Windows is a great operating system. But, sometimes, functions that are meant to help, instead become annoyances. The keyboard changing the language on Windows is one of these, and that’s why I have written this resource.
Hopefully, you can once and for all get rid of any language-switching issues with your keyboard after reading these different solutions. Read more to find out x ways to deal with a keyboard that’s changing the language on your computer.
Your keyboard most probably switches language when you have accidentally pressed a set of hotkeys that switches the language layout in Windows. This is usually nice if you want to use letters that aren’t included in your usual keyboard setup. To make the keyboard switch back, press Left Alt + Shift. This should make your keyboard switch back to its normal language.
You’re now aware of the most common solutions to this problem. However, there are some things that you can do to make sure that this doesn’t happen in the first place.
Why Your Keyboard Sometimes Switches Language
As I mentioned shortly before, your keyboard switches language because you have accidentally pressed a hotkey designed for this purpose. Left Alt + Shift is the default hotkey for this. If you now have a different language than you want, try clicking Left Alt + Shift again.
Below I will go over fixes that prevent this annoyance from happening again. This requires a bit of menuing in Windows, but it’s nothing too complicated and you should be able to perform all of these. Keep reading to find out more solutions to this issue.
4 Ways To Stop a Keyboard From Changing Language
Let’s go over some of the ways to prevent your keyboard from switching language. You now know what to do after the language has already been switched, but what do you do to prevent it from happening in the first place?
1. Change Your Language Preferences
You can change your preferred set of languages in Windows quite easily. This way, even if you press the hotkey mentioned previously, the language won’t switch since there is no language to switch to.
To do this, simply head to Settings by pressing the Windows key + I. After this, head to Time & Language. Finally, click Languages.
In this menu under Preferred languages, you can click on the language that you don’t want, and select Remove. This is an easy way to get rid of this problem, but it takes away the possibility to easily switch languages and write in letters that aren’t included in English.
2. Avoid Pressing These Hotkeys
Another solution to this problem is to simply avoid pressing certain hotkeys. When you’re aware of what these hotkeys are, it’s easier to avoid pressing them by mistake and easier to identify when you have accidentally pressed them.
Let’s go over the three shortcut keys for languages in Windows. The Windows key + Spacebar toggles between keyboard “layouts”, which are in essence different languages. You can’t really change this without using solution #1, however.
The second hotkey or shortcut key is the one we’ve already mentioned, Left Alt + Shift. This changes the language, as I mentioned previously. If you have other assigned layouts, they will be overlooked.
The final shortcut key pertaining to languages is Ctrl + Shift. This is probably the rarest shortcut key used. It toggles between language layouts, but for two different layouts with the same language. To use this, you first have to have added another configuration, so it’s probably irrelevant for you.
3. Disable Toggle Hotkeys Function
What I and many other people have done is disable the shortcut keys that make your keyboard switch language layout. To do this, simply follow the steps below.
- Head into the Windows search bar and search for Advanced keyboard settings
- Select Let me set a different input method for each app window
- At the bottom of this new window, click Language bar options
- There are two tabs in the next window, select the one on the right called Advanced key settings
- In the list that shows up, click on Between input languages and then Change Key Sequence…
- Check Not assigned for both of the options
Remember, after you have done this, you will have to enable it again if you want to switch languages as you now have disabled the shortcut key for switching languages.
4. Copy the Administrative Languages
I recommend at least remembering this point because if you at some point log in to another account on your computer, your settings won’t be saved. You can transfer your language settings from the admin account to the rest by doing this method, however.
To copy the administrative languages to your other user accounts, follow the steps below.
- Press the Windows key + R to bring up the Run window
- Copy and paste the following into the text box: INTL.CPL
- Click OK
- On the top right, select the Administrative tab
- Click on the button that says Copy settings…
- Check both of the boxes that say Welcome screen system accounts and also New user accounts
One or all of these fixes should help you get rid of your problem. Use the solution that you find most convenient to you, as all of these will in some way help you.