How to Add a New Keyboard Language on a Mac

If you are bilingual, learning a new language, or need to type an email to an international client, a standard QWERTY keyboard layout can be very limiting. Typing accented characters (like é, ñ, or ü) manually is tedious, and typing in an entirely different alphabet (like Russian Cyrillic or Japanese Hiragana) is impossible.

Fortunately, macOS has built-in support for dozens of different languages and keyboard layouts. You can add as many as you need and switch between them instantly.

How to Add a New Input Source

To type in a new language, you need to add it to your Mac’s “Input Sources” list.

1. Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Select System Settings (or “System Preferences” on older Macs).
3. Scroll down the left-hand sidebar and click on Keyboard.
4. Look for the section titled Text Input on the right side of the window.
5. Click the Edit… button.
6. A new window will pop up showing your current languages. Click the small Plus (+) button in the bottom-left corner of this window.
7. A searchable list of every supported language will appear. Select the language you want to add (e.g., Spanish, French, Korean).
8. In the right-hand panel, choose the specific keyboard layout you prefer for that language.
9. Click the Add button.

How to Switch Between Languages Quickly

Once you have multiple languages installed, your Mac will automatically place a small “Input menu” icon in your top menu bar (usually near the Wi-Fi and Battery icons). It will likely look like a small flag representing your current country, or a two-letter abbreviation (like “US” or “ES”).

Method 1: Using the Menu Bar

1. Click the flag or abbreviation icon in your menu bar.
2. A drop-down list of your installed languages will appear.
3. Click the language you want to switch to. Your keyboard will instantly remap to the new language.

Method 2: Using a Keyboard Shortcut (The Faster Way)

If you are rapidly switching back and forth between English and Spanish in a single document, clicking the menu bar is too slow. You can use a built-in keyboard shortcut.

• Press and hold the Control key, then tap the Spacebar.

This shortcut instantly toggles you to the next language on your list. (Note: On some older macOS versions, the default shortcut is Command + Spacebar, though this often conflicts with Spotlight Search).

How to See Your New Keyboard Layout

If you just switched your keyboard to Russian, you probably have no idea which physical key corresponds to which Cyrillic letter. Your Mac has a built-in virtual keyboard you can look at for guidance.

Click the language icon in your menu bar and select Show Keyboard Viewer. A small, interactive map of your keyboard will appear on the screen, showing you exactly what character will type when you press a specific key.