How to Change Keyboard Language on Windows 10

Updated February 28, 2026 · 4 min read

Got a keyboard in a language that doesn't match Windows? Or need to type in multiple languages? Here's how to add, configure, and switch between keyboard languages on Windows 10.

Running Windows 11? The interface has changed. Check our Windows 11 guide instead.

The 5 Steps

Open Settings

Click the Start menu (Windows icon at the bottom left), then the Settings icon (gear). You can also use the shortcut Win + I.

Go to Language Settings

Click "Time & Language", then in the left panel, select "Language".

You'll see the "Preferred languages" section with the list of languages already installed.

Add a Language

Under "Preferred languages", click "Add a language" (the button with the +).

Type the name of the language you need in the search bar
Select the regional variant that matches your keyboard (e.g. "French (France)" for FR AZERTY, "French (Belgium)" for BE AZERTY)
Click "Next" then "Install"

Check and Configure the Layout

Go back to the "Language" section. Click on the language you just added, then click "Options".

Under the "Keyboards" section:

Check that the displayed layout matches your physical keyboard
If not, click "Add a keyboard" and choose the right layout
Remove unnecessary layouts by clicking on them, then "Remove"

Switch Between Languages

Two shortcuts available:

Win + Space: opens the language selector (recommended method)
Alt + Shift: switches directly to the next language

You can also click the language indicator in the taskbar (it shows "ENG", "FRA", etc.) to choose manually.

Extra Tips

Changing the Windows display language

Changing the keyboard language doesn't change the Windows interface language. For that, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language and change the "Windows display language" in the dropdown at the top of the page.

Removing a keyboard language

In Settings > Time & Language > Language, click on the language you want to remove, then click "Remove".

Note: on Windows 10, some updates may automatically reinstall keyboard languages. If a removed language reappears, also check Settings > Time & Language > Region to make sure the regional format is consistent.

My keyboard types the wrong characters

If you press A and Q appears (or vice versa), it means the software language doesn't match the physical layout. Fix: add the language that corresponds to your physical keyboard using the steps above.

Not sure about your physical layout? Identify it with FindMyKeyboard.

Identify Your Keyboard Now

Our free tool recognizes your layout in just a few clicks, no installation needed.

Start identification