What "changing your keyboard" means
Changing your keyboard can mean two different things, and which one you need depends on what is not working. You might need to switch to a different physical keyboard — unplugging one and plugging in another — or you might need to change your keyboard layout or language settings in your operating system while keeping the same physical device.
If your keys produce the wrong letters, or you want to type in a different language, you are changing a software setting. If your keyboard is broken or you want to use a wireless keyboard instead of a wired one, you are swapping the physical hardware. This guide covers both.
Key Takeaways
- Swapping a physical keyboard usually requires only unplugging the old one and plugging in the new one, though wireless keyboards need to be paired first.
- Changing your keyboard layout or language in Windows happens in Settings under Time & Language, and on Mac in System Settings under Keyboard.
- Linux keyboard changes depend on your desktop environment, but GNOME and KDE both have keyboard settings in their main settings applications.
- If a new keyboard does not work after plugging it in, restart your computer before troubleshooting further.
- You can have multiple keyboard layouts installed and switch between them without restarting.
Swapping a physical keyboard on Windows
If you are replacing one keyboard with another, unplug the old keyboard from your computer. If it is a USB keyboard, simply pull the cable out. If it is wireless, remove the batteries or turn it off. Then plug in the new keyboard — USB keyboards work immediately on Windows, and wireless keyboards need to be paired.
For a wireless keyboard, turn it on and press the pairing button (usually on the bottom or back). Windows will detect it within a few seconds. Some wireless keyboards come with a USB receiver that you plug in instead; in that case, just insert the receiver into a USB port and turn on the keyboard. Windows will recognize it automatically.
If the new keyboard does not respond after you plug it in, restart your computer. Windows sometimes needs to reload drivers when new hardware is connected. After the restart, test a few keys to confirm it is working.
Swapping a physical keyboard on Mac
Unplug your old keyboard and connect the new one. For USB keyboards, plug the cable into any available USB or USB-C port on your Mac. For wireless keyboards, turn on the keyboard and press its pairing button. Your Mac will show a setup screen asking you to pair the device — follow the on-screen steps and click Continue.
Once paired, a wireless keyboard will reconnect automatically whenever you turn it on, as long as your Mac is nearby and Bluetooth is enabled. You can check Bluetooth status in the menu bar at the top right of your screen.
If a new keyboard does not appear after pairing, restart your Mac. Hold down the power button until the shutdown screen appears, then click Restart.
Changing your keyboard layout in Windows
If you want to type in a different language or use a layout like Dvorak or Colemak, you change this in Windows Settings. Open Settings, then go to Time & Language. Click on Language & Region on the left side.
Scroll down to the language you want to add and click it. If it is not listed, click Add a Language at the top and search for the one you need. Once you have added it, click on that language and then click Options. Under Input Method, you will see the keyboard layouts available for that language — click Add to install the one you want.
After you have added a layout, you can switch between them by clicking the language indicator in the bottom right corner of your screen (it shows your current language code, like EN or FR). A menu will appear showing all your installed layouts. Click the one you want to use. You can also set a keyboard shortcut to switch layouts quickly — this is in the same Language & Region settings under Switching Input Methods.
Changing your keyboard layout on Mac
Open System Settings and click Keyboard. Then click Input Sources on the left. Click the plus sign at the bottom left to add a new keyboard layout or language.
A list will appear showing all available languages and layouts. Find the one you want — you can search by typing its name — and click Add. The new layout is now installed and ready to use.
To switch between layouts, click the Input menu in the menu bar at the top right of your screen (it shows your current layout abbreviation). A dropdown will appear with all your installed keyboards. Click the one you want. You can also enable "Show Input menu in menu bar" in the same Input Sources settings if it is not already visible.
Changing your keyboard layout on Linux
The steps depend on which desktop environment you are using. On GNOME (the default on Ubuntu and Fedora), open Settings and click Keyboard. Click Input Sources on the left, then click the plus sign to add a new layout. Search for the language or layout you want and click it to add it.
On KDE (the default on Kubuntu and openSUSE), open System Settings and go to Keyboard > Layouts. Click Add to install a new layout, then search for and select the one you want. After adding it, you can switch between layouts using the keyboard shortcut shown in the same window, or by clicking the layout indicator in your panel.
If you are using a different desktop environment, the settings are usually in a similar location — look for Keyboard or Input in your main Settings application. You may also be able to change layouts from the command line using setxkbmap, though the graphical method is simpler for most users.
Troubleshooting a keyboard that does not work after changing it
If you plugged in a new physical keyboard and it does not respond, first restart your computer. Many keyboards need drivers to load, and a restart usually fixes this. After restarting, test several keys to confirm it is working.
If it still does not work, try a different USB port. Some ports on older computers do not provide enough power for wireless keyboards. If you are using a wireless keyboard, check that the batteries are fresh and the pairing button was held long enough — most wireless keyboards need the button held for three to five seconds.
On Windows, you can check whether your keyboard is recognized at all by opening Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select Device Manager). Look for Keyboards in the list. If your new keyboard is listed but has a yellow warning triangle, right-click it and select Update Driver. If it is not listed at all, the computer is not detecting it — try a different USB port or check that wireless pairing completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple keyboard layouts and switch between them without restarting?
Yes. Once you have added multiple layouts in your operating system settings, you can switch between them instantly using the language menu (Windows and Mac) or keyboard shortcut (Linux). You do not need to restart your computer or unplug anything.
What is the difference between a keyboard layout and a keyboard language?
A language is the writing system — English, French, Chinese. A layout is the physical arrangement of keys — QWERTY, AZERTY, Dvorak. You can have the same language in multiple layouts, or the same layout for different languages. Most people add both a new language and its standard layout together.
Do I need to install drivers for a new USB keyboard?
Most USB keyboards work immediately without drivers on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Some gaming or specialty keyboards come with software that adds extra features, but the keyboard itself will type without it. Wireless keyboards sometimes need a driver on Windows, but many work automatically.
Can I switch keyboard layouts with a keyboard shortcut?
Yes. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Keyboard > Switching Input Methods and set a shortcut. On Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Input Sources. On Linux, the shortcut is usually shown in your keyboard settings, and you can often customize it.
What should I do if my keyboard types the wrong characters after I changed the layout?
You have the wrong layout selected. Check the language indicator in your menu bar or system tray — it shows which layout is currently active. Click it and select the correct layout. If you added the layout by mistake, you can remove it by going back to your keyboard settings and deleting it.