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10 Tech How-To

French Keyboard Layout: Switch Back to QWERTY

Guide 10-29334 · Updated · Step by step

If your keyboard suddenly types AZERTY instead of QWERTY, or you accidentally switched layouts and now get “q” instead of “a”, this guide shows you exactly how to change it back on Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS. You only need your computer and a few minutes; no special software is required.

What You’ll Need

  • Your Windows or Mac computer
  • Administrator or user account access (for changing settings)
  • If you use a physical French (AZERTY) keyboard, you may also want to verify the physical layout matches the setting

Step-by-Step

On Windows 10 and Windows 11

  1. Open Settings – Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Go to Time & Language – Click on Time & Language (Windows 10) or Time & Language in the left sidebar (Windows 11).
  3. Select Language & Region – In Windows 10, click Language in the left menu. In Windows 11, click Language & region in the right pane.
  4. Find your preferred language – Look for the language you want to type in (e.g., English (United States)). If it is not listed, click Add a language and install it.
  5. Click the three dots or the language – In Windows 10, click the language name and then Options. In Windows 11, click the three dots next to the language and select Language options.
  6. Check the keyboard layout – Under Keyboards, you will see a list of installed layouts. If you see French (AZERTY) or French (Standard), click it and select Remove.
  7. Add or set the correct layout – If you want QWERTY, ensure US QWERTY or US International is listed. If not, click Add a keyboard and choose the one you need.
  8. Set as default – In Windows 10, under Override for default input method, choose your preferred layout. In Windows 11, you can set the default by going to Typing > Advanced keyboard settings and selecting your layout from the drop-down.
  9. Remove the French layout entirely (optional) – Go back to Language and if you no longer need French, click the language and choose Remove to prevent it from being used.
  10. Restart or test – Open a text editor and type to confirm the keys now match QWERTY. If not, repeat the steps and make sure the correct layout is at the top of the list.

On macOS (Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia and later)

  1. Open System Settings – Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
  2. Go to Keyboard – In the sidebar, click Keyboard.
  3. Click Text Input – On the right, find Text Input and click the Edit button next to Input Sources.
  4. Remove the French layout – In the list of input sources, find French or AZERTY. Select it and click the minus (−) button to remove it.
  5. Add the correct layout – Click the plus (+) button, search for English (or your desired language), and choose ABC or ABC – AZERTY (if you actually need AZERTY). For standard QWERTY, choose ABC or US.
  6. Set as default – Drag your preferred layout to the top of the list, or simply remove the French one so only QWERTY remains.
  7. Check the input menu – Look at the top-right menu bar for the input source icon (often a flag or a character). Click it and ensure the correct layout is checked.
  8. Test – Open any text field and type. If it still types French characters, repeat and make sure no other layout is enabled.

Quick Toggle (Both Platforms)

  1. Windows – Press Windows + Space to cycle through installed layouts. Or press Alt + Shift if you have that shortcut enabled.
  2. Mac – Press Control + Space (or Option + Control + Space on older versions) to switch input sources.

Common Mistakes

  • Removing the wrong language – Make sure you remove the keyboard layout, not the entire language pack, unless you really don’t need it.
  • Forgetting to set the default – Even after removing French, if your default is still set to it, you’ll keep seeing AZERTY. Always check the default input method.
  • Physical vs. virtual layout – If you have a physical French keyboard (with AZERTY printed on the keys), changing the software to QWERTY will make the keys type different characters than what’s printed. That’s normal; you need a QWERTY keyboard for physical match.
  • Using the wrong shortcut – Some users accidentally press Ctrl + Shift and switch layouts without knowing. Learn the shortcuts to avoid future accidents.

Tips

  • Use the language bar – On Windows, enable the language bar in the taskbar to see which layout is active at a glance.
  • Set a specific shortcut – In Windows, go to Advanced keyboard settings > Input language hot keys to assign a custom key combination that only switches to your preferred layout.
  • Remove unused layouts – Keeping only one layout eliminates the risk of accidental switches.
  • On Mac, use the input menu – Check the menu bar for the input source icon. If you don’t see it, enable it in System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources > Show Input menu in menu bar.
  • Test with a known phrase – Type “The quick brown fox” to quickly verify that all letters are correct.

Troubleshooting

  • It still types AZERTY after following the steps – Go back and ensure the French layout is completely removed. Sometimes a layout is still installed under a different language. Check all languages in your list.
  • The change doesn’t apply to all apps – Some apps (like games or remote desktop software) may have their own keyboard settings. Close and reopen the app after changing the layout.
  • Windows keeps reverting – If you have multiple languages, Windows may switch back if you press the shortcut accidentally. Remove all layouts except the one you want.
  • Mac shows a different layout in the menu bar – Click the input source icon and select the correct one. If it’s not there, go back to System Settings and add it.
  • Keys are mapped wrong even after setting QWERTY – Check if you have a third-party keyboard utility (like AutoHotkey or Karabiner) that remaps keys. Disable it temporarily to test.
  • On a laptop, the Fn key or special keys behave oddly – That’s unrelated to layout; check your laptop’s function key settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my keyboard suddenly switch to French?

You likely pressed a keyboard shortcut that cycles through installed layouts. On Windows, Windows + Space or Alt + Shift does this. On Mac, Control + Space (or Option + Control + Space) switches input sources.

Is there a difference between “French” and “French (Standard)” layouts?

Yes. The traditional French layout is AZERTY, where the first row is A-Z-E-R-T-Y. The “French (Standard)” layout is a newer, more QWERTY-like layout (often called AZERTY improved) that places numbers in the top row without Shift. If you want standard QWERTY, choose US or ABC instead.

Can I have both QWERTY and AZERTY and switch easily?

Yes. Keep both layouts installed and use the shortcut (Windows + Space on Windows, Control + Space on Mac) to toggle. Just be aware that accidental presses can switch you without warning.

What if I don’t see the language bar on Windows?

Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Scroll to System icons and turn on Input indicator. Alternatively, go to Settings > Time & Language > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings and check Use the desktop language bar when it’s available.

Does changing the layout affect my files or apps?

No. It only changes which character each key produces. Your files, documents, and installed apps remain unaffected. You may need to restart some apps to apply the change.

My physical keyboard is French (AZERTY). Should I set it to QWERTY?

If you want the letters printed on the keys to match what you type, keep the software set to French (AZERTY). If you set it to QWERTY, the keys will type different letters than what’s printed. If you have a QWERTY keyboard, set it to US or ABC.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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