Applies to Windows 7

Add or change an input language

You can make it easier to enter text or edit documents in multiple languages by changing the input language. Input languages are included with Windows, but you need to add them to your list of languages before you can use them.

Watch this video to learn how to add or change an input language (1:26)
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To add an input language

  1. Open Region and Language by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Clock, Language, and Region, and then clicking Region and Language.

  2. Click the Keyboards and Languages tab, and then click Change keyboards.

  3. Under Installed services, click Add.

  4. Double-click the language you want to add, double-click Keyboard, select the text services options you want to add, and then click OK.

To change an input language

Before you can change the input language that you want to use, you need to make sure that the input language has been added.

  • Click the Input language button on the Language bar, and then click the input language you want to use.

    Picture of the Language barLanguage bar
    Notes

    Notes

    • If you don't see the Language bar, right-click the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and then click Language bar. For more information about the language bar, see The Language bar (overview).

    • In addition to changing the input language, you can also customize your keyboard for a specific language or format. For more information about customizing your keyboard, see Change your keyboard layout.