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
    2014-03-21T13:50:53+00:00

    quite likely  AND perhaps keeping the English (US layout )as first in the list of language preferences. This is poor MS testing as everyone has commented on already.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-03T13:12:48+00:00

    I think I have cured the problem on the non-admin account on my Win8.1 PC that was persistently reverting to English (US) keyboard as default. I selected the language choice toolbar to show in Taskbar which showed both English (UK) and English (US). I selected English (UK) and the toolbar then disappeared. However, English (UK) appears to be selected as default and matches the hardware. So that is a result.

    I am just amazed and infuriated how this keyboard language 'feature' arose in the first place. The PC was set to UK Region in Win 8 and subsequent upgrade to Win8.1. Also Office set to English UK.

    I have been using Windows since it replaced MS-DOS. I only signed up to this community since deploying Win8, as I had no need to seek help or Windows work-rounds prior to this version.   

    Ed

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-02T16:04:51+00:00

    I think it was the UK Extended Keyboard which was key to me.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-23T17:13:20+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.

    compared to XP? you cannot be serious in that bizarre statement. XP is not comparable with Win7+, they are worlds apart. Yes there are bugs in 8, but please don't make idiotic comparisons

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