• You can change the keyboard language on a Windows computer by going through the “Time & Language” menu.
  • After you change the keyboard language once, you’ll be able to switch between languages quickly using a button in your taskbar.
  • You can also change the language that Windows uses for everything, not just the keyboard.
  • Visit Business Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

Windows gives you a lot of control over the language it uses – so much control, in fact, that it can be confusing to set it up the way you want.

For example, you can change the language that Windows uses for every menu, or just the language used for the keyboard.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

HP Wireless Elite Keyboard V2 (From $51.70 at Amazon)

Windows 10 (From $139.99 at Best Buy)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to change the keyboard language on Windows 10

You can change your keyboard’s language without changing the language that Windows is using on the screen – this is handy for gaining access to accent marks and other specialized characters, or for typing on a keyboard with a different language layout.

1. Click Start and then click the Settings icon (which is shaped like a gear).

2. Click "Time & Language."

How to change keyboard language on Windows 1

Foto: Use Settings to add a new keyboard language. Source: Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. In the navigation pane on the left, click "Language."

4. In the "Preferred languages section," click your language (i.e., "English") and then click "Options."

How to change keyboard language on Windows 2

Foto: Click "English" (or your current default language) and choose "Options." Source: Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. Scroll down to "Keyboards" and then click "Add a keyboard." In the pop-up menu, click the keyboard language you want to add.

How to change keyboard language on Windows 3

Foto: Add a keyboard from the list of options. Source: Dave Johnson/Business Insider

6. Close Settings. Once you add a second keyboard language to Windows, a language control button will appear in the taskbar, in the lower-right corner of the screen. Click it, and in the pop-up menu that appears, choose the language you want to use with your keyboard.

How to change keyboard language on Windows 4

Foto: You can switch among keyboards using the language options in the task bar. Source: Dave Johnson/Business Insider

You can always return to the taskbar to switch back to your original keyboard language.

Related coverage from Tech Reference: