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
    2013-10-26T09:34:58+00:00

    I have a similar problem.

    I am in Australia and have an Australian purchased laptop and purchased the Windows 7 to Windows 8 update in Australia. However, when I first set up my Hotmail account 8 years ago (which I use for logging on to Windows 8), I set this up when I was living in the UK. Before the update from 8 to 8.1, my keyboard layout was correct for my laptop's keyboard (US layout).

    After the update, my keyboard is forced to UK layout.

    I do not have the UK keyboard layout installed - everything is displayed as "US" layout, but I cannot type the backslash, it comes out as #, and then when I type the key marked with # (over the 3) it is £, and when I type @ (over the 2) it comes out as ", and when I type the " key (left of enter), it comes out as @.

    Backslash is a real problem as it is in one of my passwords and there are no keys on the keyboard that type a backslash.

    I have tried installing the UK keyboard layout, making it default. then rebooting, and then removing it - but it is still UK layout. I have installed US layout (alongside Australian/US layout). I have checked the login screen shows US layout, checked Office is showing US layout, gone through every Control Panel screen I can find, and it still is stuck in UK layout.

    Any idea how to remove the UK layout that is not installed?

    Any idea how to make the only installed keyboard layout (US) get used?

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-25T11:13:59+00:00

    +1 Ian's problem. Just spent half hour wondering why the admin password wasn't correct on some servers after RDP'ing into them. Thanks to the "/@ switch on US/UK layout.

    A solution would be useful, my symptoms are exactly as Ian describes on Win 8.1 Pro.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-23T10:48:50+00:00

    Same issue Ian & your description is spot-on for the Microsoft representative and the rest of us. Hope they can sort this soon for us UK early adopters?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-21T14:31:25+00:00

    Hi Vinod,

    I have the same problem. i downloaded windows update in English. Unfortunately, since i currently reside in Poland the windows downloaded it in Polish.

    I am having the same struggle like Ian to change it to English. your link does not much help cos there is no option for me to change the language.

    Help needed microsoft!

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