Scroll down to the section and click Add a keyboard .
Look at the bottom right corner of your screen, right next to the clock. You should see a three-letter language code (such as or ENG UK ). Click on the Language bar identifier (e.g., ENG US).
For system administrators or advanced users:
Windows 11 allows you to set a default keyboard layout for specific applications. This is incredibly useful if you use a US layout for coding in Visual Studio Code (where @ and # are easier to reach) but a UK layout for writing Word documents (where you need £ ).
Check the boxes at the bottom for and New user accounts . Click Apply and restart your computer. 3. I followed the steps, but my physical keys are broken
If you just set up a new PC or updated your operating system, you might notice that pressing gives you an "@" symbol instead of quotation marks (""), or that your pound sign (£) has vanished. This happens because Windows 11 often defaults to the United States layout.
Windows 11 can remember input preferences on a per-app basis. If your keyboard reverts to US format when you open a specific app (like a web browser or a game), open . Ensure that "Let me use a different input method for each app window" is unchecked.
Do you need to set the UK layout as the ?
If your physical keyboard has a £ sign on the 3 key, your hardware is British. You must change your Windows 11 software settings to match it.
Uncheck if you only want to change the keyboard mapping and keep your system interface language as is.
A US keyboard features the # symbol above the number 3. A UK keyboard features the pound sterling sign ( £ ) there, moving the # symbol to a dedicated key near the Enter button.
Once you have both the United States and United Kingdom layouts installed on your system, you can switch back and forth instantly using native operating system features. Method 1: The Taskbar Language Bar
| Key Combination | Expected US Output | Expected UK Output | |----------------|--------------------|--------------------| | Shift + 2 | @ | " | | Shift + ' (apostrophe key, right of semicolon) | " | @ | | Shift + 3 | # | £ (pound sign) | | Enter key | Horizontal bar | Inverted L (vertical) |
Windows 11 supports multiple keyboard layouts to accommodate regional typing standards. The two most common English layouts are:
| Key Press | US Output | UK Output | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Shift + 2 | @ | " | | Shift + 3 | # | £ | | Key left of Enter (Quote key) | ' / " | @ (on the same key as ' ) | | Shift + \ (above Enter on US) | \| | # |
