41

Just updated to Windows 10. The expected change language shortcut stopped working.

In the settings it shows that "Alt + Shift" is supposed to work, just like before the upgrade, but it does not. The tool tip window that is shown when I float over the language bar says that the shortcut is "Windows key + Space", which works, but I prefer "Alt + Shift" like it used to be.

How can I make it use "Alt + Shift" again?

Arjan
  • 31,511
RCB
  • 561

5 Answers5

30

Go to Control Panel\Clock, Language, and Region\Language\Advanced settings, in a section called Switching input methods click on Change language bar hotkeys, continue with Advanced key settings tab, then click on button Change Key Sequence... and then choose from a list called Switch Keyboard Layout your desired LEFT ALT + SHIFT hotkey.

quaken
  • 325
13

The question is quite old. However, there is a common misunderstanding of the language concept of Windows 10 in the question. The concept also was not captured by any of the answers.

Meaning of the shortcuts

Alt + Shift changes the language, if I have defined different languages as described below.

Windows + Space changes the keyboard layout within the currecntly selected language, if I have defined different keyboards as described below.

Background

In Windows 10, there is a difference between language and keyboard layout.

In the language config window, one can choose the prefered language (see screenshot below; sorry for the German system language). E.g. the MS Word spelling correction is automatically adapted to the current language.

enter image description here

For each language, the user may define one or more keyboard layouts. First, the user clicks onto the language (next picture) and, then, she can choose "Optionen" ("Options" in English GUI?).

enter image description here

In the language options windows, the user can add different keyboard layouts. Swichting a keyboard layout does not impact app behaviour with respect to its language settings.

enter image description here

For each language one can define an individual set of keyboard layouts.

Which language and keyboard layout are selected?

Below are two screenshots of my Windows 10 taskbar. The top row in each picture indicates the system language (German ("DEU") in my case). The bottom row indicates the keyboard layout (German in the first and US-English in the second picture).

enter image description here

enter image description here

If there is only one row, it indicates the system language with default keyboard. Please correct me, if I am wrong with this.

3

For me this worked (Late Answer, but I hope it will be helpful for future visitors):

  1. Search for Setting --> Time & Language --> Language
  2. Spelling, typing, & keyboard settings --> Advanced keyboard settings
  3. Language bar options
  4. Advanced Key Settings --> Between input languages --> Change Key Sequence --> Left ALT + Shift

You can also search for Advanced keyboard settings directly and make your way shorter.

1

I had the same problem when adding a 2nd keyboard layout. I deleted the 2nd layout, installed a complete 2nd displaylangue containing the 2nd keyboard layout and the problem is solved.

Shift+tab only seems to work when switching between keyboard lay-outs in different display language on my machine. Perhaps you have the same issue.

Johan A.
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0

Seems no one mentioned the alt + shift shortcuts frequently disappearing issue (after reboot, logout-login, and even sometimes for no reason)

Originally answered in: https://superuser.com/a/1111605/1889791 and https://superuser.com/a/1032063/1889791

  • first, set your alt + shift shortcuts as usual

  • second, search for "Region" (should be in your local language) setting then:

    (my GUI isn't English so I borrowed from the original answer)

enter image description here