Stack Exchange Network
Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.
Ask Ubuntu is a question and answer site for Ubuntu users and developers. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Q&A for work
Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.
How to switch language keyboard combination?
I would like to type Hebrew in Ubuntu. I tried downloading the Hebrew language pack and then setting alt - shift as my layout-change shortcut in the Options section of "Keyboard Layout".
However, when I actually press alt - shift , nothing happens. How can I switch my keyboard layout to Hebrew?
- keyboard-layout
- When selecting keyboard key combination to change languages, some combinations do not work (both Alt did not work for me). I am using Shift+Ctrl with no problem. – user154302 May 1, 2013 at 3:07
- 1 In Ubutu 18.04 see askubuntu.com/questions/1030418/… – philoopher97 May 1, 2018 at 14:52
- 2 you can use the WIN+SPACE keyboard shortcut. – user57368 Aug 3, 2020 at 14:05
9 Answers 9
Ubuntu 17.10 and newer (gnome shell).
From this answer : After adding the desired languages (by navigating to Settings -> Regional & Language), you can use the default keyboard shortcut which is Super + Space ("super" is another name for the Windows key), or you can click on the top bar menu:
Ubuntu 13.10 to 17.04 (Unity)
As of Ubuntu 13.10, it is now called Text Entry Settings instead of Keyboard Layout
It can be reached through either of these methods
- Going through System Settings -> Text Entry
- Using the App Indicator as shown in the screen-shot below.
Ubuntu 13.04 and older
Seems you forgot an important step.
- Download Hebrew language support. You can do this from the Install/Remove Languages section of "Language Support".
- System Settings -> Keyboard Layout -> "+" -> "Hebrew" -> Add
- System Settings -> Keyboard Layout -> Options -> Keys to Change Layout -> mark [alt]+[shift] (this step is optional, only if you want that custom keyboard shortcut)
An icon like this should appear in the upper-right after step two:
- 2 I have the same as above, and still cannot change keyboard layout . . . – deadalnix Jul 22, 2012 at 13:44
- 1 I have done this, for some reason I have only a close button which is not saving anything. :-\ – Ramzi Kahil Aug 10, 2013 at 13:37
- 1 This approach solved my problem – Developerium Mar 19, 2019 at 10:07
- 1 'super' is the Windows button. – kouty Dec 26, 2019 at 20:42
- 2 This does not answer the question how to change the hotkey . – The Godfather Feb 9, 2020 at 17:52
To switch keyboard layout on Ubuntu 12.04
Go to System Settings...
Under Keyboard Layout - click on Options...
Under Key(s) to change layout - choose the combination of keys you would like to use.
- When I set the key combination, and then press it, it doesn't do anything. I can however change the layout by my mouse in the applet, that works perfectly. – Ondřej Čertík Aug 1, 2012 at 17:21
- This is now only available in gnome-tweaks (tweaks) and it is now in "Keyboard & Mouse" -> "Additional Layout Options" -> "Switching to another layout" section (at least it was like this in 20.04 and now in 22.04) – a_girl Sep 10, 2022 at 22:19
In Ubuntu 12.04 LTS,
In Ubuntu 13.10,
Goto the Keyboard settings window, under Shortcuts tab, I select Typing . The default for Switch to next source is Super + SPACE which didn't seem be working for me and so by clicking on it and I assigned a New Accelerator... , to change to next L ayout (I used Super + L ).
The Fix: After assigning Super + L for "Switch to next source" using my preferred layout (A) , I changed my keyboard layout to the alternative layout (B) and then assigned the combination to "Switch to previous source" (for which I used Shift + Super + L ). Then I tested them, and they work fine. (Maybe disabling "Switch to previous source" would work too.)
I could then switch to layout (A) using Super + L and back to layout (B) using Shift + Super + L .
I am a totally new to Ubuntu, I just installed it yesterday and I am loving it, but I have encountered the same problem when I was trying to use keyboard shortcuts to switch from Latin to Arabic, but fortunately I found the solution, here is simply what to do:
System Settings... → Keyboard Layout → (click on "+" to Add new Language layouts) → Options... → (click on) "Key(s) to change layout" → (tick) "Left Alt+Left Shift" → Close
It seems you forgot to add Hebrew keyboard layout. No matter how many possible languages you may have, you have to add all languages you want to WRITE with in your keyboard settings.
Something like: 3.- Settings -> Keyboard Layout -> + -> Hebrew -> Add
Double-check if you've got this combination already set in compiz-config. Run it by pressing Alt + F2 , then type ccsm , then press Enter . Sometimes, the shortcut is already used by another program, so you can't use it.
Also, please check if it does work using another combination, e.g. CapsLock + Shift .
Ubuntu 20.04
To define a custom shortcut for switching between keyboard layouts, find Settings -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> Switch to next input source.
If you installed language support after keyboard installed you may be experiencing no action on selected combinations (like @OndrejCertik reported above).
You should reset keyboard layout defaults in that case by System Settings -> Keyboard Layouts -> Reset To Defaults and setup Key(s) to change layout again under Options... there.
Settings -> Keyboard Layout -> + -> Arabic -> Add
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged keyboard-layout language or ask your own question .
- The Overflow Blog
- How Intuit democratizes AI development across teams through reusability sponsored post
- The nature of simulating nature: A Q&A with IBM Quantum researcher Dr. Jamie...
- Featured on Meta
- We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup
- Announcement: AI-generated content is now permanently banned on Ask Ubuntu
Hot Network Questions
- How can I detect that \centering is in effect?
- Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor
- Acidity of alcohols and basicity of amines
- What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be acquitted of everything despite serious evidence?
- "We, who've been connected by blood to Prussia's throne and people since Düppel"
- Is it correct to use "the" before "materials used in making buildings are"?
- Why should transaction_version change with removals?
- Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN?
- Why are Suriname, Belize, and Guinea-Bissau classified as "Small Island Developing States"?
- Why do many companies reject expired SSL certificates as bugs in bug bounties?
- What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots?
- Follow Up: struct sockaddr storage initialization by network format-string
- Did any DOS compatibility layers exist for any UNIX-like systems before DOS started to become outmoded?
- How to react to a student’s panic attack in an oral exam?
- Can airtags be tracked from an iMac desktop, with no iPhone?
- Solving Rational Inequalities via Reciprocals
- How to tell which packages are held back due to phased updates
- nicematrix: add ttfamily in the last-col
- How to calculate lattice parameter?
- Spacing in tuplets (in sheet-music)
- Who owns code in a GitHub organization?
- Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables?
- Coasting Along the Coast
- Do roots of these polynomials approach the negative of the Euler-Mascheroni constant?
Your privacy
By clicking “Accept all cookies”, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy .
- Buying Guides
Complete Guides by How-To Geek
Our latest product roundups, reader favorites, more from how-to geek, latest geek news, latest reviews, across lifesavvy media.
Join 425,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .
Add Keyboard Input Language to Ubuntu
Matthew Guay is a veteran app reviewer and technology tip writer. His work has appeared on Zapier's blog, AppStorm, Envato Tuts+, and his own blog, Techinch. Read more...
Want to type in multiple languages in Ubuntu? Here we’ll show you how you can easily add and switch between multiple keyboard layouts in Ubuntu.
Add a Keyboard Language
To add a keyboard language, open the System menu, select Preferences , and then select Keyboard .
In the Keyboard Preferences dialog, select the Layouts tab, and click Add .
You can select a country and then choose an language and keyboard variant. Note that some countries, such as the United States, may show several languages. Once you’ve made your selection, you can preview it on the sample keyboard displayed below the menu.
Alternately, on the second tab, select a language and then choose a variant. Click Add when you’ve made your selection.
Now you’ll notice that there are two languages listed in the Keyboard Preferences, and they’re both ready to use immediately. You can add more if you wish, or close the dialog.
Switch Between Languages
When you have multiple input languages installed, you’ll notice a new icon in your system tray on the top right. It will show the abbreviation of the country and/or language name that is currently selected. Click the icon to change the language.
Right-click the dialog to view available languages (listed under Groups ), open the Keyboard Preferences dialog again, or show the current layout.
If you select Show Current Layout you’ll see a window with the keyboard preview we saw previously when setting the keyboard layout. You can even print this layout preview out to help you remember a layout if you wish.
Change Keyboard Shortcuts to Switch Languages
By default, you can switch input languages in Ubuntu from the keyboard by pressing both Alt keys together. Many users are already used to the default Alt+Switch combination to switch input languages in Windows, and we can add that in Ubuntu. Open the keyboard preferences dialog, select the Layout tab, and click Options .
Click the plus sign beside Key(s) to change layout , and select Alt+Shift. Click Close , and you can now use this familiar shortcut to switch input languages.
The layout options dialog offers many more neat keyboard shortcuts and options. One especially neat option was the option to use a keyboard led to show when we’re using the alternate keyboard layout. We selected the ScrollLock light since it’s hardly used today, and now it lights up when we’re using our other input language.
Whether you regularly type in multiple languages or only need to enter an occasional character from an alternate keyboard layout, Ubuntu’s keyboard settings make it easy to make your keyboard work the way you want. And since you can even preview and print a keyboard layout, you can even remember an alternate keyboard’s layout if it’s not printed on your keyboard.
Windows users, you’re not left behind, either. Check out our tutorial on how to Add keyboard languages to XP, Vista, and Windows 7 .
- › Change the User Interface Language in Ubuntu
- › Alienware Has New Gaming Keyboards, Mice, Monitors, and More
- › We Let ChatGPT Create AI Art, Here’s What It Made
- › Should You Buy a Projector for Gaming?
- › How to Optimize Your Steam Deck for a Longer Lasting Battery
- › The Best PS5 Accessories of 2023
- › E-Win Champion Series CPG Fabric Gaming Chair Review: It Gets the Job Done
Ubuntu Documentation
- Official Documentation
- Community Help Wiki
Set keyboard shortcuts
To change the key or keys to be pressed for a keyboard shortcut:
Open the Activities overview and start typing Settings .
Click on Settings .
Click Keyboard in the sidebar to open the panel.
In the Keyboard Shortcuts section, select Customize Shortcuts .
Select the desired category, or enter a search term.
Click the row for the desired action. The Set shortcut window will be shown.
Hold down the desired key combination, or press Backspace to reset, or press Esc to cancel.
Pre-defined shortcuts
There are a number of pre-configured shortcuts that can be changed, grouped into these categories:
Accessibility
Screenshots, sound and media, custom shortcuts.
To create your own application keyboard shortcut in the Keyboard settings:
Select Custom Shortcuts .
Click the Add Shortcut button if no custom shortcut is set yet. Otherwise click the + button. The Add Custom Shortcut window will appear.
Type a Name to identify the shortcut, and a Command to run an application. For example, if you wanted the shortcut to open Rhythmbox , you could name it Music and use the rhythmbox command.
Click the Add Shortcut… button. In the Add Custom Shortcut window, hold down the desired shortcut key combination.
Click Add .
The command name that you type should be a valid system command. You can check that the command works by opening a Terminal and typing it in there. The command that opens an application cannot have the same name as the application itself.
If you want to change the command that is associated with a custom keyboard shortcut, click the row of the shortcut. The Set Custom Shortcut window will appear, and you can edit the command.
More Information
- Keyboard — Select international keyboard layouts and use keyboard accessibility features.
- Useful keyboard shortcuts — Get around the desktop using the keyboard.
You can choose the displayed language by adding a language suffix to the web address so it ends with e.g. .html.en or .html.de . If the web address has no language suffix, the preferred language specified in your web browser's settings is used. For your convenience: [ Change to English Language | Change to Browser's Preferred Language ]
The material in this document is available under a free license, see Legal for details. For information on contributing see the Ubuntu Documentation Team wiki page . To report errors in this documentation, file a bug .
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Ubuntu 17.10 and newer (GNOME Shell) From this answer: After adding the desired languages (by navigating to Settings -> Regional & Language), you can use the default keyboard shortcut which is Super + Space ("super" is another name for the Windows key), or you can click on the top bar menu: Ubuntu 13.10 to 17.04 (Unity)
Many users are already used to the default Alt+Switch combination to switch input languages in Windows, and we can add that in Ubuntu. Open the keyboard preferences dialog, select the Layout tab, and click Options. Click the plus sign beside Key (s) to change layout, and select Alt+Shift. Click Close, and you can now use this familiar shortcut ...
Common editing shortcuts Capturing from the screen More Information Applications and windows Keyboard — Select international keyboard layouts and use keyboard accessibility features. Tips & tricks — Get the most out of GNOME with these handy tips. See Also Keyboard navigation — Use applications and the desktop without a mouse.
Things to do after installing Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux; Ubuntu 20.04 Guide; Ubuntu 20.04 Tricks and Things you Might not Know; Things to do after installing Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish… Things to install on Ubuntu 22.04; Linux Configuration files: Top 30 most important; How to Update Ubuntu packages on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa ...
Click Keyboard in the sidebar to open the panel. In the Keyboard Shortcuts section, select Customize Shortcuts. Select the desired category, or enter a search term. Click the row for the desired action. The Set shortcut window will be shown. Hold down the desired key combination, or press Backspace to reset, or press Esc to cancel.