Mac

Mac typing the wrong characters? Check the keyboard layout

By · Publisher: Saadat Rafiq

2 min read4 stepsPublished 18 October 2026

Screenshot from the guide: Mac typing the wrong characters? Check the keyboard layout
In this guide
  1. Open Keyboard settings
  2. Check the list
  3. Add the right layout
  4. Switch from the menu bar
  5. If you do not see this option
  6. If this does not work
  7. Good to know
  8. Sources
Short answer

Open System Settings, Keyboard and click Edit next to Input Sources. If Y and Z or symbols are swapped, the active layout does not match the keys, for example German (QWERTZ) on a US keyboard. Pick the right one, or switch with the input menu in the menu bar.

Device
Mac
Shown on
macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)
App
System Settings
Path
System Settings › Keyboard › Text Input
Real screenshots
4 of 4 steps
Checked
October 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Step by step

  1. Mac screenshot: Open Keyboard settings
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Open Keyboard settings

    Choose Apple menu, System Settings, Keyboard. Under Text Input, Input Sources shows the layouts you have. Click Edit.

  2. Mac screenshot: Check the list
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Check the list

    The layouts are on the left: ours were German and ABC – QWERTZ. Turn on Show Input menu in menu bar so you can see which one is active.

  3. Mac screenshot: Add the right layout
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Add the right layout

    Click + under the list. Pick the language on the left, then the layout on the right; the keyboard below shows its keys. Click Add. With English selected, ours offered ABC, ABC – Extended, ABC – India, Australian, British and more.

  4. Mac screenshot: Switch from the menu bar
    Tap the picture to see it full size

    Switch from the menu bar

    Click the input menu and choose the layout. Ours offered ABC – QWERTZ and German.

If you do not see this option

  • No input menu in the menu bar? Turn on Show Input menu in menu bar in step 2.
  • Cannot find the layout? Type its name in the Search field at the bottom of the add dialog.

If this does not work

  • It changes when you press Control-Space? Apple lists Control-Space as a shortcut to switch input sources, so pressing it by accident changes the layout. Switch back from the input menu. Source: Write in another language on Mac
  • It switches back by itself? Turn off Automatically switch to a document's input source in step 2, or remove the layout you do not use.
  • Only some keys are wrong? Check Key repeat and other keyboard faults: Mac keyboard not working.

About this guide

Our German MacBook Neo has two layouts: German and ABC – QWERTZ.

The screenshots are from our MacBook Neo with macOS 27.0.1, taken on 18 October 2026.

Good to know

Create your own keyboard shortcuts on a Mac.

In short: System Settings, Keyboard, Input Sources, Edit, pick or add the layout; switch from the menu bar.

Sources

Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.

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