. If you try to remove your last language, the system will not let you.
Check Which Language Your Keyboard Is Using Right Now
Look at the Input menu in the top-right corner of your screen. It shows the two-letter or three-letter code for your current keyboard language—for example, "EN" for English, "FR" for French, or "ZH" for Chinese. If you do not see the Input menu, your MacBook is using only one keyboard language, so there is no need to switch.
Some languages have regional variants. For example, you might add both "English (US)" and "English (UK)" if you need both. Each one appears separately in your Input Sources list and in the Input menu, so you can switch between them the same way you switch between different languages.
Troubleshoot When the Keyboard Shortcut Does Not Work
If Control+Space does not switch your keyboard language, another program may be using that shortcut. Check System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Input Sources to see what shortcut is assigned. If it shows something other than Control+Space, change it to a shortcut you know is free—try Option+Space or Command+Option+Space.
If you added a language but it does not appear in the Input menu, restart your Mac. Sometimes the menu does not refresh when ready after adding a new language. After restart, the language should show up. If it still does not appear, remove the language from Input Sources and add it again.
Set a Default Keyboard Language for Specific Applications
You can tell your MacBook to use a certain keyboard language automatically when you open a specific app. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. At the bottom of the window, check "Allow different input sources for each app" if it is not already checked. Now when you switch languages in one app and then open a different app, your MacBook remembers which language you were using in that app and switches to it automatically.
This feature is useful if you write in one language in your email client but another language in a document editor. Your MacBook learns your pattern and switches the keyboard for you. If you turn this feature off, your keyboard language stays the same across all apps until you manually switch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add more than two keyboard languages?
Yes. You can add as many languages as you need. Each one appears in the Input Sources list and in the Input menu. Switch between them using Control+Space or by clicking the Input menu and selecting the language you want.
Will adding a keyboard language change my MacBook's system language?
No. Adding a keyboard language only changes how your keyboard types. Your system language—the language your menus and settings appear in—stays the same. You change system language separately in System Settings > General > Language & Region.
What if I switch keyboard languages by accident while typing?
Undo the last few characters you typed (Command+Z), switch back to the correct language using Control+Space or the Input menu, and type again. The characters you undo will disappear, and you can retype them in the correct language.
Do I need to restart my Mac after adding a keyboard language?
Usually not. The new language appears in your Input Sources list right away. If it does not show up in the Input menu after a few seconds, restart your Mac and it should appear.
Can I use keyboard shortcuts to type special characters in a different language?
Yes, but the shortcuts depend on which keyboard language you are using. When you switch to a different language, the keyboard layout changes, so the keys produce different characters. For example, on a French AZERTY keyboard, the Q key types A instead. Check your language's keyboard layout in System Settings or online to learn the new key positions.