You can change your keyboard layout in your operating system's settings without buying new hardware

Your keyboard layout — the arrangement of letters, numbers, and symbols — is a software setting, not a physical property of your keyboard. Whether you want to switch from QWERTY to Dvorak, type in another language, or use a regional variant like AZERTY, you change it through your operating system's language or input settings. The process takes a few minutes and you can switch between layouts instantly whenever you need to.

The keyboard itself stays the same. What changes is how your computer interprets each key press. When you press the key marked Q on a QWERTY keyboard, your computer can be told to type A instead if you have switched to Dvorak layout.

Key Takeaways

  • Keyboard layout changes happen in your operating system settings, not in individual programs, so the change applies everywhere you type.
  • Windows, Mac, and Linux all let you add multiple layouts and switch between them with a keyboard shortcut or menu click.
  • You can set a default layout that loads when you start your computer, and keep others available for quick switching.
  • The physical keys on your keyboard do not change — only what character appears when you press each key.
  • You can add layouts for different languages, regional variants, or alternative arrangements like Dvorak or Colemak.

Changing keyboard layout in Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings and go to Time & Language, then Language & Region. Under Preferred Languages, select your current language (usually English) and click the Options button next to it. Scroll down to Keyboards and click Add a Keyboard. A list of available layouts appears — select the one you want. Windows adds it to your keyboard list immediately.

To switch between layouts, look for a language indicator in your system tray (bottom right corner, near the clock). Click it and select the layout you want. You can also set a keyboard shortcut: go back to Settings, Time & Language, then Advanced Keyboard Settings. Under Switching Input Methods, choose your preferred shortcut — common options are Windows Key + Space or Ctrl + Shift.

If you want to remove a layout you no longer use, go back to Language & Region, select the layout under your language, and click Remove.

Changing keyboard layout on Mac

Open System Settings and go to Keyboard. Click Input Sources on the left sidebar. Click the plus button (+) at the bottom of the list. A window opens showing available keyboard layouts organized by language. Select the layout you want and click Add.

To switch layouts on Mac, use Control + Space (the default shortcut) or Command + Space if you have Spotlight search set to that. You can change the shortcut in System Settings: go to Keyboard, then Keyboard Shortcuts, then Input Sources. Uncheck the current shortcut and set a new one.

Mac also shows an input menu in the top menu bar when you have multiple layouts active. Click it to see all your layouts and select one directly.

Changing keyboard layout in Linux

The process varies slightly depending on your desktop environment. In GNOME (used by Ubuntu and many other distributions), open Settings and go to Keyboard. Click the plus button under Input Sources. A window shows available layouts by language and region. Select what you want and click Add.

In KDE Plasma, open System Settings and go to Keyboard. Click Layouts and then Add. Select your language and layout variant, then click OK. Both environments let you set a keyboard shortcut to switch layouts — check the Switching Key Combination option in the same settings panel.

If you use a different desktop environment like Cinnamon or XFCE, the location differs but the principle is the same: look for Keyboard or Input Settings and find the Layouts or Input Sources section.

Setting a default layout and managing multiple layouts

When you add a second layout, your operating system does not automatically make it the default. The first layout you added stays active when you restart your computer. If you want a different layout to load by default, most operating systems let you reorder your layout list by dragging — the top layout becomes the default.

In Windows, you cannot reorder layouts directly, but you can remove your current default and add your preferred one first. In Mac and Linux, drag the layout you want to the top of the list. You can keep as many layouts as you want active at once — switching between them takes one keystroke.

Typing in other languages with your current keyboard

If you want to type in French, Spanish, German, or another language, you have two choices: add a layout for that language, or add an input method. A layout changes how your physical keys map to characters. An input method (available in Windows and Linux) lets you type in a language using a different system — useful for languages like Chinese or Japanese that have thousands of characters.

For European languages, adding the language's keyboard layout usually works best. For example, adding French AZERTY layout lets you type French accents and characters by pressing the keys where they appear on a French keyboard. If you do not have a French keyboard, you will need to memorize where the keys are, but your computer will produce the correct characters.

Troubleshooting layout switching problems

If your keyboard shortcut is not working, check that you set it correctly in your settings. Some programs or games capture keyboard shortcuts and prevent the operating system from seeing them. If switching layouts does not work inside a specific program, try switching before you open that program, or check if the program has its own keyboard settings.

If you added a layout but cannot find it in your switching menu, restart your computer. Sometimes a newly added layout does not appear until you log out and back in. If a layout is missing after restart, go back to your keyboard settings and verify it is still in your list — some systems remove unused layouts after updates.

If you see the wrong characters when you type after switching layouts, you have successfully switched — you are just seeing the output of the new layout. Type a few characters to confirm the layout is correct, then continue. If the layout is wrong, switch back and select the correct one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a QWERTY keyboard with a Dvorak layout?

Yes. The physical keyboard does not change — only what your computer does with each key press. When you switch to Dvorak layout, pressing the Q key produces an A character. You will need to learn where each letter is on a Dvorak layout, or use a keyboard overlay or sticker to mark the new positions.

Will changing my keyboard layout affect other users on my computer?

No. Each user account has its own keyboard settings. If you share a computer, you can set different layouts for your account and another person can set different layouts for theirs. When they log in, their layouts appear; when you log in, yours do.

What is the difference between a keyboard layout and an input method?

A layout remaps the keys on your physical keyboard to different characters — useful for typing in different languages or using alternative arrangements like Dvorak. An input method is a system for typing characters that do not have a one-to-one key mapping, like Chinese or Japanese. Most languages use layouts; complex writing systems use input methods.

Can I switch keyboard layouts while typing in a document?

Yes. Switch layouts using your keyboard shortcut or the system menu, and continue typing. Your computer will interpret each new key press using the current layout. If you switch mid-word, the characters already typed stay as they are — only new characters use the new layout.

Do I need to restart my computer after adding a new keyboard layout?

Not usually. Most operating systems make new layouts available immediately. If a layout does not appear in your switching menu right away, try logging out and back in, or restarting. Some systems need a restart to recognize newly added layouts.