Windows XP - Changing the Input Language

This document describes how to change the keyboard input language in Windows XP.

Windows 9x/2000/XP/Vista
UNSUPPORTED

NOTE: Windows 95/98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista are no longer supported by the Help Desk. We can only provide best effort support. If we are unable to resolve your Windows 9x/2000/XP/Vista issue, you may be able to find help in Microsoft's Knowledge Base.

These products are no longer actively supported by Microsoft. No further development will take place on these products and security updates are no longer issued. It is highly recommended that you upgrade to Windows 10 or 8.

Adding an Input Language

  1. Press Start > Control Panel.

    Press Start, Control Panel.

    • In Category View, select Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.

      Select Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.

    • In Classic View, double click Regional and Language Options.

      Select Regional and Language Options.

  2. Click the Languages tab, then press the Details... button.

    Click the Languages tab, then press the Details... button.

  3. Press Add...

    Press Add...

  4. Select the desired language from the Input language: drop-down menu and press OK.

    Select the desired language and press OK.

  5. The input language has been successfully added. Press OK.

    Press OK.

Switching Between Languages

Note: Switching languages only applies to the application you are currently using. You must change the language for each application you want to use it in.

You will now see EN located in the taskbar:

EN Taskbar Display

To switch between languages, click the EN button and select the language you wish to switch to.

Click the EN button and select the language you wish to switch to.

You have now changed the input language. You can quickly switch between languages by pressing Alt+Shift.




Keywords:change keyboard input language windows xp settings control panel   Doc ID:13887
Owner:Help Desk KB Team .Group:DoIT Help Desk
Created:2010-04-25 19:00 CDTUpdated:2020-08-13 18:22 CDT
Sites:DoIT Help Desk
Feedback:  20   29