Switch your keyboard language through System Settings

Open System Settings on your Mac, then go to Keyboard in the left sidebar. Click the Input Sources tab. You will see a list of languages already installed on your Mac — click the plus sign at the bottom left to add a new language, or select an existing one and click the minus sign to remove it.

Once you have added a language, you can switch between them using the Input menu in your menu bar (the flag or letters icon in the top right corner of your screen). Click it and select the language you want to use. On most Macs, you can also hold down the Option key and press the spacebar to cycle through your installed keyboard languages quickly.

If you do not see the Input menu in your menu bar, go back to Keyboard settings, click Input Sources, and check the box next to Show Input menu in menu bar. This makes switching languages much faster when you are typing.

Key Takeaways

  • Add new keyboard languages in System Settings under Keyboard > Input Sources by clicking the plus sign.
  • Switch between installed languages using the Input menu icon in your menu bar, or press Option + spacebar to cycle through them.
  • Enable the Input menu in your menu bar so you can see which language is currently active and switch quickly.
  • You can install as many keyboard languages as you need, and remove any you no longer use from the same Input Sources tab.
  • Your Mac remembers which languages you have installed, so you will not need to add them again after restarting.

Finding and adding languages you do not see listed

If the language you want is not showing in your Input Sources list, you may need to install it first. Go to System Settings, then General, then Language & Region. Look for your language in the list under Preferred Languages. If it is not there, click the plus sign and search for it by name or country.

After you add a language to your Preferred Languages list, go back to Keyboard > Input Sources and you should now see it available to add. Some languages come with multiple keyboard layouts — for example, Spanish offers both Spain and Latin American options. Choose the one that matches the keyboard layout you use.

Using the right keyboard layout for your language

When you add a language, your Mac automatically assigns a keyboard layout that matches it. English gets QWERTY, French gets AZERTY, and so on. If you want to use a different layout for the same language — for instance, Dvorak instead of QWERTY for English — you can change this in Input Sources.

Click the language in your Input Sources list, then look at the options that appear on the right side. Some languages show multiple layout choices. Select the one you want to use. If you switch between layouts often, add the same language twice with different layouts, then toggle between them using the Input menu.

Switching languages while you type

Once you have set up your keyboard languages, you can switch between them without stopping your work. Use the Input menu in your menu bar, or press Option + spacebar to cycle through your languages in the order they appear in your Input Sources list. On some Macs, you can also use Control + spacebar, though this may conflict with Spotlight search.

If you find yourself switching languages constantly, consider using the keyboard shortcut instead of the menu. It is faster and keeps your hands on the keyboard. You can also rearrange the order of your languages in Input Sources by dragging them up or down — the order you set here is the order Option + spacebar will cycle through them.

Fixing common problems with keyboard language switching

If the Input menu does not appear in your menu bar after you enable it, restart your Mac. Sometimes the menu bar does not refresh when ready after changing settings. If restarting does not work, go back to Keyboard > Input Sources and uncheck then recheck the box next to Show Input menu in menu bar.

If you add a language but it does not show up in Input Sources, make sure you have added it to your Preferred Languages first in System Settings > General > Language & Region. Your Mac needs to know you want that language on your system before it will let you use it as a keyboard input source. After adding it to Preferred Languages, wait a few seconds, then check Input Sources again.

If Option + spacebar is not working, check whether another app has claimed that keyboard shortcut. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts, then look under Input Sources to see what shortcut is assigned. You can change it here if you need to avoid a conflict with another program.

Setting a default keyboard language

Your Mac does not have a single "default" language setting for all apps, but you can set which language appears first in your Input Sources list. Whichever language is at the top of the list in Keyboard > Input Sources will be the one your Mac uses when you first start typing in a new document or app. Drag your preferred language to the top of the list to make it your starting point.

Some apps also remember which language you used last time you typed in them. If you write mostly in English but switch to French for certain documents, the app may automatically switch back to French the next time you open that document. This behavior varies by app and is not something you control in System Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, your Mac uses one keyboard language at a time across all apps. When you switch languages using the Input menu or Option + spacebar, that language becomes active everywhere until you switch again. However, some apps remember which language you used last and may switch back to it automatically when you open that app.

What if I want to type in multiple languages in the same document?

Switch languages using the Input menu or Option + spacebar whenever you need to change. Your Mac will type in whichever language is currently active. You can switch back and forth as many times as you need within the same document or sentence.

Do I need to restart my Mac after adding a new keyboard language?

No, new keyboard languages are available when ready after you add them in Input Sources. You can start using them right away by switching through the Input menu or using Option + spacebar.

Can I remove a keyboard language without removing it from my system?

Yes. Removing a language from Input Sources does not uninstall it from your Mac — it just removes it from your keyboard switching menu. You can add it back anytime by going to Keyboard > Input Sources and clicking the plus sign again.

Why is my keyboard language changing on its own?

Some apps automatically switch to the language you used last time you typed in them. This is app behavior, not a Mac system setting. If this is annoying, manually switch back to your preferred language each time you open that app, or use a different app that does not have this feature.