Windows 11 keeps switching my keyboard

  • Thread starter Thread starter nomadreid
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Keyboard
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a recurring issue with Windows 11 where the keyboard input language unexpectedly switches, particularly while using Microsoft Word. Participants explore potential causes and solutions related to language settings and software behavior.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant reports frequent, unexpected keyboard switches in Windows 11, particularly in Microsoft Word, despite having checked language settings.
  • Another participant references online resources suggesting that incorrect language settings or unused languages might be causing the issue, and mentions a potential keyboard switch triggered by the ctl+alt shortcut.
  • A participant confirms using multiple languages correctly set in their system but notes that the keyboard still switches to German unexpectedly, despite attempts to set English as the default.
  • One suggestion is made to uninstall and reinstall the keyboards as a potential fix.
  • Another participant speculates that the issue may stem from Microsoft Office or other software attempting to auto-correct based on document languages, rather than being a Windows issue.
  • A participant shares their experience of uninstalling and reinstalling the German keyboard, which seems to have temporarily resolved the issue, but they remain cautious about future occurrences.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the cause of the keyboard switching, with no consensus on whether it is a Windows issue, a software issue, or related to language settings. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the definitive cause and solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various settings and configurations, but there are limitations in understanding how these interact with each other, and the specific conditions under which the keyboard switches occur are not fully explored.

nomadreid
Gold Member
Messages
1,771
Reaction score
255
TL;DR
I use several language keyboards, and as I am typing with the English keyboard, the computer inexplicably switches to another language keyboard (mostly German, sometimes French), mostly in Word. I can find nothing appropriate in Settings (Language and Region) or anywhere else.
I have searched on the Internet for a solution to the above problem, without success. I don't want to get rid of the other keyboards (I need them), It happens more and more frequently. I find nothing appropriate in Settings>Language & Region, or anything else in Settings. It is mostly in Microsoft Word (Windows 11).
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: nomadreid
Thanks, jedishrfu
jedishrfu said:
It suggests that the language may be wrong or tat you have some languages you're not using and to check its settings.
I use all five languages frequently. Each one is correct in its settings.
jedishrfu said:
ctl+alt causing a keyboard switch:

This allows one to toggle between languages, but when I switch the keyboards, I go directly to the list (old habits die hard) and don't use the toggle; nor do I accidentally use the toggle when the unwanted keyboard switch occurs (I paid attention to this, and it is not easy to accidentally use the toggle anyway).

However, that last site did give me the idea to go to "Advanced Settings" for the keyboard, where there is the possibility to list one's preferred default (override) keyboard if that is not first on the list. English is the first on my list, so this shouldn't be relevant, but I tried putting in English as the explicit default keyboard. That didn't work; it switched into German anyway.

So I am still at a loss. I lose a lot of time switching back to English.
 
Did you try to uninstall and reinstall the keyboards?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: nomadreid
Maybe it is not the Windows, but some part of the Office (or other software) is what trying to be to smart for its own good? Based on the languages of documents it touches? (Even just by preview, maybe...)
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: nomadreid
Thanks, Hill. You are right, that should have occurred to me. So I started by uninstalling and reinstalling the German keyboard (because it is a lot more effort to uninstall and reinstall the "preferred language" English, so that is Plan B) -- so far that seems to be working, but if it switches again I will go with Plan B. So, I hope it continues to work. Thanks again.

Thanks, Rive, Yes, I suspect it is something trying to "auto-correct" which is just confused by my multiple languages. However, it does not look like a specific software, because the switch happened also in websites in which I was typing, so it looks more like Microsoft.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Hill

Similar threads

  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
8K
Replies
9
Views
15K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
11K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 123 ·
5
Replies
123
Views
20K