To add a Korean keyboard in Windows 11, open Settings > Time & language > Language & region, select Add a language, choose Korean and install it. Windows adds the Microsoft IME (input method editor) automatically. You can then switch between keyboards with Windows key + Spacebar, and switch between Hangul and English with the right Alt key.
The same steps work for Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and every other language Windows supports. This guide walks through each step and covers the settings people most often get stuck on.
| Task | Where or how |
|---|---|
| Add a language | Settings > Time & language > Language & region > Add a language |
| Add an extra keyboard to a language | Language & region > … next to the language > Language options > Add a keyboard |
| Switch keyboards | Windows key + Spacebar, or the input indicator on the taskbar |
| Hangul / English (Korean IME) | Right Alt |
| Hangul to Hanja | Right Ctrl after typing the word |
| Japanese input on/off | Alt + ` (back quote) |
| Remove a keyboard | Language options > … next to the keyboard > Remove |
How do I add a Korean keyboard in Windows 11?
You add a Korean keyboard by installing Korean as a language in Settings. Go to Settings > Time & language > Language & region, select Add a language, pick Korean, then select Install. Windows downloads the input files and adds the Microsoft IME keyboard, so you can type Hangul straight away.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Select Time & language, then Language & region.
- Next to Preferred languages, select Add a language.
- Type Korean in the search box, select it and choose Next.
- On the Install language features screen, leave Set as my Windows display language unticked if you only want to type in Korean.
- Select Install and wait for the download to finish. An internet connection is needed.
Microsoft's Korean IME reference documents the same steps. Once installed, a language indicator appears in the system tray next to the clock, showing which keyboard is active.
What we commonly see: people tick the display-language box by accident and then find every menu in Korean after signing out. If that happens, change Windows display language back to English on the same page and sign out again.
What is the Microsoft IME and why does Korean need one?
An input method editor (IME) is a small program that turns ordinary key presses into characters a standard keyboard cannot show directly. Korean uses one because Hangul syllable blocks are built from several letters (jamo) typed one after another. The IME joins them into a single block as you type.
Windows 11 uses IMEs for Korean, Japanese and Chinese. Other languages, such as French, German or Russian, use a plain keyboard layout, which simply remaps keys and has no conversion step.
When the Korean IME is active, the taskbar shows an input mode icon: A for English letters and 가 for Hangul. Right-clicking that icon gives you options such as Hanja Convert, IME Pad (for handwriting input) and a shortcut to the IME settings.
How do I switch between Korean and English while typing?
Press the right Alt key to switch between Hangul and English while the Korean keyboard is active. Press Windows key + Spacebar to move between whole keyboards, for example from English (UK) to Korean. You can also select the language indicator on the taskbar and pick a keyboard with the mouse.
These are two separate switches, and mixing them up is the main source of confusion. Windows key + Spacebar changes the keyboard itself. Right Alt changes the mode inside the Korean IME, so you can type Latin letters without leaving it.
Korean keyboards sold in Korea have a dedicated 한/영 (Han/Yeong) key and a 한자 (Hanja) key. On UK, US and other Western keyboards, the right Alt and right Ctrl keys take over those jobs.
Cause and effect: Windows key + Spacebar cycles through every installed keyboard in turn, so each extra layout adds another press before you reach Korean. Keeping only the keyboards you actually use makes switching quicker and far less error-prone.
How do I type Hanja in Windows 11?
Type the Korean word in Hangul, then press the right Ctrl key. A list of matching Hanja (Chinese characters) appears, and you can choose one with the number keys or the mouse. You can also right-click the input mode icon and select Hanja Convert, which does the same thing.
Conversion works on the word just before the cursor. If the candidate list does not appear, check that the input mode shows 가 rather than A, as Hanja conversion only works in Hangul mode.
How do I add a Japanese, Chinese or other language keyboard?
Every language uses the same route: Settings > Time & language > Language & region > Add a language. Search for the language, select Next, then Install. Japanese and Chinese install a Microsoft IME, while most European and Cyrillic languages install a standard keyboard layout that maps characters to keys.
For Japanese, Microsoft's Japanese IME guide lists Alt + ` (the back-quote key, above Tab) as the shortcut to turn Japanese input on and off on a non-Japanese keyboard. You can also select the A icon on the taskbar to change it to あ (hiragana).
To add a second layout to a language you already have, such as UK Extended or Dvorak for English:
- Go to Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
- Select the … (more options) button next to the language, then Language options.
- Under Keyboards, select Add a keyboard next to Installed keyboards.
- Choose the layout from the list.
Korean has a second keyboard option here too: Microsoft Old Hangul, used for archaic characters in historical and academic text.
What is the difference between display language and input language?
The display language is the language Windows uses for menus, Settings and system messages. The input language is the keyboard you type with. They are independent, so you can keep English menus while typing in Korean, or run Windows in Korean while typing in English. Most people only need to add an input language.
To change the display language, install the language, then choose it from the drop-down next to Windows display language on the Language & region page. Windows asks you to sign out to apply it.
Advanced nuance: changing the display language can also change the default keyboard on the sign-in screen. If your password suddenly fails after switching, check the language indicator on the sign-in screen before you type, as Microsoft's language settings guide also warns.
The Regional format setting on the same page is a third, separate setting. It controls date, time, currency and number formats, not menus or typing.
How do I remove a keyboard layout I don't use?
Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region, select the … button next to the language, then Language options. Under Keyboards, select the … next to the layout and choose Remove. To remove a whole language, use the … button next to it and select Remove.
If Remove is greyed out, that layout is the only one installed for your display language. Add another layout to that language first, then remove the unwanted one.
What we commonly see: an extra layout, often English (United States) alongside English (United Kingdom), appears after setup or an update. That is why the @ and " keys swap places at random. Removing the layout you do not use stops it, because Windows key + Spacebar and the Left Alt + Shift hot key can no longer switch to it by accident.
How do I get the language bar back in Windows 11?
Windows 11 shows the input indicator on the taskbar by default rather than the old floating language bar. To change this, go to Settings > Time & language > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings. The Use the desktop language bar when it's available option switches between the floating bar and the taskbar indicator.
The same page has a Language bar options link for the legacy bar's settings, and an Input language hot keys link where you can change or turn off keyboard shortcuts for switching. It also lets you choose a default input method for every app.
If the indicator vanishes from the taskbar altogether, untick Use the desktop language bar when it's available and it should return.
Why can't I add a language in Windows 11?
If Windows shows "Only one language pack allowed" or "Your Windows license supports only one display language", your PC runs Windows 11 Home Single Language. This edition, often pre-installed on budget laptops, allows only one display language. Microsoft says it must be upgraded to Windows 11 Home or Pro to add more.
To check your edition, go to Settings > System > About and look at Edition under Windows specifications. Microsoft's page on checking multi-language support explains the same check.
A genuine Windows 11 Home licence key or Windows 11 Pro key removes the limit. Both editions support multiple languages, and you enter the key under Settings > System > Activation. Our Windows 11 Pro vs Home comparison explains which edition fits your needs.
If the language list will not load or installation stalls, check you are online and that Windows Update is not paused. Language features download through Windows Update, so a fully updated Windows 11 avoids most of these failures.
Frequently asked questions
Does adding a Korean keyboard change my Windows language?
No. Adding Korean as an input language only adds a keyboard. Windows keeps its existing menus unless you tick Set as my Windows display language during installation, or later choose Korean from the Windows display language drop-down. You can type Korean on an English Windows 11 PC with no other changes.
Do I need a physical Korean keyboard to type Hangul?
No. The Korean IME maps Hangul to the keys of any standard keyboard using the common two-set (Dubeolsik) layout. Keyboard stickers help while you learn the positions, but they are optional. You can also open the touch keyboard or the on-screen keyboard, which show Hangul characters once Korean is active.
Why does the right Alt key not switch to Hangul?
The right Alt key only switches Hangul and English when the Korean keyboard is the active one. Press Windows key + Spacebar until the taskbar shows the Korean IME, then try again. Some laptops lack a separate right Alt key, in which case use the A or 가 icon on the taskbar instead.
Can I add keyboard languages on Windows 11 Home?
Yes. Standard Windows 11 Home and Pro both let you install as many input and display languages as you need. Only the Home Single Language edition restricts display languages. You can see which edition you have under Settings > System > About, next to Edition.
How do I stop Windows switching keyboard layouts by itself?
Accidental switching is usually caused by pressing Left Alt + Shift or Windows key + Spacebar while typing. Remove layouts you do not use, or open Advanced keyboard settings > Input language hot keys and turn the switching shortcut off. You can also set a default input method on that page.
Related guides
- How to open and use the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11
- Windows 11 Pro vs Home: which edition do you need?
- How to check your Windows 11 version and update to 26H2
- Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro without reinstalling
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Korean IME reference | External | Official install steps and Hangul/Hanja shortcuts |
| Microsoft Japanese IME guide | External | Japanese input shortcuts and modes |
| Manage input and display language settings | External | Microsoft's full language settings reference |
| Check multi-language support | External | Confirms the Single Language edition limit |
| Windows 11 Home licence key | Internal | Removes the single display language limit |
| Windows 11 Pro key | Internal | Multi-language support plus Pro business features |
| Windows 11 Pro vs Home | Internal | Helps you pick the right edition |
| Check your Windows 11 version | Internal | Language features install through Windows Update |