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Introduction
If you type in more than one language, knowing how to change the input source on your Mac is essential. Apple supports hundreds of keyboard layouts—QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ, Dvorak, and scripts like Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic—and switching between them is fast once you’ve set them up.
For all other keyboard settings, see our pillar how to change keyboard settings on a Mac guide . For custom shortcuts, our Mac custom keyboard shortcuts guide covers remapping.
How to Add a New Language (Input Source)
- Open System Settings > Keyboard.
- Click Text Input (it may be a button labeled “Edit” next to “Input Sources” on older macOS).
- Click the + icon in the lower‑left corner.
- Browse or search for the language you want (e.g., French, Spanish, German, Japanese).
- Select the specific layout—for many languages, you’ll see options like “ABC – QWERTY” or “Spanish – ISO.”
- Click Add.
The new language now appears in your input source list. You can add as many as you need.
How to Switch Between Input Sources
After adding multiple languages, you need a way to switch between them:
- Menu bar: Enable Show Input menu in menu bar in the Text Input settings. A flag icon appears in the menu bar. Click it and select the desired language.
- Keyboard shortcut: The default shortcut is Control + Space (or Command + Space on older setups). This cycles through your input sources. On newer Macs with a Globe key (), you can press the Globe key to switch.
- Touch Bar (older Macs): Tap the language icon on the Touch Bar to quickly change.
You can also customize the shortcut: in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Input Sources, you can set your own key combination.
How to Remove an Input Source
If you no longer use a language, removing it cleans up the menu bar and prevents accidental switching.
- Go back to System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input.
- Select the language you want to remove.
- Click the − button.
The layout is removed immediately. You can always add it back later.
How to Use the Keyboard Viewer for Special Characters
When you switch to a different layout, the physical keys may not match the printed letters. The Keyboard Viewer shows you exactly where each character is.
- Enable Show Input menu in menu bar.
- Click the flag icon in the menu bar and select Show Keyboard Viewer.
- A virtual keyboard appears. Press modifier keys (Option, Shift, Command) to see special characters (e.g., accents, currency symbols).
Predictive Text and Smart Quotes for Different Languages
macOS supports predictive text in multiple languages. When you switch input sources, predictive text automatically uses the correct language dictionary. You can enable it in System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Show predictive text.
Smart quotes and dashes also adapt. For example, French uses guillemets (« ») instead of curly quotes, and macOS adjusts automatically when you switch to a French layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my keyboard type the wrong characters after switching?
The physical keycaps may not match the active layout. Use the Keyboard Viewer to see the correct mapping, or consider using keyboard stickers for the alternate layout.
Can I set different input sources for different apps?
Yes. In System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input, enable Automatically switch to a document’s input source. macOS remembers which layout you last used in each document and switches back automatically when you open it.
How do I use the Globe key to switch languages?
On Macs with a Globe key (bottom‑left corner), pressing it cycles through your input sources. If you don’t have a Globe key, use Control + Space or click the menu bar icon.
