Many Windows users from all over the world need to use more than one keyboard input language in their work. Some of our team members at 7 Tutorials use at least two languages on a daily basis. Windows 8 and 8.1 come to meet our needs by making it easier than ever to work with keyboard input languages. Adding and removing languages is very easy, as you will see from this detailed tutorial.
The Language Panel - The Place to Add and Remove Languages from the Desktop
Before adding a new input language, you first need to know from where to make the necessary changes: the Language panel in Control Panel.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
In Windows 8 & 8.1 there are many ways of opening the Language panel and we will share the easiest to use.
Adding and Removing Languages from PC Settings, in Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1 has further developed the PC Settings panel so that you can do more with it. As a result, users of devices with touch can install and remove keyboard input languages without going to the Desktop and the Control Panel.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
In this article we will also share how to install keyboard input languages from PC Settings.
How to Open the Language Panel Using Search
The second method of launching the Language panel is slightly faster. Go to the Start screen, type the word "language" and choose Settings beneath the search box, on the top right.
From the results displayed on the left, click or tap on Language.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
To start a Settings search directly, you can also use the Windows + W keyboard shortcut and then type the word "language".
In Windows 8.1, go to the Start screen and type the word "language". In the list of search results, click or tap Language.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
How to Open the Language Panel from the Desktop
First, open the Control Panel. Inside, there is a section name "Clock, Region and Language". In this section there is a link named "Add a language".
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
Click or tap on it and the Language panel is opened.
How to Open the Language Panel Using the Keyboard Input Indicator on the Desktop
This method works only if you have more than one language installed. It involves the use of the Keyboard Input Indicator displayed in the Notification Area, on the taskbar.
Click or tap the Keyboard Input Indicator. This will bring up a menu containing the list of installed input languages.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
At the end of the list there is an option named Language preferences. If you click or tap on it, the Language panel is opened.
How to Add Keyboard Input Languages from the Language Panel
Once you opened the Language panel, the next step is to click or tap the link named "Add a language."
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
Windows displays a long list of available languages, grouped by their names and sorted alphabetically.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
If it makes it easier to search for the language you need, you can choose to group the languages by the writing system they use.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
Once you found the desired language, select it and click or tap the Add button on the bottom right side of the window.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
You are now back to the Language panel, where you can see the new input language installed and available.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
How to Add Keyboard Input Languages in Windows 8.1, From PC Settings
Windows 8.1 has a more complete PC Settings panel which now includes options to add and remove keyboard input languages, without going to the Desktop like in Windows 8.
Open PC Settings and go to Time and language.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
Then, click or tap "Region and language".
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
On the right, you will see the section named Languages, displaying the languages that have been installed on your Windows 8.1 PC or device.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
To add a new keyboard input language, press "Add a language".
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
This opens a long list of languages that are available for Windows 8.1.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
Click or tap the one you want to use and then you will be shown several versions of that language, for the different countries that speak it. Select the language used in the country you prefer.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
You are back to the Languages section where Windows 8.1 takes a few moments to install the keyboard language you have chosen. If that language is also available as a display language, Windows 8.1 will say "Language pack available".
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
The selected keyboard input language is now installed.
How to Remove Keyboard Input Languages in Windows 8 & 8.1
Removing an input language is even easier. If you decide that you no longer need a particular input language, simply select it from the list of installed languages and click or tap the Remove button on top.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
No confirmation is required for the removal to be done.
How to Remove Keyboard Input Languages in Windows 8.1
In Windows 8.1, you can remove keyboard input languages also from PC Settings. To remove a language, open PC Settings and go to "Time and language" and then to "Region and language".
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
Select the keyboard input language you want to remove and press Remove.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Keyboard Input Language, add, remove
The language is deleted from your system without any other confirmation. If you have installed also the display language pack for that language, that too will be deleted.
Conclusion
If you are a multilingual person, switching between two or three language in your work, knowing how to add and remove different keyboard input languages is key to being productive. Fortunately, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 make actions like adding and removing input languages very easy. If you have any questions on this topic, please use the comments form below and we'll try to do our best to help.
Doesn’t work. I removed the Japanese language and yet it still persists in all of my applications. “” are replaced by a kanji everywhere.
vinay rijhwani ·
I want to use US keyboard input method for hindi language i dont seem to have it on my win 8.1, how to do it
Shiinon ·
Soo, I have English and Japanese keyboards added. But when I Alt+Shift it cycles between Norwegian aswell. From this point I’ve found no way to directly remove Norwegian keyboard.
The only way I know to get rid of it is to ADD Norwegian keyboard (causes no difference), only to remove it again (actually removes the keyboard).
But when I restart my computer the problem is back, is there any way to just get rid of it for good?
Akram ·
After adding my language Urdu and Phonetic Keyboard, I dont get the option of Language when I want to switch to Urdu….Strange, can you help please?
Lim Sophon ·
dear,
I have a problem need help as, once PC changed to win 8.1, my English (united state) cannot be typing in MS Word at all but, can type on web window. I tried many but still cannot.
Paul SCG
raccoon fox ·
hi.
I set US keyboard at the top of languages list, to make it default lang. But after reboot when W8.1 started, US keyboard appear on the bottom, and native lang. – on top. I had installed ENGLISH version of Win8.1. PC MS SurfacePro 8.1
How to repair this bug?
Thanks
nay ·
thanks
Jair ·
Hello, I want to estabish one pc in one lenguaje-keyword (LATAM). But I had logged in my two pc to my outlook account and when I start every pc, change the keyword when work on each machine. How to only this parameter (Lenguaje Keyword) didn’t change in a pc?
Mark Niine ·
Well, I can put 2 kayboards but I can not easily assign which one is the default one. i.e. the one that is selected when you reboot. Must remove all and then add again at the order default first. Sucks !!! Also, if you buy Win8.1 with funny language and then install English in it, all system services like updates etc are still using the original language. How bad M$ did reinvent a working OS and now all those side effects are there just at cost of getting (unwanted) W8 look.
Paul Glynn ·
by changing the language pack in win 8.1 do I need to change the keyboard as well? I want to have German OS as well the keyboard for special symbols..
D R ·
No I gave up!
Ben V ·
Having had a really really long look. I think this might be a solution:
when you go to language under control panel, go to English UK and and add another keyboard.
so click on options, then add another input method in addition to the English UK, one this one near the bottom, UK extended. You should then be able to remove US one, restart, and all should be fine.
B V ·
Anybody ever remedy this? Mine is the same.
D R ·
Well if you ever work it out let me know. I have given up!
D R ·
Thanks for the reply. However, whenever I set UK English as the default/primary and remove US English it reappears as soon as i go back into the dialogue box.
Ciprian Adrian Rusen ·
This is very weird indeed. I have never encountered this problem.
Rodrigo ·
same problem here, US English keeps coming back even if I remove it, to make things worse… I am using a Swiss keyboard, British English with American US operating system… removed all keyboards… keeping inly the Swiss but almost randomly British and American Keyboards keep popping up.
D R ·
Sadly no matter what i do i can’t seem to remove US english from the settings and only keep uk english. I have tried removing it and it just keeps popping back. There are two user accounts for the PC and the other one is fine. It is really frustrating because the ” and the @ are swapped round for each account!
Ciprian Adrian Rusen ·
You cannot remove a language when it is set as the default. You must set another language as the default and the remove the one you wanted removed in the first place. I hope this helps.
Anand Roshan ·
This is a nice tutorial. I got what i needed. Thanks
Paul Webster ·
Previous Versions of Windows allowed one to use foreign Keyboards without changing the language of the System itself. In Win 8, if I set it to use a German Keyboard the Metro start window changes its items into German and as you can see in this email, it decides to capitalise (some) nouns in Imitation of German. Any ideas?
Modified on 09.10.2025 
Discussion (21)
Doesn’t work. I removed the Japanese language and yet it still persists in all of my applications. “” are replaced by a kanji everywhere.
I want to use US keyboard input method for hindi language i dont seem to have it on my win 8.1, how to do it
Soo, I have English and Japanese keyboards added. But when I Alt+Shift it cycles between Norwegian aswell. From this point I’ve found no way to directly remove Norwegian keyboard.
The only way I know to get rid of it is to ADD Norwegian keyboard (causes no difference), only to remove it again (actually removes the keyboard).
But when I restart my computer the problem is back, is there any way to just get rid of it for good?
After adding my language Urdu and Phonetic Keyboard, I dont get the option of Language when I want to switch to Urdu….Strange, can you help please?
dear,
I have a problem need help as, once PC changed to win 8.1, my English (united state) cannot be typing in MS Word at all but, can type on web window. I tried many but still cannot.
Paul SCG
hi.
I set US keyboard at the top of languages list, to make it default lang. But after reboot when W8.1 started, US keyboard appear on the bottom, and native lang. – on top. I had installed ENGLISH version of Win8.1. PC MS SurfacePro 8.1
How to repair this bug?
Thanks
thanks
Hello, I want to estabish one pc in one lenguaje-keyword (LATAM). But I had logged in my two pc to my outlook account and when I start every pc, change the keyword when work on each machine. How to only this parameter (Lenguaje Keyword) didn’t change in a pc?
Well, I can put 2 kayboards but I can not easily assign which one is the default one. i.e. the one that is selected when you reboot. Must remove all and then add again at the order default first. Sucks !!! Also, if you buy Win8.1 with funny language and then install English in it, all system services like updates etc are still using the original language. How bad M$ did reinvent a working OS and now all those side effects are there just at cost of getting (unwanted) W8 look.
by changing the language pack in win 8.1 do I need to change the keyboard as well? I want to have German OS as well the keyboard for special symbols..
No I gave up!
Having had a really really long look. I think this might be a solution:
when you go to language under control panel, go to English UK and and add another keyboard.
so click on options, then add another input method in addition to the English UK, one this one near the bottom, UK extended. You should then be able to remove US one, restart, and all should be fine.
Anybody ever remedy this? Mine is the same.
Well if you ever work it out let me know. I have given up!
Thanks for the reply. However, whenever I set UK English as the default/primary and remove US English it reappears as soon as i go back into the dialogue box.
This is very weird indeed. I have never encountered this problem.
same problem here, US English keeps coming back even if I remove it, to make things worse… I am using a Swiss keyboard, British English with American US operating system… removed all keyboards… keeping inly the Swiss but almost randomly British and American Keyboards keep popping up.
Sadly no matter what i do i can’t seem to remove US english from the settings and only keep uk english. I have tried removing it and it just keeps popping back. There are two user accounts for the PC and the other one is fine. It is really frustrating because the ” and the @ are swapped round for each account!
You cannot remove a language when it is set as the default. You must set another language as the default and the remove the one you wanted removed in the first place. I hope this helps.
This is a nice tutorial. I got what i needed. Thanks
Previous Versions of Windows allowed one to use foreign Keyboards without changing the language of the System itself. In Win 8, if I set it to use a German Keyboard the Metro start window changes its items into German and as you can see in this email, it decides to capitalise (some) nouns in Imitation of German. Any ideas?