Learn how to switch your Mac keyboard layout from QWERTY to AZERTY or even Dvorak so you can type faster and more comfortably in a layout that you’re familiar with.
While most people are familiar with the QWERTY keyboard layout, it’s certainly not the only option. For instance, the AZERTY layout is used in many French-speaking countries.
So, what happens if you purchase a MacBook in the U.S., move to France, and want to use the AZERTY layout? As another example, some people may simply prefer the Dvorak layout rather than QWERTY because it allows them to type faster.
We’ve shown you how you can make this change on your iPhone and iPad. So, now we’ll show you how to change the keyboard layout on a Mac.
Add QWERTY, AZERTY, or Dvorak keyboard to your Mac
1) Open System Settings and select Keyboard from the bottom left.
2) Click the Edit button next to Input Sources.
3) Click the plus sign (+) from the bottom left.
4) In the pop-up window, you’ll see a list of languages on the left and options for them on the right. You’ll also see a preview of the keyboard layout. Select the language you want and then pick the option on the right. For example, French > ABC – AZERTY or English > Dvorak.
5) Click the Add button.
You should now be back on the Keyboard Input Sources screen. You’ll see your newly added keyboard layout on the left. Select it to start using it, and then you can close the window.
If your Mac is on macOS Monterey or earlier, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources > plus sign button > select the language you want, then pick the option on the right, and click Add.
Finally, select the newly added keyboard from the left to use it.
Quick keyboard layout switching
If you want to switch between layouts, you don’t have to go through System Settings each time. You can add a shortcut to your menu bar instead.
- Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Edit next to Input Sources and enable Show Input menu in menu bar.
- On macOS Monterey and earlier, head to System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources and mark the checkbox for Show input menu in menu bar.
Now you can quickly switch between keyboard layouts with a click of the button in your menu bar. Plus, you can easily see which one you’re using and choose to show the input source name if you like as well.
While it may be obvious, it could get confusing changing your keyboard layout on Mac while your physical keyboard still looks the same. If you find this will be a struggle, you might look into keyboard covers or stickers you can use to change the look of your physical keyboard as well. For instance, Amazon sells a variety of AZERTY MacBook covers, and eBay has a selection of Dvorak covers.
Remove the added keyboard
Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Edit next to Input Sources > select the added keyboard and hit the minus button (-).
Which keyboard layout do you prefer using?
Also, check out: 50 common keyboard shortcuts all Mac users should know