The fastest way to switch keyboard languages on Mac

Open System Settings, go to Keyboard, then Input Sources, and add the language you want. Once it's there, you can switch between languages using the flag icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen, or by pressing the keyboard shortcut Control + Space (or Control + Option + Space if you have multiple languages set up).

The whole process takes about two minutes. You don't need to restart your Mac or install anything extra — the languages are already built in.

Key Takeaways

  • You add new keyboard languages through System Settings under Keyboard > Input Sources, not through a separate language pack.
  • Once added, you switch between languages using the flag menu in the top menu bar or by pressing Control + Space.
  • Your Mac stores multiple keyboard languages at once, so you can toggle between them without removing the old one.
  • If the flag icon doesn't appear in your menu bar, you may need to check the "Show Input menu in menu bar" box in Input Sources settings.

Step-by-step: Adding a new keyboard language

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. On newer Macs (Ventura and later), this opens directly. On older versions, you may see System Preferences instead — the steps are the same.

In System Settings, click Keyboard in the left sidebar. Then click Input Sources. You'll see a list of languages already on your Mac. Click the plus sign (+) at the bottom left of that list.

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

How to switch between keyboard languages once they're installed

The easiest way is to use the flag icon in your menu bar. Look at the top right of your screen — you should see a small flag or language abbreviation. Click it, and a dropdown menu shows all your installed keyboard languages. Click the one you want to use right now.

If you prefer a keyboard shortcut, press Control + Space to cycle through your languages one at a time. If you have more than two languages, each press moves to the next one in your list. You can also press Control + Option + Space to cycle backward.

Your Mac remembers which language you were using in each app. If you switch to French in your email, then open a web browser and switch to English, the browser stays in English the next time you open it — even if you were using French before.

Making the flag icon visible if it's missing

Sometimes the flag doesn't show up in your menu bar even after you add a language. Go back to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and look for a checkbox that says "Show Input menu in menu bar." Make sure it's checked.

If it's already checked but you still don't see the flag, try clicking the checkbox to uncheck it, wait a few seconds, then check it again. This forces your Mac to refresh the menu bar.

Removing a keyboard language you no longer need

Open System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. Find the language you want to remove in the list, click it once to select it, then click the minus sign (−) at the bottom left. The language is removed when ready, but you can add it back anytime using the same plus sign.

You must keep at least one language installed — your Mac won't let you remove the last one. If you only want one language, you're already set and don't need to remove anything.

Keyboard layouts versus keyboard languages

When you add a language, your Mac also adds the standard keyboard layout for that language. Spanish comes with the Spanish layout, French comes with the French layout, and so on. The layout determines where each letter appears on your keyboard.

Some languages have multiple layouts available. For example, you can choose between Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, or between different ways to type Japanese. When you add a language, the most common layout is selected by default, but you can change it in Input Sources if you need a different one.

If you want to keep using your English keyboard layout but just need to type in another language occasionally, you may want to look into character input methods or third-party tools instead — but for most people, switching the full keyboard layout is simpler.

Troubleshooting: Language won't switch or flag won't appear

If clicking the flag does nothing, or if the keyboard language doesn't actually change when you select it, restart your Mac. This usually fixes menu bar glitches. After restart, try clicking the flag again.

If the flag still doesn't appear after you've checked "Show Input menu in menu bar," try removing the language and adding it again. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources, click the language, click the minus sign, then add it back with the plus sign.

If you're using an external keyboard and the language switches but the keys don't match what you see on the physical keyboard, you may have the wrong layout selected. Go back to Input Sources, click the language, and look for a dropdown menu that lets you choose a different layout for that language.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use multiple keyboard languages at the same time?

Yes. You can add as many languages as you want in Input Sources, and your Mac will remember which one you were using in each app. Switch between them using the flag menu or Control + Space.

Will changing my keyboard language affect my system language or spell-check?

No. Your keyboard language only controls which letters appear when you type. Your system language (the language your menus and settings appear in) is separate and lives in System Settings > General > Language & Region. Spell-check will match whichever keyboard language you're currently using.

What if my language isn't in the list?

Most major languages are built into macOS. If you don't see yours, check that you're looking in the full list — scroll all the way to the bottom. If it's truly not there, your Mac may not support that language natively, and you may need a third-party input method.

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

No. The language is ready to use when ready after you click Add. The flag should appear in your menu bar within a few seconds.

Can I change the keyboard shortcut for switching languages?

Yes. In System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts, click Input Sources on the left, then look for "Select the previous input source" and "Select next source". Click the shortcut listed next to each one and type a new key combination you prefer.