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 added, you'll see a flag or language code in your menu bar at the top right of the screen. Click it to switch between languages when ready while you type.

The whole process takes about two minutes. You don't need to restart your Mac or close any programs. The language you choose stays active until you switch to a different one, and you can add as many languages as you use regularly.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources to add a new keyboard language to your Mac.
  • Once added, a language switcher appears in your menu bar so you can toggle between languages without leaving your document.
  • You can add multiple languages and switch between them with a single click or keyboard shortcut.
  • Removing a language you no longer use keeps your menu bar clean and your keyboard settings organized.

Step-by-step: adding a keyboard language

Start by clicking the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. On newer Macs (Monterey and later), this opens the main settings window. On older Macs, you may see System Preferences instead — the steps are the same.

Click Keyboard in the left sidebar. Then click Input Sources. You'll see a list of languages already on your Mac, usually just English. Click the plus sign (+) at the bottom left of the list. A window opens showing every language available. Find the language you want — you can scroll or type the first letter to jump to it — then click it once to select it. Some languages offer multiple keyboard layouts (for example, French AZERTY or French QWERTY). Choose the layout that matches your physical keyboard, then click Add.

The language now appears in your Input Sources list. Close System Settings. You're done — the language switcher is already in your menu bar.

Using the menu bar switcher to change languages

Look at the top right of your screen. You should see a flag or two-letter code (like "EN" for English or "FR" for French). This is your language switcher. Click it, and a dropdown menu shows all the languages you've added. Click the one you want to use right now.

Your keyboard layout changes when ready. If you're typing in a document, the next character you type will use the new language's layout. The switcher stays in your menu bar so you can switch back and forth as many times as you need in a single day.

If you don't see the switcher in your menu bar, go back to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and make sure at least two languages are listed. The switcher only appears when you have more than one language added.

Using keyboard shortcuts to switch languages faster

If you switch languages often, using your keyboard is faster than clicking the menu bar. By default, Mac lets you press Control + Space to cycle through your languages. Each time you press it, the next language in your list becomes active.

You can change this shortcut if you prefer a different key combination. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts. Click Input Sources in the left sidebar. You'll see "Select the previous input source" and "Select next input source" listed. Click the shortcut next to whichever one you want to change, then press the keys you'd like to use instead. Mac will accept almost any combination of modifier keys (Control, Option, Command, Shift) plus a regular key.

Removing a language you no longer need

If you added a language but no longer use it, removing it cleans up your menu bar and your settings. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. Click the language you want to remove from the list, then click the minus sign (−) at the bottom left. It's gone when ready — you can always add it back later if you change your mind.

Keep at least one language in your Input Sources list. Mac requires you to have a default language, so you can't remove all of them.

Troubleshooting: language switcher not appearing

If you've added a second language but don't see the switcher in your menu bar, restart your Mac. Sometimes the switcher doesn't appear until you restart. If it still doesn't show up after restarting, go back to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and confirm that at least two languages are listed there.

If you see the switcher but it's not working, try clicking it and selecting a language manually. If nothing happens, restart your Mac again. Keyboard settings sometimes need a restart to take effect fully.

On very old Macs (before 2015), the language switcher may appear in a different location or use a different name. Check your menu bar for any flag icon or language code, or search "Input Sources" in System Settings to find where it's located on your specific model.

Switching between keyboard layouts for the same language

Some languages have more than one keyboard layout. English, for example, has QWERTY (standard US), QWERTY (UK), and Dvorak. French has AZERTY and QWERTY versions. When you add a language, you choose one layout, but you can add the same language multiple times with different layouts if you need both.

Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. Click the plus sign, find your language, and this time select a different layout from the dropdown menu before clicking Add. Now both layouts appear in your Input Sources list, and you can switch between them using the menu bar switcher or your keyboard shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the keyboard language just for one program?

No. The language you select applies to your entire Mac until you switch to a different one. However, you can set up different languages for different user accounts on the same Mac. Each account has its own Input Sources list, so you could have one account set to French and another to English.

Will changing the keyboard language affect my spell-check?

Yes. When you switch to a different language, Mac's spell-check switches to that language too. If you're typing in French and spell-check is set to English, you'll see red underlines under correct French words. Make sure your spell-check language matches your keyboard language. You can change this in System Settings > Keyboard > Text.

What if my keyboard layout doesn't match the language I want?

Choose the layout that matches your physical keyboard when you add the language. If you have a US keyboard but want to type in French, add French QWERTY, not French AZERTY. The layout tells Mac how to interpret the keys you press, so it must match what's printed on your keyboard.

Can I use a keyboard shortcut to switch languages while typing?

Yes. Control + Space is the default shortcut. You can change it to any combination you prefer in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Input Sources. The shortcut works while you're typing in any program — you don't have to stop or click anything.

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

Usually not. The language appears in your menu bar right away. If the switcher doesn't show up or the language doesn't work, restart your Mac and it should fix the problem.