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How to set default keyboard language to be different than default Windows language

Anonymous
2024-03-14T07:38:47+00:00

This was no problem with Windows 10, but I cannot seem to figure out how to do it in Windows 11. I want my Windows 11 language to be completely in English as default. But I need my keyboard by default to be Danish. However, I also need to have the English keyboard installed as a second keyboard language, which I can then switch to as needed using the <shift><alt> hot key or the language element on the taskbar. The problem is that I see I need to set the preferred language order in Settings so that English is at the top of the list, so that my Windows menus, etc are in English. I have Danish installed as an additional language for the keyboard. But I do not see how it is possible to specify that Danish should be the preferred (default on startup) keyboard while English is the preferred language for Windows. I hope this is still possible to do. Thanks for any help!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-11-20T07:31:03+00:00

    This was a pain for a while. Very useful to document this solution. Thanks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-03-27T11:46:00+00:00

    Steve Issacs,

    Thanks for this excellent work around. I too have been looking for a solution to a similar problem with my laptop (OS: English language. Keyboard: Swedish). It would always set the keyboard at boot up to the default language (not what I wanted), or when coming back to the locked workstation and then having to change the keyboard yet again.

    You have earned yourself a well deserved cuppa.

    Thanks from Göteborg.

    Neil

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-03-20T13:30:51+00:00

    According to the results of further testing and observation, adding additional keyboard layouts in a single language cannot completely replace the input method itself.

    This alternative idea may be more suitable in more cases as a supplementary means of typing certain special symbols.

    For example, the Japanese layout in the English language cannot replace the Japanese IME itself.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-03-19T14:07:46+00:00

    It's probably not a big deal, but since you're asking, it must be affecting you in one way or another. And it does work in Windows 11 like Windows 10.

    Could you provide some screenshots of yours? Maybe I can find out some details.

    In addition to the one I posted in my previous reply, here are 2 more.

    Image

    Image

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-03-15T10:18:14+00:00

    Hi Steven Isaacs,

    Welcome to Microsoft Community.

    We performed tests in a clean install of Windows 11 23H2 as well as Windows 11 24H2 with reference to the idea you provided.

    The idea is completely feasible, by simply adjusting the order of the languages, the keyboard layout used at device startup will use the keyboard layout that matches the corresponding language, and the display language of the start menu is unaffected by the first language of the preferred language.

    The problem you are experiencing may be related to other factors, such as potential account Profile exceptions or system component anomalies.

    Is the situation the same when you observe it under a new local account?

    If I misunderstand your situation, feel free to correct me and share the information.

    Best Regards,

    Kyo - MSFT | Microsoft Community Technical Support

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