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The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator allows users to create or modify keyboard layouts.
Important! Selecting a language below will dynamically change the complete page content to that language.
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Ever wanted to quickly and easily define your own keyboard layout for a language Microsoft doesn’t support? Or define your own keyboard layout so you can quickly and easily enter your favorite symbols with a simple keystroke? Well, want no more: the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator is here!
The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator extends the international functionality of Windows 10, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 systems by allowing users to:
- Create new keyboard layouts from scratch
- Base a new layout on an existing one
- Modify an existing keyboard layout (.KLC) file and build a new layout from it
- Package the resulting keyboard layouts for subsequent deployment and installation.
This minor update to MSKLC fixes several customer-reported bugs in diverse areas such as support for the Tibetan Tsek character on the spacebar and support for ligatures in the AltGr shift state.
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Supported Operating Systems
Windows 10, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Service Pack 2, Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, Windows Server 2003
To install and use the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator tool, your system must meet the following requirements:
- Windows 10, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003 (MSKLC will not run on Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me).
- Microsoft .NET Framework v1.0 or v1.1 must be installed
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- Click the Download button on this page to start the download.
- Do one of the following:
- To start the installation immediately, click Open or Run this program from its current location.
- To copy the download to your computer for installation at a later time, click Save or Save this program to disk.
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- Install custom keyboard windows 10
Windows 10 has a long list of keyboard layouts that a user can add to their system. These layouts cater to multiple languages including Mandarin and Arabic, and they are available for all types of keyboards.
Installing a keyboard layout on Windows 10 is easy; all you have to do is select one from a list and it will be added. Users can switch between keyboard layouts on the fly with a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift).
Note that Windows 10 keyboard layouts are all preset and they cannot be edited. In order to get a custom keyboard layout, you either have to download it or create one yourself.
Creating a keyboard layout is easy but time-consuming since every single key has to be mapped and assigned individually. Try to find a ready-made keyboard layout if you can. If a ready-made keyboard layout isn’t available, you’ll have to make the layout yourself.
See our video tutorial on how create a custom keyboard layout on Windows 10 or follow the step-by-step guide below:
Video Tutorial
Step-by-Step Guide
- Download the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.
- Open the app and notice the blank visual keyboard.
You’ll get a basic keyboard layout without a dedicated numpad. The keys are color coded. All white keys can be assigned whereas the dark grey ones cannot. The dark grey keys represent keys like Tab, Shift, Caps, etc.
- Tap a key on the visual keyboard and select the character / key you want to assign to it, one-by-one.
Click inside an assignable key, and in the box that opens, enter what key/character you want to enter when that particular key is pressed. This will enter the default character for that key. If you want to record the shift state character for a key, click the All button on this same box.Recording a Shift key is just as easy as recording the default state key but it isn’t compulsory. You can skip it if you want. You can also couple keys with Ctrl and Alt keys.
- Map the entire keyboard.
- Go to Project>Build DLL and Setup Package.
When you’re done, go to Project>Build DLL and Setup Package. You’ll see a prompt asking if you want to check the properties of the keyboard layout you’re creating and you definitely should. That’s where you can give the keyboard layout a proper name and description.It will create an MSI file and an EXE, either one of which you can run to install your custom keyboard layout. I created a basic one that types in all Caps and named it angry. Once installed, it allowed me to type in all Caps without holding down the Shift key. For more complicated keyboard layouts, it’s going to take more time to create but the tool is still just as easy to use!
- Save the layout.
Install custom keyboard layout
A keyboard layout, whether it’s custom made with the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator or if you’ve downloaded it yourself, is going to be an executable file or an installer file. Installing it is as easy as installing any app.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the EXE or MSI file for the keyboard layout.
- Run the file.
- Grant the app admin permission to install (The keyboard is installed for the current language).
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Time & Language.
- Select the Language tab.
- Select the current language.
- Click the keyboard button under it.
- The current and new keyboard layout will be listed. Remove the one you do not want to use.
Conclusion
Keyboard layouts for commonly spoken languages like English are more common. If you need to type in a language that doesn’t have many layouts available, or you need to set the keys up in a layout that you can’t find in any configuration, a custom layout is the best alternative.
It’s worth mentioning that if you only need to change one or two keys, you can do with remapping them instead of creating a custom layout. Remapping tools like AutoHotKey and PowerToys are good options. If you remove the layout at any point, you can still use the MSI or the EXE file for it to install it again.
Fatima Wahab
Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014.
Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks
Подключив клавиатуру Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad к компьютеру с ОС Windows 8.1 я столкнулся с стандартной проблемой раскладки. Раскладка клавиатур Apple отличается от Windows, к который мы все привыкли, а так как при печати я смотрю на клавиатуру, постоянно путался со знаками препинания и буквой “Ё”, которую постоянно использую. Поэтому стал смотреть в сторону создания кастомной, в моём случае Apple, раскладки.
Для создания кастомной раскладки, Microsoft предлагает программу Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MKLC). Требует Framework 2.0.50727.
Для примера создадим русскую раскладку клавиатуры Apple.
1. Откроем программу
2. Выберем тип расположения клавиш на клавиатуре в меню View –> Options
3. Чтобы не настраивать каждую клавишу, загрузим существующую в системе русскую раскладку в меню File –> Load Existing Keyboard…
4. Присвоим имя и описание раскладке в меню Project –> Properties. Выполняя одиночный клик на клавишах делаем необходимые изменения. В итоге получится:
И тоже самое, только с “нажатым” Shift
5. Напоследок проверим как работает новая раскладка. Для этого вызовем тест раскладки в меню Project –> Test Keyboard Layout…
6. Если ошибок нет, соберём пакет новой раскладки в меню Project –> Build DLL and Setup Package.
На выходе получим файлы для установки.
7. Для установки с правами администратора запускаем setup.exe, установка пройдёт автоматически, система сообщит об успешной установке
8. В языковых параметрах системы остаётся только настроить раскладки клавиатуры
9. Для того, чтобы новая раскладка работала на экране приветствия и для новых пользователей, необходимо скопировать текущие настройки пользователя в профиль системы и в профиль пользователя по умолчанию.
10. Для восстановления или удаления раскладки из системы, необходимо запустить сформированный на шаге 6 setup.exe и выбрать необходимый параметр.
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You don’t have to stick with just one keyboard layout for your PC. Windows 11 includes settings that enable you to add keyboard layouts to your desktop or laptop. You can become acquainted with different keyboard layouts by adding them via the Settings app.
When you’ve added new keyboard layouts, you can easily switch between them via the Windows 11 taskbar. Having different keyboard layouts available can come in handy when adding characters and symbols (such as currency) unique to foreign languages to documents.
What are the three different types of keyboard layouts?
QWERTY is by far the most standard layout for keyboards the world over. That was originally a 19th-century typewriter layout carried over to PC keyboards.
It has QWERTZ and AZERTY variations in some European countries, but QWERTY is the universal layout.
Colemak is an alternative layout that alters the position of 17 keys from QWERTY. Most of the non-alphabetical keys have the same position for the Colemak layout. However, unlike the Mac OS, Windows doesn’t natively support Colemak.
DVORAK is a keyboard layout specifically designed to increase typing speeds over the more traditional QWERTY alternative. The fact that typing speed records have been set with DVORAK keyboards highlights it’s a more efficient alternative. However, it’s also very different from the QWERTY layout.
DVORAK is available for English and other international keyboard layouts in Windows 11. So, that’s a layout you can add and switch to via Settings. This is how you can change, remove, and install different keyboard layouts in Windows 11.
How can I change, remove, and add keyboard layouts in Windows 11?
1. How to add and change keyboard layout
- Open your Start menu, and select the pinned Settings app to launch it.
- Click the Time & language tab.
- Select the Language & region navigation option.
- Click the … button for your basic typing pack listed in Settings, and select Language options on the menu.
- Press the Add a keyboard button.
- Select an alternative keyboard layout on the menu.
- Then you can change your keyboard layout to the one added by pressing the Windows + Space hotkey. That keyboard shortcut opens the system tray menu below, from which you can select different layouts added via Settings.
If you were wondering how to add a new language to keyboard in Windows 10, it could quickly be done via Settings.
While you are at this, you might be interested in our guide on how to type accents in Windows 11.
2. How to change keyboard layouts with Quick Settings
- Click the Quick Settings system tray icon.
- Press the Edit Quick Settings button.
- Click the Add button, and select Keyboard Layout on the menu.
- Select the Done option.
- Then click the Keyboard layout option in Quick Settings.
3. How to remove a keyboard layout
- Open Language & region options in Settings as outlined in the first three steps of the previous method.
- Then click the … button for your typing pack and select Language options.
- Press the … button for an installed keyboard layout there.
- Select the Remove option.
This way, you can delete a keyboard layout in Windows 11.
4. How to install new keyboard layouts
- Press the Windows + S keyboard keys simultaneously to bring up a search box.
- Type language settings in the search box.
- Select Language settings in the search results.
- Click the Add a language button shown directly below.
- Enter a language in the search box to find different keyboard layouts for it.
- Choose a keyboard layout to add.
- Press the Next button.
- Click Install to add the keyboard layout.
5. How to add new keyboard layouts With PowerShell
- Launch the search tool by simultaneously pressing the Windows key + S.
- Type Windows PowerShell in the search tool’s text box.
- Then click the Run as administrator option for PowerShell on the right of the search utility.
- Input this PowerShell command, and press Enter:
$LanguageList = Get-WinUserLanguageList - To add a new keyboard layout language, input the following command and press Return:
$LanguageList.Add("language")
- Then type in this PowerShell command and press Enter to execute:
Set-WinUserLanguageList $LanguageList - Press the Y keyboard key to confirm and continue.
- Restart Windows 11 after entering those commands.
- Then you can switch to the new keyboard layout you just added via Settings.
You now know how to add language to keyboard in Windows, along with everything there’s to the process.
NOTE
Note that you’ll need to change the language in the above command with an actual keyboard layout language tag. For example, a command to add a French keyboard layout would include the fr-FR language tag.
Is there a way I can set up a custom keyboard layout in Windows 11?
There are various desktop apps for the job, but the one offered by Microsoft is the shortcut to change the keyboard layout in Windows 11. with which you can set up custom keyboard layouts.
Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator 1.4 is one you can utilize in Windows 11. That app enables you to set up new layouts by remapping keys. This is how you can create custom layouts with Keyboard Layout Creator.
Download and Install the Software
- Open the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator download page.
- Click Download on that page.
- Open the folder you downloaded the app to in File Explorer, and double-click the MSKLC.exe archive to extract it.
- Next, open the extracted MSKLC folder.
- Double-click the MSKLC.msi file to open its installer. Then install the software with its setup wizard.
- Open the Keyboard Layout Creator app.
Set up a new keyboard layout
- Click the File menu, and select the Load Existing Keyboard option there.
- Select a keyboard layout to customize that matches your current one.
- Click the Project menu and select Properties there.
- Enter the name and description details for your custom keyboard layout, and click the OK button.
- Now you can remap the keys on the on-screen keyboard to set up a new layout. Click keys on the keyboard to bring up text boxes where you can enter different ones to change them.
- When you’ve finished setting up your new keyboard layout, click the Project menu. Select the Validate Layout option there to verify.
- Click Test Keyboard Layout to try out the new layout within a text editor.
Install the custom keyboard layout
- If you’re satisfied with your new keyboard layout, you can apply it by clicking Project > Build DLL and Setup Package.
- Click Yes on the prompt that opens asking to open the directory for the keyboard layout’s installer package.
- Then double-click the setup.exe file for the custom layout to install it.
- Click Power > Restart on the Start Menu after installing the new layout.
Does the on-screen keyboard change for selected layouts?
Yes, the On-Screen Keyboard app will match whatever layout you’ve selected. So, it’s worth opening that app to view a selected keyboard layout that doesn’t match your actual keyboard. You can open the On-Screen Keyboard like this.
- Open the Power User menu by right-clicking the Start taskbar button.
- Click the Run shortcut on that menu.
- Type this text in Run:
osk - Click OK to bring up the On-Screen Keyboard window.
Is there a way to add a Colemak keyboard layout in Windows 11?
As Windows doesn’t natively support that layout, you can’t add it with the methods above. However, you can manually set up a Colemak layout with the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator app and image references. There’s also a Colemak layout pack available for download at the Colemak website.
You can set up completely new keyboard layouts with Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. However, that’s not the only software you can customize keyboard layouts with. Our keyboard mapping software guide provides further details for other software you can customize keys with.
Also, find out what to do when the positions of ( @ ) and ( “) have changed in my keyboard on Windows 11.
Overall, installing and adding new keyboard layouts via Settings is pretty straightforward. So, why not experiment with different keyboard layouts in Windows 11? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it.
He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes.
In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.
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Windows users have a few different options when it comes to creating customized keyboard layouts.
Here’s how to make a custom keyboard layout.
Custom Keyboard Options in Windows
You could use the ever-popular Portable Keyboard Layout software. Despite its age, it still works well. The app is open-source and lets you keep different keyboard layouts on a USB stick so you can easily use them on any machine.
Of course, Windows also offers a native way to jump between different keyboard layouts.
You can also try using keyboard remapping software. There are lots of free options available, but one of the most overlooked apps is the official Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.
How to Create a Custom Keyboard Layout on Windows
Before we start, a word of warning: the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator app is nearly a decade old. It still works perfectly and runs on Windows 10, but occasionally you might encounter a bug.
First, you need to download and install the app from the official site. When it’s installed, follow the instructions below to create your own keyboard layout:
- Open the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator app.
- Head to File > Load Existing Keyboard.
- Pick the layout you want to customize. You should make sure you pick the layout that matches your current keyboard setup, for example, QWERTY (U.S.).
- Go to File > Save Source File As so you have a backup before you start making changes.
- Set your new keyboard’s parameters in Project > Properties. You can pick a language and give the keyboard a name and description.
- Click on a key and follow the on-screen prompt to remap it to a character of your choosing.
If you want to add hotkeys for accented letters or other obscure characters that you frequently use, the easiest way is to program them to Ctrl + Alt + [Number]. You cannot overwrite existing shortcuts like Ctrl + S (Save) or Ctrl + A (Select All).
The Key to Remapping Your Keyboard
If you dislike the tools you’ve been given, you can always create a custom keyboard layout in Windows 10. It takes a little work, and the tools are beginning to show their age, but it works!
If you’re interested in this topic because one of your keys has just died, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to remap a keyboard around a dead key while you work on getting a new one.