How To Add A Secondary Language Keyboard Layout In Windows 11 Language And Region Settings

Check What Languages Are Already Installed in Windows

Open Settings ⚙️ and go to Time & language to check what languages are already installed in Windows 11. This list shows every language pack currently on your computer, helping you avoid downloading ⬇️ duplicates and see your active typing layouts at a glance.

Follow these steps to check your current languages:

1. Click the Start button ⊞ on your taskbar 🖥️ and select Settings (the gear icon). You can also press the Win+I on your keyboard to open Settings ⚙️ quickly.

   

2. In the Settings ⚙️ window, click on Time & language on the left side of the screen.

   

3. Click on Language & region on the right side.

   

4. Look at the section labeled Preferred languages. Here, you will see a list of all languages currently installed on your computer.

If the language you want is already listed in your Windows 11 Language and Region settings, you do not need to download that language pack again. You can simply check if the keyboard layout for that language is ready to use on your computer.

How to Add a Secondary Language and Keyboard Layout

Open Settings ⚙️, go to Time & language, and click Language & region to add a secondary language keyboard layout in Windows 11. Click Add a language, select the language you want, and choose the keyboard options you need before clicking Install.

Here is how to set up the new language:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows Key + I.

   

2. Click on Time & language in the left menu.
3. Select Language & region.
4. Under the Preferred languages section, click the Add a language button.
5. A window will pop up showing a long list of available languages. You can scroll through the list or type the name of the language into the search box at the top (for example, type "French" or "Spanish").
6. Click on the language you want to add to select it, then click Next.
7. On the next screen, you will see optional features. Check the box for Install language pack if you want your menus to support this language. Make sure the box for Basic typing is checked, as this installs the keyboard layout.
8. Click the Install button.

Windows will download the language files in the background. Once the download finishes, you will see the new language appear in your preferred languages list, and your secondary keyboard layout will be ready to use.

Change the Windows Display Language

Open Settings, select Time & language, and choose Language & region to change the Windows display language. Pick a new language from the Windows display language menu to translate all system menus, settings pages, and built-in apps.

Follow these steps to change your Windows display language:

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows Key + I.
2. Go to Time & language and click on Language & region.
3. Find the Windows display language dropdown menu near the top of the page.
4. Click the dropdown menu and select your newly added language from the list.
5. Windows will notify you that you need to sign out and sign back in for the change to take full effect. Save any open work in your other apps, then click the Sign out button.
6. Sign back into your user account, and your computer will display your chosen language.

If you only want to type in the secondary language while keeping your menus in your native language, you can skip this step entirely.

Change the Language Used by Microsoft Store Apps and Websites

Drag your preferred language to the top of the preferred languages list in Settings to change the language used by Microsoft Store apps and websites. Windows shares this priority order with web browsers and store apps to update how text appears across your programs.

To change the priority of your languages for apps and websites:

1. Open Settings and navigate to Time & language › Language & region
2. Look at your Preferred languages list.
3. If you want an app to try displaying in your secondary language before your main language, click the three dots next to the secondary language and select Move up.

Windows 11 apps check your preferred language list from top to bottom to display text in your chosen tongue. If an app supports the first language on your list, the app uses that first language. If the app does not support the first language, the app moves down to the next language on your list until the app finds a match.

Install Speech Recognition for a Language

Click the three dots next to your language in Settings and choose Language options to install speech recognition for a language. Download the speech recognition pack from this menu to use voice commands and voice typing with your secondary keyboard layouts.

Note: Administrative privileges are required to install speech features.

Follow these steps to add speech features:

1. Open Settings and go to Time & language › Language & region
2. Find your secondary language in the Preferred languages list and click the three dots next to it.
3. Select Language options.
4. Scroll down to the Speech section (if available for that language).
5. Click the Download button to install speech recognition and text-to-speech features.

How to Change and Switch Between Keyboard Layouts

Press and hold the Windows key and tap the spacebar to change and switch between keyboard layouts while typing. This shortcut toggles your active language instantly so you can switch between different typing options without opening menus.

Here are the easiest ways to switch between your keyboard layouts:

• Keyboard Shortcut: Press and hold the Windows Key, then tap the Spacebar. A small menu will pop up on your screen showing your available keyboards. Keep tapping the Spacebar while holding the Windows Key until your desired language is highlighted, then let go of both keys.
• Taskbar Indicator: Look at the bottom-right corner of your screen near the clock. You will see a small text label showing your active keyboard abbreviation (such as ENG for English or ESP for Spanish). Click this abbreviation with your mouse to open a menu and select a different keyboard layout.

Display the Input Language Icon in the Taskbar

Open typing settings and check the box to show the language bar on your desktop taskbar to display the input language icon in the taskbar. This lets you see at a glance which keyboard layout is currently active while you work.

Follow these steps to show the language switcher on your taskbar:

1. Open Settings and click on Time & language.
2. Select Typing, then click on Advanced keyboard settings.
3. Check the box that says Use the desktop language bar when it's available.
4. Alternatively, you can click on Language bar options and choose how you want the language bar to appear on your desktop.

Remove a Language Pack or Keyboard Layout

Click the three dots next to your preferred language in Settings and select Remove to delete an unwanted language pack or keyboard layout. This keeps your computer organized by clearing out typing tools and languages you no longer use.

Note: Administrative privileges are required to remove system language packs.

Follow these steps to remove a language:

1. Open Settings and go to Time & language › Language & region
2. Find the language you want to remove in your Preferred languages list.
3. Click the three dots next to the language name.
4. Select Remove from the menu. (Note: If it is your main display language, you will need to switch your display language to something else first before you can remove it.)

If you only want to remove a single keyboard layout while keeping the language pack:

1. Click the three dots next to the language in your Preferred languages list and select Language options.
2. Scroll down to the Keyboards section.
3. Click the three dots next to the specific keyboard layout you want to delete, then select Remove.

Advanced Tip: Customizing Key Combinations for Quick Switching

Open the advanced keyboard settings and select Input language hotkeys for custom key combinations for quick switching. This gives you a dedicated keyboard shortcut to flip between languages without opening menus and matches your personal typing habits.

You do not need administrator privileges on your computer to add a new keyboard layout, but you must access the advanced text services menu to complete the process. This restriction protects your system settings while still allowing you to customize your typing preferences freely. Since Windows 11 version 22H2, over 100 different language layouts are available for you to install without requiring IT support.

Follow these steps to set a custom shortcut:

1. Open Settings and go to Time & language › Typing
2. Click on Advanced keyboard settings.
3. Click on Input language hotkeys. A small traditional Windows window will open.
4. Click the Advanced Key Settings tab at the top of this new window.
5. Select Between input languages in the list, then click the Change Key Sequence... button.
6. Choose your preferred key combination (such as using the grave accent key or specific keyboard shortcuts), then click OK.
7. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

Adding a secondary language keyboard layout in Windows 11 Language and Region Settings saves you valuable time if you switch between two languages constantly throughout your workday. By setting up a quick keyboard shortcut like pressing the Windows key plus the Spacebar, you can instantly jump between different language layouts without needing to click around your screen. This quick switch helps you type faster and work more efficiently when you handle multi-language tasks every day.

Troubleshooting: Fixing Common Language and Keyboard Issues

Check your selected regional layouts and reinstall the affected language pack to fix common language and keyboard issues in Windows 11. If your computer is typing the wrong characters or missing features, verifying your exact keyboard variant usually solves the problem.

• The keyboard layout is not typing the correct characters: Make sure you selected the exact keyboard layout variant for your region. For example, French users might need the French AZERTY layout instead of the Canadian Multilingual standard layout. Check your language options to verify you added the right sub-layout.
• The language pack download is stuck: A weak internet connection can pause language downloads. Go to Settings › Time & language › Language & region, click the three dots next to the stuck language, and check if you can retry the download or restart your computer.
• Language switcher shortcut is not working: Go to Advanced keyboard settings and verify that your shortcut keys are enabled correctly. Sometimes third-party apps take over keyboard shortcuts, preventing the Windows Key + Spacebar combination from working.

Summary

Managing secondary language keyboard layouts in Windows 11 lets you type in multiple languages without changing your main system display settings. This guide covered how to check installed languages, add new typing packs, switch between active keyboards using shortcuts, and troubleshoot common issues to make multilingual typing simple.