The fastest way to switch keyboard languages on your Mac

You can change your Mac's keyboard language by going to System Settings, selecting Keyboard, then Input Sources, and adding or switching between the languages you want. Once you add a second language, a menu appears in your menu bar (the top right of your screen) that lets you flip between them with one click. The whole process takes about two minutes.

Your Mac can store multiple keyboard layouts at once. You don't have to remove English to add Spanish, French, or any other language your Mac supports. Each one stays available, and you switch between them as you type.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, go to Keyboard, then Input Sources to add a new keyboard language.
  • Once you add a second language, a language switcher appears in your menu bar so you can toggle between them when ready.
  • You can add as many keyboard languages as you need—they all stay available at the same time.
  • If the language switcher doesn't appear in your menu bar, you may need to enable it in the same Input Sources settings.
  • Your Mac remembers which language you were using in each app, so switching back is usually automatic.

Step-by-step: adding a new keyboard language

Start by opening System Settings. You can do this by clicking the Apple menu in the top left corner and selecting System Settings, or by clicking the System Settings icon in your Dock if it's there.

Once System Settings is open, click Keyboard in the left sidebar. Then click Input Sources. You'll see a list of languages already installed on your Mac. Click the plus sign (+) at the bottom left of the window to add a new one.

A window will pop up showing all available languages. Scroll down to find the language you want—for example, Spanish, French, or German. Click it once to select it, then click Add. The language now appears in your Input Sources list.

How to switch between keyboard languages while you type

Once you've added a second language, a small flag or language code appears in your menu bar at the top right of your screen. This is your keyboard language switcher. Click it to see a dropdown menu showing all your installed keyboard languages.

Click the language you want to use right now. Your keyboard layout changes when ready. If you're typing in an app and you switch languages, that app will remember which language you were using the next time you open it—so you don't have to switch back manually every time.

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to switch languages without clicking the menu. The default shortcut is Control + Space, but you can change this in Input Sources settings if you prefer a different combination.

Where to find the language switcher if it's missing

If you've added a second language but don't see the switcher in your menu bar, it may be hidden. Go back to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. Look for a checkbox that says "Show Input menu in menu bar" or similar wording. Make sure it's checked.

If the checkbox is already checked and you still don't see the switcher, try restarting your Mac. Sometimes the menu bar needs to refresh after you add a new language.

Removing a keyboard language you no longer need

If you've added languages you don't use anymore, you can remove them. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources, click the language you want to delete, then click the minus sign (−) at the bottom left. The language is removed from your list, but you can always add it back later.

Your Mac will always keep at least one keyboard language installed, so you can't accidentally delete all of them.

Switching between different layouts of the same language

Some languages have more than one keyboard layout. For example, Spanish has both a standard layout and a Latin American layout. When you add a language, your Mac usually picks the most common layout for that region, but you can change it.

In System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources, click the language you want to adjust. A menu appears showing available layouts for that language. Select the one you prefer. Now when you switch to that language, you'll use the layout you chose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different keyboard languages in different apps at the same time?

Yes. Your Mac remembers which language you were using in each app. If you switch to Spanish in your email and then open a document, your Mac will switch back to English automatically if that's what you were using there last time. You can override this by clicking the language switcher in your menu bar.

What if my language isn't showing up in the Input Sources list?

Most languages are built into macOS, but if yours isn't there, you may need to check your Mac's language and region settings. Go to System Settings > General > Language & Region and make sure your region is set correctly. Then go back to Keyboard > Input Sources and try adding the language again.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to switch languages faster than clicking the menu?

Yes. The default shortcut is Control + Space. You can change this to a different key combination in System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. Look for the option that says "Select the previous input source" or "Select next source" and click it to set your own shortcut.

Will changing my keyboard language change the language of my Mac's menus and settings?

No. Changing your keyboard language only changes the letters and characters you type. Your Mac's menus, settings, and system language stay the same. If you want to change those, go to System Settings > General > Language & Region and select a different language there.

Can I add a keyboard language that my Mac doesn't support?

macOS supports most major languages and many regional variants. If the language you need isn't in the Input Sources list, it's not currently supported by your Mac. Check Apple's support pages to see if a newer version of macOS adds support for it, or look into third-party keyboard software designed for that language.