How to Add Languages on a Computer

Want to write in a different language on a Windows-PC? (Hebrew, Russian, etc.) Designed for Windows XP.

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Steps

  1. Click Start, then Control Panel
    • Alternatively you can access Control Panel by double-clicking on My Computer and selecting "Control Panel" or "Change a Setting."
  2. In the dialog that pops up, click "Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options", or in classic view, simply "Regional and Language Options."
  3. Click the tab labeled "Languages"
  4. Click "Add..." and select your language from the drop-down box. If it prompts for a keyboard layout, select the applicable one. (Most likely QWERTY or DVORAK.)
  5. Press "OK" to finalize the change.
  6. When you want to switch languages, either press left Alt + Shift until the little box on the taskbar changes.
    • Alternatively, click on the box itself to select the language you want (useful if you have more than 2 installed).
  7. You can also add a key combination for each language by selecting "Key Settings" in the Input Languages dialog. (Step 2)

Tips

  • Before you start typing anything, make sure you are in the right language.
  • Some applications will allow you to change the reading order by right-clicking on a text field and selecting "right to left" reading order.
  • If you are adding a right-to-left language such as Hebrew, add the right-to-left button to the top bar in Microsoft Word, so you can type normally. (Word may automatically change it, however).

Warnings

  • Your computer may not have the language you desire installed. Not all of them do. If it doesn't show up in the dropdown box, unfortuneately you cannot use them. If you really need to type in it, try looking on Virtual Keyboard: Gate 2 Home.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Add Languages on a Computer. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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