Custom hotkeys to change input language disappear frequently

Anonymous

I had the same problem in Windows 7, and it persists in Windows 8. This happened in three computers I had, including the current one.

I have configured three input languages, and I assign a hotkey (alt+shift+number) to each of them. However, after some time, the hotkeys are reset; sometimes it's just some of them, other times they all disappear. They often keep working, but there are a few times when I can't switch languages in any other than pressing shift+alt or by clicking.

This issue may also be related - Sometimes I can't change languages from IME to English or any other. For that, I have to switch between input methods in IME (with alt+`), and only after I do that I can use the hotkeys. Again, switching languages with shift+alt works, but the custom hotkeys don't.

Does anyone know the cause of the problems I described? Is there a way to fix it? Are there any plans from Microsoft to fix these bugs?

Thank you.

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Anonymous

2017-12-23T14:53:47+00:00

It's great! I have looked for solution almost a year. And now I can work as I used to! Дякую, друже!
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Anonymous

2012-12-25T12:45:01+00:00

I just installed Windows 8 and have the same issue.

I assigned Ctrl+2 Ctrl+3 to different languages and they disappear after few minutes

in Windows 7 though everything was fine
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Anonymous

2014-07-08T12:59:41+00:00

First, you need to fire all people related to that **** you call multilanguage input support in windows 8. It's obviously you have no any automated tests for that. And seems no one even tested or tried to use more than 2 languages. It's 2014 but the same bug is here in Windows 8.1. English, Russian, Japanese. They work ok separately, but not all together. First, it's obvious, no one in MS even tried to think how to use multiple languages. Switching, say, from EN to RU or back(depends on order in settings) takes two pushes through JP even if I dont need JP as much as EN with RU. No way to define switch between two languages of many installed just with one shortcut. Second, shortcuts don't work from time to time, you define Ctrl+1 and Ctrl+2 for EN and RU (even if this combination is extremely ugly and uncomfortable) but it stops working in JP Third, Japanese IME is buggy **** itself. You switch to it but get English, not Japanese. To get Japanese after switching to Japanese you have to press another key combination Alt- . Switching between application is inconsistent, even with JP selected it types English and you have to press Alt- again. After some update Japanese IME got checkbox in settings "Do not use direct input" which should mean "No English in JP input", but, obviously, nobody tested it as it just do nothing. This Japanese IME was garbage in Win95 and got to Win8.1 almost without any change
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Anonymous

2013-12-30T09:10:35+00:00

I've also had this problem since I upgraded to Windows 8.1, but not in Windows 7.

Now, I think I've found some sort of solution.

I use three custom keyboard layouts created with Microsoft keyboard layout creator and three layouts that are included with Windows. The three layouts that are included always remain while custom layouts always disappear.

Now, there seems to be a bug in Windows 8 that only allows you to create a hot key for the first layout in your language list. Since you have to install a bundled layout first and only then your custom one, this means the short cut for the custom layout will disappear after some time.

The solution I'm experimenting with is to delete the default layout after installing your custom one and then installing it back if you need it. This seems to allow me to use the hot key for my custom layout, but not for the default one.

Here's what my language list looks like:

And the one for hot keys:

Hope this helps.
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Anonymous

2013-09-30T04:53:22+00:00

I have exactly the same problem...

The language shortcuts worked perfectly on my old computer, with an older version of Windows. Since my update I need to put in the shortcuts around once-twice a day. Some of them are always retained, but most of them disappear. I use 11 languages on my computer, so it's a real pain!

I have contacted Microsoft, as well as Lenovo, on this issue, and the replies have been pathetic: they seem totally clueless, and I seem to understand the problem better than they do. After around 10 calls I still get suggestions like "reboot the computer", by which stage I am about to pull my hair out.

I have decided that - unless this gets resolved very soon - I will never buy Microsoft again. The combination of total cluelessness, lack of professionality and - worse - complete disinterest is a bit too much. I now spend around 15-20 minutes a day resetting my shortcuts, EVERY DAY. I hadn't made the shift to Apple yet because I was too lazy to learn how to use a new operating system, but I will now definitely and definitively switch: I am not taking the chance that this will happen again on my next computer; and from what I understand, the chances are high it will indeed happen again.

I am very frustrated and disappointed with Microsoft, particularly with the (lack of) service.

If anybody has any suggestions how to resolve this in the meanwhile, please let me know.

Thank you
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