Keyboard language keeps changing in Windows 10

Question

So I recently did a clean install of Windows 10 English. I configured it to have English UI language but Norwegian keyboard. I have several problems with that setup:

1. The keyboard language keeps switching to English constantly

2. I can't see the language bar nor the language toggle popup when I swap:

   

I have bound the Norwegian keyboard layout to Shift+Alt+0 and that works, but it's annoying to have to do that every 5 minutes. Also I find it weird that I can't see the language bar neither on the desktop nor on the toolbar.

Anyone have any idea of what might be wrong?

Here are some screenshots of my settings:

P.S. The only time I see the language toggle popup is actually when I'm logged out in the lock screen and press Win+Space. Nothing happens if I do that after being logged in.

Answer 1

In Windows 10, by default, pressing CTRL+SHIFT (or for some ALT+SHIFT - thanks madmenyo ) will cycle through any keyboard layouts that you might have mapped and it's surprisingly easy to do this by mistake.

If you keep pressing CTRL+SHIFT (or whatever you might have changed it to) then soon you should get back to the correct setting. (alternatively reboot which is what I did first time ;-) )

(Updated Aug 2019) You can change/disable this by

> Settings > search for 'typing' > Advanced keyboard settings > Language
> Bar options > Advanced Key Settings (tab) > Change Key Sequence

Be warned, the above doesn't always work - Restarts and Sleep mode can both change keyboard default (usually to US) - I've found no cast-iron solution though creating a new profile can help, though not a particularly satisfactory answer IMHO.

In an emergency

WIN+R  
osk

to bring up the On Screen Keyboard might help temporarily.

Also note that it's possible to disable this so that no key combination will change the language - change the keys to "Not Assigned" - see answer below from Mort for more info

Answer 2

2018/2019 answer:

I had the same issue, trying to use Polish keyboard with English UI language of Windows.

Every time I locked the computer, it came back to US keyboard.

The problem was that I was having Polish keyboard under Polish language, where in fact, what I really wanted was a Polish keyboard under English language.

I removed Polish language pack, added Polish keyboard under English language, and removed American keyboard from English language - see the screenshot below:

So in short, the trick is to add your desired keyboard as the only keyboard under the default language.

(This works for me because I generally type in English, only sometimes I want to input in Polish, but I can do it without changing the keyboard, since Polish keyboard is fully compatible with US QWERTY).

---

Additional notes:

As @GuneyOzsan mentioned, some language/keyboard configurations might show only in language bar, but not in the language settings keyboards list (so you cannot remove it) -- particularly, this happens after a major update of Windows. To remove one of those items (e.g.: lang=US, keyboard=Canada), you have to add the same exact combination of the item you want to delete via the language settings list, and then remove it:

• click on the + (add a preferred language)
• add an item with the lang=US and keyboard=Canada
• then remove it
• then delete the preferred language you just created (this removes the invisible keyboard)

Answer 3

If you click on the "Change language bar hot keys" link, visible in your last screenshot, you should be able to see which keys are bound to change the keyboard language.

The default settings are very easy to hit, when using the keyboard, thus suddenly changing the keyboard language. Changing the keys to "Not Assigned" will prevent the keyboard language from switching accidentally.

Answer 4

December 2018

The same issue occurred to me and I followed the following steps to fix it on Windows 10.

Step #1: Go to Language Preferences

Step #2: Click on Advanced keyboard Settings

Step #3: Click on Language bar Options

Step #4: Perform following : 4.1 Select Advanced Key Settings Tab 4.2 Choose Between input languages option in the list. 4.3 Click on Change key Sequence... button

4.4 Change both the options to Not Assigned.

November 2023

Settings > Time & Language > Language > Keyboard > Input language hot keys > Advanced Key Settings > Change Key Sequence... > click Not Assigned radio buttons

Answer 5

The direct registry setting to disable the keyboard layout toggle hotkeys is:

reg add "HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Toggle" /v "Layout Hotkey" /d 3

You might also want

reg add "HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Toggle" /v "Language Hotkey" /d 3
reg add "HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Toggle" /v "Hotkey" /d 3

And for new users, try this (in an elevated prompt):

reg load HKEY_USERS\temp "%USERPROFILE%\..\Default\NTUSER.DAT"
reg add "HKEY_USERS\temp\Keyboard Layout\Toggle" /v "Layout Hotkey" /d 3
reg unload HKEY_USERS\temp

Answer 6

Turns out I had to configure a keyboard layout in the first screenshot. You'll notice it says "Keyboard: None available". So clicking "Options" here, then "Add an input method" and then selecting QWERTY Norwegian solved the case.

I don't know how I was able to install Windows with such a borked language setup. Anyway I advice everyone to watch more closely the language questions upon initial install.

Answer 7

Solution1

use this solution- How to disable automatic keyboard layout change in Windows 8?

Solution2

Choose the second language as default. then,when you switch to the first one, it will remain switched.

(thanks to @SimonSeyock):

win + space changes between all language/keyboard pairs.
alt + shift only changes language
ctrl + shift only changes keyboard

Answer 8

My problem: I have 3 languages (keyboard layouts) installed. When going to sleep in Windows 10, then waking up, it always defaults back to the "main language", instead of keeping the last one set. I consider this a bug.

Solution:

1. Open Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Language.
2. Click on Advanced Settings.
3. Under Switching input methods, check the Let me set a different input method for each app windows.

This will keep the language when going to sleep and coming back.

Answer 9

This top Google result worked on my new Windows 10 laptop:

Set a default keyboard layout:

1. Click the Start menu and select Settings.
2. Select Time & language.
3. Click Region & language in the left column.
4. Under Languages click the language you want as default and click Set as default.