Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10  

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    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10

    How to Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10
    Published by Category: General Tips
    13 Mar 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10


    In Windows, you can configure your keyboard to use a different keyboard layout or input method to type in another language.

    The language of your keyboard layout controls the characters that appear on your screen when you type. By using the different layouts, you can type all the characters for the language, including diacritics such as the umlaut (ä) in German and the tilde (ñ) in Spanish.

    If you have more than one added keyboard layout, you will be able to change your keyboard layout.

    The modern Input Indicator automatically shows as a system icon on the taskbar notification area when you add an additional language or keyboard layout, and allows you to quickly switch keyboard layouts or input methods without having to go through Settings.

    If you like, you could turn on the classic language bar, and have it floating on the desktop or docked in the taskbar. The language bar also allows you to quickly switch keyboard layouts or input methods without having to go through Settings.

    If you only have one language or keyboard layout, the Input Indicator and Language Bar will not show even if turned on.

    This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off the Language Bar and Input Indicator for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: Turn On or Off Input Indicator in Settings
    • Option Two: Turn On or Off Language Bar in Settings
    • Option Three: Change Language Bar to be on Desktop, on Taskbar, or Hidden from "Text Services and Input Languages"
    • Option Four: Change Language Bar to be on Desktop, on Taskbar, or Hidden using a REG file
    • Option Five: Change Language Bar to Floating on Desktop from Docked in the Taskbar
    • Option Six: Change Language Bar to Docked in the Taskbar from Floating on Desktop



    EXAMPLE: Input Indicator and Language Bar
    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-input_indicator.jpg
    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_docked_in_taskbar-1.png Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_docked_in_taskbar-2.png
    (Language Bar docked in the taskbar)
    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_floating_on_desktop-1.png Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_floating_on_desktop-2.png
    (Language Bar floating on desktop)






    OPTION ONE

    Turn On or Off Input Indicator in Settings


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Personalization icon.

    2 Click/tap on Taskbar on the left side, and click/tap on the Turn system icons on or off link on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-input_indicator-1.jpg

    3 Turn On (default) or Off Input Indicator for what you want. (see screenshot below)

    If you turn on Input Indicator and do not see it on your taskbar, then go to Settings > Time & Language > Region & language to refresh it and show.

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-input_indicator-2.jpg

    4 You can now close Settings if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    Turn On or Off Language Bar in Settings


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Devices icon.

    2 Click/tap on Typing on the left side, and click/tap on the Advanced keyboard settings link on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_settings-1.jpg

    3 Check (on) or uncheck (off - default) Use the desktop language bar when it's available for what you want. (see screenshot below)

    If you check Use the desktop language bar when it's available, it will automatically turn off Input Indicator if already turned on from Option One.

    If you uncheck Use the desktop language bar when it's available, it will automatically turn on Input Indicator if already turned on from Option One.

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_settings-2.jpg

    4 You can now close Settings if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    Change Language Bar to be on Desktop, on Taskbar, or Hidden from "Text Services and Input Languages"


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Devices icon.

    If you like, you can open Run (Win+R), copy and paste the command below into Run, and click/tap on OK to directly open Text Services and Input Languages at step 4 below.

    rundll32.exe Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL input.dll,,{C07337D3-DB2C-4D0B-9A93-B722A6C106E2}


    2 Click/tap on Typing on the left side, and click/tap on the Advanced keyboard settings link on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_settings-1.jpg

    3 Click/tap on the Language bar options link. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_options-1.jpg

    4 Select (dot) the Floating on Desktop, Docked in the taskbar (default), or Hidden Language Bar you want, and click/tap on OK.

    Floating on Desktop will only show when Use the desktop language bar when it's available is checked from Option Two above.

    Docked in the taskbar will only show when Use the desktop language bar when it's available is checked from Option Two above.

    Hidden will override Option Two above, and prevent the language bar from showing.

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_options-2.png






    OPTION FOUR

    Change Language Bar to be on Desktop, on Taskbar, or Hidden using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD in the registry key below.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CTF\LangBar

    ShowStatus DWORD

    0 = Floating on desktop
    4 = Docked in the taskbar
    3 = Hidden


    1. Do step 2 (desktop), step 3 (taskbar), or step 4 (hidden) below for which language bar you want.


    2 Language Bar Floating On Desktop

    Floating on Desktop will only show when Use the desktop language bar when it's available is checked from Option Two above.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Language_Bar_floating_on_desktop.reg

    Download


    3 Language Bar Docked in the Taskbar

    This is the default setting. Docked in the taskbar will only show when Use the desktop language bar when it's available is checked from Option Two above.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Language_Bar_docked_in_the_taskbar.reg

    Download


    4 Language Bar Hidden

    Hidden will override Option Two above, and prevent the language bar from showing.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Language_Bar_hidden.reg

    Download

    5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    8 Sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.

    9 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.






    OPTION FIVE

    Change Language Bar to Floating on Desktop from Docked in the Taskbar


    1. Perform either action below from the language bar docked in the taskbar.

    A) Click/tap on the language bar icon on the taskbar notification area, and click/tap on Show the Language bar. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_floating_on_desktop-4.png

    OR

    B) Right click or press and hold on the language bar icon on the taskbar notification area, and click/tap on Restore the Language bar. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_floating_on_desktop-3.png






    OPTION SIX

    Change Language Bar to Docked in the Taskbar from Floating on Desktop


    1 Click/tap on the Minimize button on the language bar floating on the desktop. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language_bar_docked_in_taskbar-3.png


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 76
    Windows 10 x64 Pro
       #1

    Thanks for the tips. Not sure if I messed with a setting or if this is new to 1903, but when I switch the keyboard language with Alt+Shift, there's an annoying pop-up to the centre-right of the screen. Is there a way to disable it?

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10-language-switch.png
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,655
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello AmigaRoots,

    Does the pop-up close automatically after a bit?

    If so, it would just be a way to let you know you switched the language. I'm not aware of a way to stop this one.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 76
    Windows 10 x64 Pro
       #3

    Yes, it goes away but it is visually annoying. I mean... I know I changed the language because I'm the one that pressed the keys. And there's already the taskbar language bar as a visual aid.

    Hopefully, there will be a way to disable it. Strangely, it does not always appear.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 26
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
       #4

    I have the same problem. And it is buggy. Sometimes it stays there forever until I switch language again.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit Update 1903
       #5

    Hello all,

    I have the following keyboards:
    ENG - English (United States) - US Keyboard
    EL - Greek - Greek Keyboard
    ELP - Greek - Greek Polytonic Keyboard

    I use the following key combinations to switch input language or keyboard layout:
    'Ctrl+Shift' to switch input language
    'Left Alt+Shift' to switch keyboard layout

    Whenever I switch input lagnuage or keyboard layout, I see a pop-up notification on the center-right of the screen. Please note that this notification started popping-up not after upgrading to version 1903, but a few hours later, after installing 'May 14, 2019—KB4495620 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for Windows 10, version 1903', through Windows Update.

    This is what happens on my computer:

    Press and hold 'Ctrl' then press and release 'Shift' (the notification appears) then release 'Ctrl' (the notification disappears)

    Press and hold 'Ctrl' then press and release 'Shift' (the notification appears) and every time you press 'Shift' the highlight moves between available input languages then release 'Ctrl' (the notification disappears)

    Press and hold 'Ctrl' then press and release 'Shift' (the notification appears) then press and hold 'Shift' then release 'Ctrl' (the notification stays on the screen until you press 'Esc')

    I have exactly the same behavior while switching keyboard layout.

    I have tested all available key sequence options and the only time the notification DOES NOT pop-up is when I set the 'Change Key Sequence' to 'Grave Accent (`)'.

    Other people I have talked to, are also experiencing this. Some find it helpful, some others (including me) find it annoying. I guess that the best thing would be for Microsoft to give us the chance to choose.

    Thank you,
    John
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 26
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
       #6

    So, is the root of this problem KB4495620? If yes, can it be safely removed?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit Update 1903
       #7

    I cannot say for sure, however I am willing to wait and see what will happen in the future. To be honest, I usually do not uninstall updates, unless it is absolutely necessary, or when things go terribly wrong.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    Did a fresh install of Win10 1903. Canadian language gets installed as secondary, normally I just delete it and keep US only, which removes the language change notification in the task bar.

    PROBLEM: Language notification keeps showing up again after reboot, showing both US and CAN languages. CAN language is no where to be found. Check in the old Control Panel keyboard and language settings, check in the new FAT UI settings page, can't find it, all looks good. Language bar is disabled as well.

    Have to install and uninstall CAN to get the task bar icon to go away. Pretty much have to do this every reboot. Assume there's a glitch somewhere from Microsoft moving from the old Control Panel to the new (terrible) settings pages.

    Anyway, I did end up fixing the issue by manually editing the registry. Here are some tips.

    1) Use this support page to determine the language codes you are having issues with. To search the registry, add leading zeros. For example, the codes I was dealing with was US: 00000409 and CANADA: 00001009

    2) The registry keys I found with issues were as follows. For the "Keyboard Layout" keys, I had to make sure only the US language remained in the "Preload" section, and remove everything from the "Substitutes" area. For the "AssemblyItem" keys, I removed the entire sub keys that were of the offending language.

    Code:
    Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout
    Computer\HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout
    Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Keyboard Layout
    Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Keyboard Layout
    
    Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CTF\SortOrder\AssemblyItem
    Computer\HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\CTF\SortOrder\AssemblyItem
    Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Software\Microsoft\CTF\SortOrder\AssemblyItem
    Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\CTF\SortOrder\AssemblyItem

    Seems to have resolved my ghost language showing up. Hope this helps someone.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 26
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
       #9

    JohnPap said:
    I cannot say for sure, however I am willing to wait and see what will happen in the future. To be honest, I usually do not uninstall updates, unless it is absolutely necessary, or when things go terribly wrong.
    You had it on the spot with that .Net update that came through. The latest update KB4502584 (Cumulative update for .Net framework) fixed it.

    Cumulative Update KB4502584 .NET Framework 3.5, 4.8 Windows 10 June 27

    Edit: 2019-07-02
    While the update for the .Net fixed this, the Cumulative Update for 1903 KB4501375 broke it again. I get the same effect every time I switch language.
    Also, although KB4501375 seems successfully installed, I get it again in the list of available updates.
    Last edited by zanxion; 02 Jul 2019 at 00:15.
      My Computer


 

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