Keyboard, language and input settings after a reformat
The first small annoyances after a reformat: @ and " are swapped, a second keyboard layout keeps cutting in, the date is in the wrong order. All of it lives under Settings → Time & language and takes five minutes.
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The keyboard types the wrong symbols: layout
If pressing @ gives you " or the key next to Enter produces the wrong character, Windows has the wrong keyboard layout for the physical keyboard — typically US where you have UK, or the other way round. This is the first thing to check.
Settings → Time & language → Language & region
Next to your language, click ··· → Language options. Under Keyboards, see which layout is listed.
Add the right layout, remove the wrong one
Add a keyboard → pick the layout printed on your keyboard (United States, United Kingdom, German, French and so on). Then remove the wrong one so it cannot switch back in. One layout per language is the goal.
For non-Latin keyboards, set the hardware layout
Korean and Japanese input methods also have a "hardware keyboard layout" setting in their keyboard options — for example 101-key versus 106/109-key for Japanese, or the 101-compatible types for Korean. A reboot is needed after changing it. If the language-toggle key does nothing, this setting is why.
An extra layout keeps switching in
If the taskbar shows ENG next to another abbreviation and pressing Win+Space or Shift+Alt by accident changes what your keys do, an extra layout was added during setup. Unless you type in two languages, you only need one.
- Settings → Time & language → Language & region: if a second language you do not use is listed, ··· → Remove.
- If only one language is listed but two keyboards appear under it, open Language options and remove the extra keyboard.
- To change the switching shortcut rather than remove the layout: Settings → Time & language → Typing → Advanced keyboard settings → Input language hot keys.
Adding Korean, Japanese or Chinese input
- Add the language
- Settings → Time & language → Language & region → Add a language → Korean, Japanese or Chinese (Simplified or Traditional). In the install options, untick "Language pack" and keep "Basic typing" to add only the input method while Windows stays in your language. Switch with Win+Space.
- Google Japanese Input
- For frequent Japanese, many prefer Google Japanese Input over the built-in Microsoft IME for its conversion. After installing, set it as the default under Japanese → Language options → Keyboards. It is in this site’s list.
- Old programs that garble CJK input
- Some older programs and games drop the last character or split syllables with the current input method. In the IME’s keyboard options → Compatibility, turn on "Use previous version of Microsoft IME". It applies immediately and usually resolves it.
Region, time zone, date format
If setup was left on the wrong region, dates come out month-first or day-first when you expected the other, currency is wrong, and some Store apps are missing. Three settings fix it.
- Settings → Time & language → Language & region → Country or region, and Regional format. This decides date, time and number formats.
- Settings → Time & language → Date & time: turn on automatic time zone and check it names your city. If the clock is hours off, this is why.
- Settings → Time & language → Typing → Advanced keyboard settings: set the default input method. This also decides which layout the sign-in screen starts with.
The keyboard itself
Repeat rate and repeat delay are still under Control Panel → Keyboard. If holding a key repeats it too slowly, speed it up there. Remapping keys — turning Caps Lock into something useful, say — is done with PowerToys Keyboard Manager, which is in this site’s list.
Frequently asked
The number pad does not work
Num Lock is off. Press it once. To have it on at every boot, most PCs have a BIOS setting for it; otherwise it remembers the last state.
My password is rejected on the sign-in screen
The sign-in screen is using a different layout from the one you set your password with, so symbols come out wrong. Set the default input method in Advanced keyboard settings, or switch to a PIN, which is digits only.
Can I turn off Win+Space switching altogether?
Remove all but one keyboard layout and there is nothing to switch to. If you need two, change the hot key under Advanced keyboard settings instead.
The IME toolbar floats on the screen
In the input method’s keyboard options → Appearance, turn off the IME toolbar. The indicator in the taskbar is enough.
Settings done? Programs next
Google Japanese Input and PowerToys, both to do with input and keyboards, are in the list. Pick them along with the programs you use and they install together.
Pick programs