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 comes 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
Before adding a new input language, you first need to know from where to make the necessary changes: the Language panel in Control Panel.
In Windows 8 there are many ways of opening the Language panel: using PC Settings, the Search charm, through the Control Panel or the taskbar, on the Desktop.
I will cover each method, one by one.
How to Open the Language Panel via PC Settings
The first step is to access the Settings charm. If you don’t know what charms are or how to access them, it would be best to go through one of our previous tutorials: Introducing Windows 8: What are the Charms?.
Click or tap on Settings.
By doing this, a new and large vertical bar opens on the right side of the screen. On the bottom, look for "Change PC settings". Click or tap on it.
Now PC Settings is opened. It should look similar to the screenshot below. On the left column, go to General, to access settings about spelling and language. In the Language section, click or tap on "Language preferences".
You are now taken to the Desktop and the Language panel is opened.
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.
To start a Settings search directly, you can also use the Windows + W keyboard shortcut and then type the word "language".
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".
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.
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
Once you opened the Language panel, the next step is to click or tap the link named "Add a language."
Windows 8 displays a long list of available languages, grouped by their names and sorted alphabetically.
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.
Once you found the desired language, select it and click or tap the Add button on the bottom right side of the window.
You are now back to the Language panel, where you can see the new input language installed and available.
How to Remove Keyboard Input Languages
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.
No confirmation is required for the removal to be done.
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 makes 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.
Related articles
Introducing Windows 8: How to Switch Between Keyboard Input Languages
How to Install and Enable a New Display Language in Windows 8