Can't set Windows 8.1 to use a UK Keyboard and English (United Kingdom) as Language Preference

Anonymous
2013-10-20T14:43:22+00:00

Downloaded and installed the UK (English) Language Pack. Can't set Windows 8.1 to use a UK Keyboard. Try to change Languages Preferences to English (United Kingdom)  - and 8.1 won't let you. Try to remove English (United States) and 8.1 won't let you. English (United States) keeps coming back.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2013-11-13T17:18:56+00:00

I was getting this problem. On one of my accounts it appeared to be using the keyboard set to US English. No amount of changing settings to set it use the UK English keyboard layout worked. If I tried Windows Key + Space nothing happened happened - no selections appeared for choosing the desired keyboard. There was no language icon on the taskbar.

I added the UK English language pack and set the preferred language to UK English via Control Panel, Then via the Charms settings/PC Settings/Change PC Settings/Time and Language/Region and Language.

Selected 'Options' for UK English and Added the UK Extended Keyboard.

After that I could use Windows Key + Space to select the UK keyboard.

To be honest, I have no idea why that worked or which was the critical step. The other account on the PC did not of this problem. I assume I must have missed something when setting the new account.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-23T16:02:14+00:00

    I am having the same problem on Win8.1. I just can't believe how bad this OS is in dealing with the basics compared to XP. I have just read all the way through this thread and the silence from MS is deafening. I guess with Win9 due, they have given up with Win8 and Win8.1.

    I will try again to set my KBD back to UK English and hope it sticks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-20T19:49:10+00:00

    Nope, I can remove the US keyboard and languages.  Reboot and it is not working again and the US keyboard is back again!!  more resiliant than most viruses I have to remove in my job.  Come on Microsoft plese get this sorted.  Your software is expensive, very poor to have such a little fault.  But there again I guess this does not affect your core market  "The US"

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-22T21:32:17+00:00

    I have a new Acer Aspire V5 11" laptop with Windows 8, now 8.1, and had similar problem of missing special char keys like the slashes and question mark etc. (they were on the keys but wouldn't print)  I just fixed this problem. Go to Control panel then Language.  Look for the Input Method area and you may see more than one type of method.

    I had two: US and Canadian Multilingual Standard. I removed the Multilingual one and then the slash keys worked ok and several others keys started ok like the ? key.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-01-18T22:58:55+00:00

    i  gave up and reverted back to windows 8 and it is fine. 

    Since there is hardly any support from microsoft (and a solution that works) it will be better to revert back to your version of windows.

    Microsoft products give lot of problems nowaday - not sure what is happening with this company

    Unfortunately, I had to do the same but decided to move back to Windows 7 Professional. I'll probably wait for Windows 9 to see what direction Microsoft are taking - so far with Windows 8, too many things are either broken or get in the way.

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