Determine and change MacBook keyboard layout
Contents
In this short guide, we will show you how to determine the keyboard layout of your MacBook. What the differences between the layouts are and whether the layouts can be changed later. Afterwards, we summarise in a list which languages use which layout.
Why are there different keyboard layouts for the MacBook?
Most languages have their own individual layout on the MacBook. In German, for example, special characters such as ä, ö and ü are indispensable, while in other languages completely different letters are indispensable. To be able to write quickly and easily in your own language, it is therefore essential to use the correct layout.
What is the keyboard layout for?
If you buy a MacBook, you should definitely pay attention to this, that the correct keyboard layout is installed. Basically, there are three different layouts for MacBooks, which can be recognized by the shape of the Enter key. Additionally, these layout groups are distinguished by different languages, i.e. the keys that are ultimately printed on them.
What keyboard layout groups are there?
ANSI keyboard
The ANSI keyboard is used in American keyboards. They can be recognized by the flat Enter key. In addition, with these keys no symbols are written on the Shift, Tab, Caps Lock, Enter, Return and Delete keys but the respective words.
ISO keyboard
The ISO keyboard is used in most European languages. like French, German, Danish, Norwegian, etc. But also Arabic, Russian and many more are mapped via the ISO keyboard. We have a complete list der ISO keyboards put together.
Japanese keyboard
Here is the Enter key similar to the ISO keyboard, but it is much wider.
Languages and their layouts
| Language | Keyboard layout group | Order |
| Arabic | ISO | Inquiries |
| British/Irish (= English UK) | ISO | Order |
| Bulgarian | ISO | Inquiries |
| Chinese - Pinyin | ANSI | Inquiries |
| Chinese - Zhuyin | ANSI | Inquiries |
| Danish | ISO | Inquiries |
| German/Austrian | ISO | Order |
| English UK (= British/Irish) | ISO | Order |
| English USA | ANSI | Order |
| French - Canadian | ISO | Order |
| French/Belgian | ISO | Order |
| Greek | ISO | Inquiries |
| Hebrew | ISO | Inquiries |
| Icelandic | ISO | Inquiries |
| Italian | ISO | Order |
| Korean | ANSI | Inquiries |
| Croatian/Slovenian | ISO | Inquiries |
| Dutch | ISO | Inquiries |
| Norwegian | ISO | Inquiries |
| Portuguese | ISO | Inquiries |
| Romanian | ISO | Inquiries |
| Russian | ISO | Inquiries |
| Swedish/Finnish | ISO | Inquiries |
| Swiss | ISO | Inquiries |
| Slovak | ISO | Inquiries |
| Spanish | ISO | Bestellen |
| Spanish - Latin America | ISO | Order |
| Thai | ANSI | Inquiries |
| Czech | ISO | Inquiries |
| Türkish | ISO | Order |
| Hungarian | ISO | Inquiries |
Can the layout After purchase still need to be adjusted?
Within the own layout group e.g. French (ISO) to German (ISO) can be switched between the key layouts without any problems. If e.g. from a ANSI keyboard to a ISO keyboard, the key to the right of the left shift key is missing. This is still acceptable, but can be annoying if this key is needed more often. As a rule, this is still the better solution instead of generally having the wrong key labels on the keyboard.
Conclusion
If you need more information about the keyboard layouts you can have a look at the official guide from Apple view. If you have the correct keyboard group, but want to adjust the printed characters, you can do this with replace our replacement keys.