On Windows 11 and Windows 10, press Windows key + Space to cycle through installed keyboard layouts. Windows does not document a universal way to assign a different shortcut on current Windows 11 builds. If you are using the legacy desktop Language bar, Microsoft documents Alt + Shift for switching layouts in that bar’s context.
Switch keyboard layouts with Windows + Space
Hold the Windows key and press Space to move through the keyboard layouts installed on your PC. Press Space again while holding Windows to continue cycling. You can also select a layout from the input-language icon on the taskbar and choose it from the menu. Both options switch layouts already installed; they do not add one. Microsoft’s Windows language and keyboard settings guide covers Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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Make sure the layout you want is installed
- Windows 11: Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
- Select the ellipsis next to the language, choose Language options, and inspect the Keyboards list. Add the layout you need if it is missing.
- Windows 10: Open Settings > Time & language > Language, then select the language and its keyboard options. Labels can vary by version.
- Use Windows + Space or the taskbar input-language icon to select among the installed layouts.
If Windows + Space appears to do nothing, check whether only one layout is installed: there is nothing to cycle to in that case. If the desired keyboard is not listed, add it in the language’s keyboard options. A separate full language pack is not always needed, though Microsoft notes that you may need to install the matching language if the layout is unavailable.
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Can you change Windows + Space to another shortcut?
Microsoft’s current Windows 11 and 10 settings guidance documents Windows + Space for switching layouts and describes controls for the legacy desktop Language bar. It does not establish a universal procedure for assigning a different custom shortcut on current Windows 11 builds. The Advanced keyboard settings toggle changes which input interface Windows uses; it is not documented as a general shortcut remapper. See Microsoft’s keyboard and language settings guidance.
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What Alt + Shift does—and when it applies
Microsoft documents Alt + Shift as a way to switch keyboard layouts using the Language bar. Its guidance is specifically about that bar and includes older Windows navigation; it should not be treated as proof that Alt + Shift is the default shortcut on every current Windows version or that it can be assigned universally in Windows 11. Microsoft’s Office Language bar article provides the legacy-bar context.
Choose between the taskbar icon and the desktop Language bar
In Windows 11, open Settings > Time & language > Typing. Under Switching input methods, use Use the desktop language bar when it’s available to choose between the legacy desktop Language bar and the taskbar input-language icon. Turning the setting off restores the taskbar input icon; turning it on uses the legacy bar when available. The setting controls the interface, not a documented custom shortcut assignment. Microsoft’s Windows 10 instructions cover Advanced keyboard settings too, though some labels differ. Microsoft explains the setting here.
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- For a keyboard-only switch in current Windows settings: use Windows + Space.
- For point-and-click selection: use the taskbar input-language icon.
- If you prefer the legacy desktop bar: enable it in Advanced keyboard settings; Microsoft’s guidance associates Alt + Shift with switching layouts through that bar.
Keyboard layout and display language are different
A keyboard layout determines which characters key presses produce; the Windows display language controls the language shown in menus and other parts of the interface. Changing the layout alone does not change the display language. However, changing the Windows display language may also change the keyboard layout. Before entering a password at the sign-in screen after a display-language change, confirm which layout is active. Microsoft’s guide covers both settings.
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Windows 10 support status
Microsoft states that free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes for Windows 10 ended after October 14, 2025. The PC will still work, but Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11. Read Microsoft’s Windows 10 support notice.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #3
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- Plastic parts in K120 include 51% certified post-consumer recycled plastic*
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