No keyboard layout in taskbar

Question

I tried to remove the US keyboard layout from my pc with a powershell tutorial since then my keyboard layout is missing. I tried enabling it from the notification tab it says its enabled and i still dont see it, I also tried it from the devices tab and nothing. Please help

Answer 1

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

It sounds like you're facing an issue where after attempting to remove a keyboard layout using PowerShell, you've ended up with no visible keyboard layout indicator in the taskbar. This can be a bit tricky, but here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

Re-Add Keyboard Layout

First, try to re-add the keyboard layout you removed or any other desired keyboard layout to see if it brings the indicator back:

• Go to Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
• Under the Preferred languages section, select your language and then click Options.
• Click Add a keyboard and select the keyboard layout you want to add from the list.
• Check if the keyboard layout indicator appears in the taskbar after adding the layout.

Check Taskbar Settings

Make sure the keyboard layout indicator is set to show in the taskbar:

• Right-click on the taskbar and go to Taskbar settings.
• Scroll down and click on Taskbar corner overflow or Select which icons appear on the taskbar (the exact wording might vary depending on your version of Windows).
• Ensure the option for the Input Indicator is turned on.

Use the Control Panel

If the above doesn't work, try adding the keyboard layout through the Control Panel:

• Open the Control Panel (you can search for it in the Start menu).
• Go to Clock, Language, and Region > Language or directly to Language depending on your view.
• Click Add a language, then add your desired language or keyboard layout.
• After adding, click on the language and choose Options, then add the keyboard layout if it's not automatically included.

Registry Edit (Use with Caution)

If the indicator is still missing, there might have been a change in the system registry that hides the keyboard layout indicator. Editing the registry can be risky, so proceed with caution:

• Press Windows Key + R, type  regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Navigate to  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CTF\LangBar
• Look for the  ShowStatus  key on the right panel. If it's not there, right-click on an empty space, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it  ShowStatus and set its value to  1
• Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.
• Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article.

System File Checker (SFC) Scan

Corrupted system files might cause such issues. Run an SFC scan to repair them:

• Right-click on the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
• Type  sfc /scannow  and press Enter. Wait for the process to complete and then restart your computer.

Consider a System Restore

If you had created a system restore point before this issue occurred, consider using System Restore to revert your system back to a state before the problem started.

Create a New User Profile

Sometimes, the issue might be specific to your user profile. Creating a new user profile can help determine if the problem is profile-specific and potentially resolve the issue if you migrate to the new profile.

If none of these steps work, the issue might be more complex and could require more advanced troubleshooting or even a system reset/repair installation. Always ensure your important data is backed up before attempting any drastic measures.

Please feel free to let me know how it goes.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist