How Do I Change a Keyboard to Type Arabic?

Techwalla may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Activate a virtual keyboard to type in Arabic with an English keyboard.
Image Credit: 58shadows/iStock/Getty Images

Changing your keyboard so that you can type in Arabic is a two-stage process in Windows 8.1. First, add Arabic to the list of languages available for use in Windows through the Region and Language configuration panel. Once it's installed, you can then make Arabic your active keyboard language.

Advertisement

Activate Arabic for Use in Windows

Video of the Day

Step 1

Swipe your mouse pointer to the bottom-right corner of your screen, click "Settings" and then "Change PC Settings" to open the PC Settings panel.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Select "Time and Language" and then select the "Region and language" tab to display a list of language customization options. Tabs are listed on the left of the Time and Language window.

Advertisement

Step 3

Click "Add a language," select "Arabic" from the list of available languages and then click the "Add" button to add it to the list of languages available for use in Windows. Click the "Options" link located next to Arabic and download the Arabic language pack, if prompted.

Advertisement

Switch to an Arabic Keyboard

Step 1

Swipe your mouse to the bottom-right corner of your screen and click "Settings | PC Settings | Time and Language | Region and Language."

Advertisement

Step 2

Click the "Options" link located at the end of the Arabic row, click "Add a keyboard" and select the input method you want to use.

Advertisement

Step 3

Activate your Arabic keyboard in one of two ways. Press the "Windows" key and then press the "Spacebar" to scroll through available languages until you locate Arabic. Alternatively, you can set Arabic as your active input language by clicking the language abbreviation located in the Notifications area on your Windows task bar. If your primary input language is currently English, for example, the abbreviation in the task bar will say "ENG." Click "ENG" and select Arabic on the list of available languages. You can now begin typing in Arabic.

Advertisement

Advertisement

references

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...