Install an Arabic keyboard on Windows

This guide shows how to install the Arabic keyboard on Windows 10 and Windows 11, choose between the QWERTY and AZERTY Arabic layouts, and switch languages with a single shortcut. It takes a few minutes: the Arabic keyboard ships with Windows, so there is nothing to buy or download from a third-party site.

How to use

Open Settings (Windows key + I), then go to Time & language > Language & region. On Windows 10 the page is simply called Language.
Click Add a language, type Arabic in the search box and pick a regional variant, such as Arabic (Morocco) or Arabic (Saudi Arabia).
In the install window, leave the option that would make Arabic your Windows display language unticked if you want to keep your menus in English, then start the installation.
In the language list, open the Arabic menu (the three dots on Windows 11, the Options button on Windows 10) and choose Language options.
Under Keyboards, click Add a keyboard and select Arabic (101), Arabic (102) or Arabic (102) AZERTY to match your physical keyboard.
Switch between languages with Windows key + Space, with Alt + Shift, or by clicking the language indicator on the taskbar.
Open Notepad to test it: the top-left letter key (Q on a QWERTY keyboard, A on an AZERTY one) should now type ض.

Installing the Arabic keyboard on Windows: 101, 102 or AZERTY?

Windows offers three Arabic layouts. In all of them the Arabic letters sit, for the most part, in the same physical places. What changes is mainly a handful of symbols, the punctuation and how well the layout fits the keyboard in front of you.

Arabic (101): the reference layout, designed for QWERTY keyboards. It is the one printed on most keyboards sold in the Middle East.
Arabic (102): a variant for 102-key keyboards, which have an extra key next to the left Shift key.
Arabic (102) AZERTY: made for AZERTY keyboards, which are widespread in North Africa and France. If your Latin letters are laid out AZERTY, start with this one.

Not sure? Add two layouts and try them for a few minutes. You can remove a keyboard at any time from the same Language options without affecting anything else.

Switching between English and Arabic

Once Arabic is added, Windows shows a language indicator on the right side of the taskbar, for example ENG or ARA. There are three ways to switch:

Windows key + Space opens the list of installed keyboards. Keep holding the Windows key and tap Space until you reach the one you want.
Alt + Shift jumps straight to the next language without showing a list.
Clicking the indicator on the taskbar lets you choose with the mouse.

By default, the selected language applies to every window. An option in the advanced keyboard settings lets Windows remember a different language for each app, so if Arabic stays active in one window but not in another, check that setting.

Troubleshooting common problems

The language indicator is missing. It only appears when at least two keyboards are installed. Also check the taskbar settings, where system icons can be hidden.
Arabic text stays left-aligned in Word. Put the cursor in the paragraph and press Ctrl + right Shift to switch it to right-to-left. Ctrl + left Shift sets it back to left-to-right.
You cannot find a letter. The hamza forms (أ إ آ) and the vowel marks are often on the Shift layer. The On-Screen Keyboard shows exactly where they are.
Windows menus have switched to Arabic. The display language was changed during installation. Select your usual language again as the Windows display language under Language & region, then sign out and back in.

Typing Arabic without installing anything

On a shared work computer, in a library or an internet café, you may not be allowed to change the settings. The online Arabic keyboard works right in the browser instead: click the on-screen keys or type with your physical keyboard, then copy the text wherever you need it. If you do not know the Arabic layout, switch to Phonetic mode, where sh becomes ش and 3 becomes ع. Your text stays in your browser.

Setting up other devices as well? See the guides for macOS, Android and iPhone.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my keyboard to Arabic on Windows 11?

Go to Settings > Time & language > Language & region, add Arabic, then add an Arabic keyboard in its Language options. Press Windows key + Space to switch to it. Menu labels can differ slightly depending on your Windows update.

Which Arabic keyboard should I choose on Windows: 101, 102 or AZERTY?

On a QWERTY keyboard, choose Arabic (101), the most common layout. On an AZERTY keyboard, as used in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and France, Arabic (102) AZERTY is usually the most comfortable. Arabic (102) is meant for 102-key keyboards.

How do I switch from the Arabic keyboard back to English on a PC?

Press Windows key + Space and pick English from the list, or press Alt + Shift to jump to the next language. You can also click the language indicator (ENG, ARA…) on the right side of the taskbar.

Why does my computer suddenly type in Arabic?

Most of the time, Alt + Shift was pressed by accident while typing. Press Alt + Shift again to go back. If it keeps happening, change or turn off that shortcut in the advanced keyboard settings.

How can I find the Arabic letters on a keyboard without Arabic labels?

While Arabic is active, open the Windows On-Screen Keyboard (search for it from the Start menu): it shows the letters of the current layout. The online Arabic keyboard also displays every letter on its key.

Arabic keyboard →