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How to Create a Custom Keyboard Layout in Windows 11

Check the quickest way to add a custom keyboard

7 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

You don’t have to stick with just one keyboard layout for your PC. Windows 11 includes settings that enable you to add keyboard layouts to your desktop or laptop. You can become acquainted withdifferent keyboard layoutsby adding them via the Settings app.

When you’ve added new keyboard layouts, you can easily switch between them via theWindows 11 taskbar. Having different keyboard layouts available can come in handy when adding characters and symbols (such as currency) unique to foreign languages to documents.

What are the three different types of keyboard layouts?

QWERTY is by far the most standard layout for keyboards the world over. That was originally a 19th-century typewriter layout carried over toPC keyboards.

It has QWERTZ and AZERTY variations in some European countries, but QWERTY is the universal layout.

Colemak is an alternative layout that alters the position of 17 keys from QWERTY. Most of the non-alphabetical keys have the same position for the Colemak layout. However, unlike the Mac OS, Windows doesn’t natively support Colemak.

DVORAK is a keyboard layout specifically designed to increase typing speeds over the more traditional QWERTY alternative. The fact that typing speed records have been set with DVORAK keyboards highlights it’s a more efficient alternative. However, it’s also very different from the QWERTY layout.

DVORAK is available for English and other international keyboard layouts in Windows 11. So, that’s a layout you can add and switch to via Settings. This is how you can change, remove, and install different keyboard layouts in Windows 11.

How can I change, remove, and add keyboard layouts in Windows 11?

1. How to add and change keyboard layout

If you were wondering how to add a new language to keyboard in Windows 10, it could quickly be done viaSettings.

While you are at this, you might be interested in our guide onhow to type accents in Windows 11.

2. How to change keyboard layouts with Quick Settings

3. How to remove a keyboard layout

This way, you can delete a keyboard layout in Windows 11.

4. How to install new keyboard layouts

5. How to add new keyboard layouts With PowerShell

You now know how to add language to keyboard in Windows, along with everything there’s to the process.

Is there a way I can set up a custom keyboard layout in Windows 11?

There are various desktop apps for the job, but the one offered by Microsoft is the shortcut to change the keyboard layout in Windows 11. with which you can set up custom keyboard layouts.

Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator 1.4is one you can utilize in Windows 11. That app enables you to set up new layouts by remapping keys. This is how you can create custom layouts with Keyboard Layout Creator.

Download and Install the Software

Set up a new keyboard layout

Install the custom keyboard layout

Does the on-screen keyboard change for selected layouts?

Yes, the On-Screen Keyboard app will match whatever layout you’ve selected. So, it’s worth opening that app to view a selected keyboard layout that doesn’t match your actual keyboard. You can open the On-Screen Keyboard like this.

Is there a way to add a Colemak keyboard layout in Windows 11?

As Windows doesn’t natively support that layout, you can’t add it with the methods above. However, you can manually set up a Colemak layout with the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator app and image references. There’s also a Colemak layout pack available for download at theColemak website.

You can set up completely new keyboard layouts with Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. However, that’s not the only software you can customize keyboard layouts with. Ourkeyboard mapping software guideprovides further details for other software you can customize keys with.

Also, find out what to do when thepositions of ( @ ) and ( “) have changed in my keyboardon Windows 11.

Overall, installing and adding new keyboard layouts via Settings is pretty straightforward. So, why not experiment with different keyboard layouts in Windows 11? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

How to Create a Custom Keyboard Layout in Windows 11#

How can I change, remove, and add keyboard layouts in Windows 11?#

1. How to add and change keyboard layout#

2. How to change keyboard layouts with Quick Settings#

3. How to remove a keyboard layout#

4. How to install new keyboard layouts#

5. How to add new keyboard layouts With PowerShell#

Is there a way I can set up a custom keyboard layout in Windows 11?#

Does the on-screen keyboard change for selected layouts?#

Is there a way to add a Colemak keyboard layout in Windows 11?#