Keyboard Layouts

Add a Language and a Keyboard Layout
Change the Keyboard Layout
Change the Keyboard Layout Shortcut Key Command
French Keyboard Layout Graphic
Spanish Keyboard Layout Graphic

Add a Language and a Keyboard Layout

1. Click on the Start button and select Settings - Control Panel.
2. Double-click on Regional and Language Options.
3. Click on the Languages tab.
4. Click on the Details button.
5. Click on the Add button.
6. Click on the Input language down arrow and select the desired language.
7. Click on the OK button.
8. Click on the Language Bar button.
9. Make sure that the Show the Language bar on the desktop checkbox is checked.
10. Click on the OK button.
11. Click on the OK button.
12. Click on the OK button. A taskbar indicator , which indicates the current keyboard layout, displays in the lower-right corner of the desktop. To switch keyboard layouts, click on this indicator and select the desired layout.

Change the Keyboard Layout

In order to change the keyboard layout, you must first add the desired language and keyboard layout in Windows (if you have not done so already).

After you do this, a taskbar indicator (e.g., ) will appear in the lower-right corner of your desktop. To switch the keyboard layout, just click on the taskbar indicator and select the desired layout.

Note: In addition to the task bar indicator, you can use the shortcut key command Left Alt + Shift to switch keyboard layouts. (Left Alt + Shift is the default shortcut key command, but you can change this command to Ctrl + Shift. For more information, see Change the Keyboard Layout Shortcut Key Command.)

Change the Keyboard Layout Shortcut Key Command

The default shortcut key command for switching keyboard layouts is Left Alt + Shift. You can change the shortcut key command to Ctrl + Shift.

To change the keyboard layout shortcut key command:

1. Click on the Start button and select Settings - Control Panel.
2. Double-click on the Regional and Language Options icon.
3. Click on the Languages tab.
4. Click on the Details button.
5. Click on the Key Settings button.
6. Under Hot keys for input languages, make sure that Switch between input languages is selected.
7. Click on the Change Key Sequence button.
8. Under Switch keyboard layouts, click on the CTRL button.
9. Click on the OK button three times.

French Keyboard Layout Graphic

See a Picture of the French Keyboard Layout

Spanish Keyboard Layout Graphic

See a Picture of the Spanish Keyboard Layout