Keyboard layout: reading and typing language are now one and the same?

Hey guys!

I'm a German guy living in Canada. I like my operating systems like I like my women:

1. User interface in English
2. Keyboard layout in German

Except, women don't have keyboard layouts and I like international women, too. But you get the idea.

Now, in Windows 10, I can only select one language for typing and reading. That makes me a sad panda.

So I went ahead and refused to install the German language pack, leaving the user interface largely in English while getting me my nice German keyboard layout. But yesterday, I found that all those native Windows apps (Weather, Maps) are now in German all of a sudden.

It's no big deal since I obviously speak both languages, but I must say, I've become quite fond of my English user interface and German keyboard layout. Insert obligatory But-Ubuntu-Does-It-Better rant here.

Anybody know a workaround? I'm sure there are more expats here who suddenly face this problem.

No expat but Belgian tech professional here . -.- I have been rackin my brain on this one too.
All i want is my Windows in UK english but my keyboard in azerty.BUT I do also need English,Dutch and French proofing tools which automatically come with their own keyboards.Lot of alt + shift going on here.Help.

This sounds rather lame. I wonder what happens when you select a multilingual keyboard layout? I make use of the US International keyboard (I like it better than the Canadian Multilingual Standard layout), I just haven't gotten around to setting it up yet.

In the past I have made use of the MSKLC tool for creating my own keyboard layouts, most recently for Esperanto when I was working on the Duolingo tree. The Microsoft website lists several operating systems the tool is compatible with up to Windows 7, but I found no issues using it with Windows 8.1.

Last I checked with 8.1 you had to select a pre-existing language on the system. Theoretically, as the MSKLC would allow you to duplicate the German keyboard layout and select English as the language of your layout, it may be possible that Windows 10 would handle this as though it's English and thus give you the English interface. Assuming of course that the MSKLC even works in Windows 10.

I went the other way - installed German and added English language pack, made it default, added German keyboard and removed English keyboard. While most changed to English many programs installed afterwards use German. Even windows login screen still welcomes me in German "Willkommen".

Microsoft was asked the same question Language issue after W10 installation - system in mixed languages on September 12, 2015 by a Czech guy. First he was misunderstood - it was absolute clear what he was asking for - then ignored.


While I was wondering whether it would make a difference to change my country to be an English speaking one it seems unnecessary to try as mrmatteastwood has installed an English version and is obviously living in an English speaking country ( beside Québec ). I could try removing German language ( not keyboard ) but again matt has only added German keyboard.

Hopefully Microsoft has a few foreign keyboards available to check it out and solve the problem during the year...