How to change the keyboard layout on a macbook

So, you are the owner of the new MacBook. You want to join the "apple magic", appreciate the style, convenience and performance of the device, which is right out of the box ready to perform many of your tasks. However, minimal settings are still required. As well as the need to get used to, if before that you worked on Windows. The first problem you may encounter is a change of language. Even when logging in or later, entering an email address, website or password, but you have to do it. How? The task may seem nontrivial for a beginner. However, it is easy. We tell how.

The easiest and most visual way to change the language is to click on the flag icon or the letter "A" at the top of the screen, on the taskbar. In the pop-up window, you can select the desired one. But each time, driving with the mouse to perform this operation is so long and uncomfortable. You didn’t come here for this. Keyboard shortcuts are your choice.

There are two options for hotkeys for changing the layout: simultaneously pressed buttons "command" ("cmd", on the sides of the space. Remember it, you will often need it) and "space", or "control + space". Try both, one of them will definitely help you.

Use three layouts and more? You need three buttons: "command + option + space". This combination allows you to switch between all available layouts in a circle, in the order they are installed.

IMPORTANT: if after pressing the key combination do not release cmd, the screen will display the very list of languages ​​that you saw when switching with the mouse. Simple and clear.

If the preset keyboard shortcuts do not suit you, they can be changed to more convenient ones. At the same time get comfortable with the menu of basic settings.

Change the "hot keys" to change the layout on mac

To specify other keyboard shortcuts, you need to do the following:

1. Open the basic settings of your MacBook by clicking on the apple icon in the upper left corner.
2. Select the line "System Settings"
3. In the next window, click on the "Keyboard" icon and go to the "Keyboard Shortcut" tab.
4. In the list on the left, select "Input Sources".
5. At the end of the line on the right side of the same window, click on the current combination and set a new one by pressing the keys that are convenient for you.

IMPORTANT: When changing the layout, you need to ensure that the selected key combination is not involved in other operations. Read about what happens in such cases below.

Change the language of the operating system

Want to speak the same language with your device? The second way to switch the language is reflected in the operating system interface - it will build your dialogue with the MacBook. This method can be useful to owners of devices with a predefined English input language. Also, by following these steps, you can add the missing language.

1. Go to the main settings
2. Select from the list of "System Preferences" (System Preferences)
3. Now we are interested in the utility "Language and Region" ("Language & Region"), click on it
4. In the left part of the menu, a list of all languages ​​that are currently enabled is displayed.
5. Press the button with the symbol "+" under the list
6. Select the one you need and click "Add"
7. Then we see a message with a suggestion to choose which of the languages ​​will be used as the main one. Choose
8. Close the window. A pop-up message will prompt you to restart your computer.
9. We agree to a reboot.

To select a different language as the system language, go back to the "Language and region" menu. Select the one you need on the left, click on it and drag it to the top of the list.

Useful Tips

It happens that the language switches only from the second press of the "hot keys". We have already mentioned the need to ensure that the assigned keyboard shortcut is unique. Switching problems may be associated with failure to fulfill this condition. The blame for the conflict of programs.

There are two options for solving this problem, and they depend on the version of your OS.

The fact is that in older versions of macOS with the combination "cmd + space" the Spotlight search bar was called up.

You already know this way: "Main menu" - "System settings" - "Keyboard" - "Keyboard shortcuts".

1. Click on the spotlight item in the list on the left.
2. In the right window we see the line "Show Spotlight Search".
3. If we do not plan to use this search, we simply uncheck the box. Or click at the end of the line on the current keyboard shortcut and set a new one.

If this method does not help, try to return to the instructions for changing the layout and reactivate the "cmd + space" key combination

The second option is suitable for the latest versions of MacOS and is associated with calling Siri. The actions in this case are similar to the previous method, only in the "System Settings" we need the icon "Siri". The voice assistant can also be completely turned off. To do this, simply uncheck the box next to "Enable Siri" in the left part of this window.

As you can see, changing the language on a macbook is not so difficult. The setting to change the language of the operating system and hot keys is enough to be done once to make your work most convenient and efficient.