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Input Menu Configuration

Use the input menu to open the Character Viewer and Keyboard Viewers of different languages.

Learn how to configure your settings to show the input menu and how to enable input sources (Keyboard Viewers) for different languages.

To identify the input menu in the menu bar:

The input menu has a menu bar icon that will show as either a character or a flag, both are shown here:

Input menu character icon

Input menu flag icon

NOTE: The character icon will display if you only use one language input source. If you have enabled input sources for more than one language a flag icon will display with the particular flag indicating the current selection.

If the input menu does not show in the menu bar, you can add it to the menu bar. Choose  > System Preferences, click Keyboard, then select “Show Keyboard and emoji viewers in menu bar”.

To enable input sources for other languages:

Open the input menu on the menu bar and choose Open Keyboard Preferences, as shown here:

Keyboard Viewer example

This will take you straight to the Keyboard Input Sources window shown here:

Keyboard Input Sources window

Click the + icon to browse and add language input sources.

Adding more keyboard input sources

With two or more language input sources enabled, switch between them by selecting the required flag in the input menu:

Input menu with two language input sources enabled

Related Topics

Character Inspector

Special Characters and Symbols

Type in another language on your Mac with input sources