In Windows, how do I enter text in a non-English language?
Windows supports keyboards for entering text in various languages. You must
be familiar with a particular country's keyboard layout in order to
use it. For example, striking the ;
(semicolon) key on the "English (United States)" keyboard will appear
as the ñ character using the "Spanish
(Traditional Sort)" keyboard layout.
On this page:
Adding a new keyboard layout
Windows 7 and Vista
- From the
Startmenu, selectControl Panel.Note: If this doesn't match what you see, refer to About navigation settings in Windows.
- From the Control Panel, choose
Change keyboards or other input methods.
- In the box that appears, click
Change keyboards....
- Click
Add.... From the drop-down menu, click the+(plus sign) next to the appropriate language, and then click the+(plus sign) next to the keyboard.
- Select the keyboard you wish to install.
- Click
OKthree times and close the Control Panel.
This will enable the language bar, which allows you to switch between US English and the language you selected in the steps above.
Windows XP
- From the
Startmenu, selectSettings, and thenControl Panel. If the window has a "Pick a category" heading, clickSwitch to Classic View.Note: If this doesn't match what you see, refer to About navigation settings in Windows.
- Double-click
Regional and Language Options, and then click theLanguagestab.
- Click
Details..., and beneath "Installed services", clickAdd....
- Under "Keyboard layout/IME:", select the keyboard of
choice from the drop-down menu, and then click
OKtwice.
This will enable the language bar, which allows you to switch between US English and the language you selected in the steps above.
Switching between keyboard layouts
Once you've added a keyboard, you can toggle between
keyboards by pressing the Alt and Shift keys
on the left side of the keyboard simultaneously, or by clicking the
icon in the language bar and selecting the keyboard of choice.
Last modified on October 04, 2011.
