Typing special characters and accented language letters is a difficult task using the English keyboard layout in Windows 10. You can use alt code shortcuts to insert symbols and letters. However, it is also easy to install additional language input to type accented letters. In our earlier article, we have explained how to change input method to Unicode Hex Input on Mac. In this article, let us explain how to install language and change the keyboard layout in Windows 10.
How to Change Language in Windows 10?
Follow the below steps to install a new language in Windows 10:
- Type “control panel” in the Windows search box and open Control Panel app.
- Change the Control Panel view to “Category” so that it is easy to find the options.
- Click “Add a language” link under “Clock, Language, and Region” section.
- You will see a list of already installed languages on your computer. Click on “Add a language” option.
Related: How to change language in Google Chrome?
- Windows will show you all the available languages in alphabetical order. You can group the languages by name or writing system or press the keyboard key to go to that section. For example, press G to the section showing all languages starting with G.
- Click on the language box and then click on “Open” button.
- You will see all available variants of the language and select the variant you want to install on your computer.
- Click “Add” button to install the language pack.
If your computer does not have preinstalled language pack, then you need to have language pack installation CD for installing the language pack. Otherwise, you will not be able to add new language.
Customizing Installed Language
After successful installation, you can go back to “Control Panel\Clock, Language, and Region\Language” and view the installed languages.
- Click on the “Options” link against the newly installed language.
- You can make the installed language as a primary language on your computer. This will change all the menu items in the new language.
- Click on the “Preview” link under “Input method” to view the keyboard layout of the language.
Adding Input Method
If you want to add a new input method for an installed language, click on “Add an input method” link under the “Input method” section.
- Select the input method from the available list and click “Add” button.
- You can view the preview of the input method to understand which keys to use for the special characters. Below is an example of German keyboard input method using standard English keyboard. The highlighted letters are some of the differences.
Using Input Language
When you want to change the input, click on the “Language Bar” in the tray of your taskbar and toggle the language input.
After toggling to the new language, keyboard input will work as per the preview you have seen. For example, when you have selected German language, pressing comma will produce ä as shown in the preview layout.
Setting Office Preferences in Office
When you have multiple languages installed on your computer, you can setup the language for editing in Office package like Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.
- Open Word and go to “File > Options” menu.
- Under “Language” section, select the editing and display language.
- Alternatively, you can directly search “language preferences” in Windows Search and open Office Language Preferences.
Uninstalling Language
You can uninstall or remove the language any time.
- Go to “Control Panel\Clock, Language, and Region\Language\Language options” section and click on “Uninstall language pack” option to completely remove the installed language package.
- Alternatively, when you are in “Control Panel\Clock, Language, and Region\Language” section, select the language and click on “Remove” button to only remove the language from input method. This will remove the language from the Language Bar.
You can click on the “Advanced settings” link on the right sidebar of the Control Panel language section to setup additional options for display and input method languages.
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