How to get computer keyboard drivers and layouts

To get keyboard drivers or add a new keyboard layout to your computer, review the following sections below for help.

Keyboard drivers

Today, most standard computer keyboards are automatically detected and installed by the computer operating systems.

Computer keyboards that utilize distinctive interfaces, such as FireWire, may require additional software and drivers to function properly. This condition also applies to keyboards with special function keys. We recommend you visit the keyboard manufacturer's web page to obtain drivers for your keyboard.

Keyboard layouts

If you require keyboard support for a different layout, language, or special characters, you need to install or select a new multilingual or international layout for your operating system.

Windows 11

1. Click Start, type Settings, and press Enter to open Windows Settings.
2. Click the Time & language option in the left navigation pane.
3. Click the Language & region option.

4. In the Language section, click the ellipsis to the right of the language you want to add a keyboard layout and select Language options.

5. Click the Add a keyboard button for the Installed keyboards option in the Keyboards section.

6. Select the keyboard layout you want to add from the displayed list.
7. To switch to the added keyboard layout, on the right side of the taskbar, click the Keyboard layout icon (A).
8. Select the added layout in the Keyboard layout list (B).

Windows 8 and 10

1. Click Start, type settings, and press Enter to open Windows Settings.
2. Click the Time & Language option.
3. Click the Region & language option in the left navigation pane.
4. In the Region & language window, under the Preferred language section, click the desired language to add to a keyboard layout.
5. Click the Options button.
6. Under the Keyboards section, click the Add a keyboard option.
7. Select the keyboard layout you want to add from the displayed list.

After completing the steps above, you can switch between these languages and keyboard layouts by clicking the icon in your Systray. You can also use a shortcut key, which is specified in the keyboard layout window.

Windows Vista and 7

1. Click Start, type language, and click the Change keyboards or other input methods option in the search results.
2. In the Region and Language window that opens, make sure the Keyboards and Languages tab is selected.
3. Click the Change keyboards button.
4. In the Text Services and Input Languages window, on the General tab, click the Add button.
5. In the Add Input Language window, click the + symbol next to the desired language to add to the keyboard layout.
6. Click the + symbol next to the Keyboard entry, if applicable.
7. Check the box for the keyboard layout you want to add, then click OK.
8. Click OK in each of the preceding windows to save the addition of the new keyboard layout.

After completing the steps above, you can switch between these languages and keyboard layouts by clicking the icon in your Systray. You can also use a shortcut key, which is specified in the keyboard layout window.

Windows XP

1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click the Regional and Language Options icon.
2. In the Regional and Language Options window, click the Languages tab.
3. In the Text Services and Input Languages window, open the Settings tab and click the Add button to add additional input languages or keyboard layouts.

After completing the steps above, you can switch between these languages and keyboard layouts by clicking the icon in your Systray. You can also use a shortcut key, which is specified in the keyboard layout window.

Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4, and 2000

1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click the Keyboard icon.
2. In the Keyboard properties window, click the Input Locales tab.
3. If you want to add an input language or a different layout, click the Add button and select the language and layout you want to use.

Windows 3.1x

1. From Program Manager, open the Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel window, open the International icon.
3. Select the US-International from the drop-down menu and install the new layout using your Windows diskettes.

Apple macOS

1. Open the System Preferences icon from your dock area.
2. Open the International icon in the System Preferences window.
3. Select the Keyboard Menu tab.
4. Select the keyboard layouts you want to install from the Keyboard Menu.

After completing the steps above, Apple macOS users can change between the different keyboard layout icons by clicking the flag icon in the top corner of the screen.