How to Change the Keyboard Layout on a Linux-Based Operating System

The layout of a keyboard controls what characters are displayed on the screen when you press a given letter on the keyboard. Change the layout and you change what shows up on the display screen. Normally, you change the keyboard layout on a Linux-based operating system when you are setting up your computer for the first time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Linux

1. Select your keyboard. As you are setting up Linux, you will be asked to change your keyboard configuration. Look over the list of keyboard models and choose yours.

2. Tell the operating system what layout you are using. The layout corresponds more or less to the language you will be using.

3. Decide if you need to disable dead keys. Dead keys allow you to type special characters, for example, the tilde used in Spanish, by holding down a dead key and a combination of other keys. Dead keys are enabled by default.

4. Type a few words to check the layout you have selected for your keyboard. Make sure that the keys you press produce the correct character on the screen.

5. Click the "Next" button to continue with the rest of the setup process. Your keyboard is ready to go.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can’t find a perfect match for your keyboard, find a generic equivalent. These are labeled “generic” on the list of keyboard models.
• You can change your keyboard’s layout after setup by going to the root directory and entering usr/sbin/kbdconfig.
• Do not disable the dead keys at setup unless you are absolutely sure that you do not need them. You have to root through the code to enable the dead keys again.