Changing the keyboard layout on your Mac (QWERTY, English, Dutch)

You type an @ and another character appears. Or you bought a MacBook with an English keyboard and still want to type accents easily. Or you want your Mac in Dutch, or in English. You control that with the keyboard layout (input source) and the language of your Mac. This article explains how to change the keyboard layout on your Mac, which layout is handy in the Netherlands and how to change the system language.

Blue Apple repairs MacBook keyboards in Amsterdam. If a key types nothing at all, it is no longer a setting; more about that at the end.

Keyboard and layout: two different things

• The physical keyboard: what is printed on the keys. MacBooks sold in the Netherlands often have a US QWERTY keyboard, sometimes an international English keyboard with an extra key.
• The input source: which characters macOS produces when you press a key. You choose it yourself.

If the two do not match, you get different characters from what is on the key.

Changing the input source

1. Go to System Settings, Keyboard.
2. Under Text Input, Input Sources, click Edit.
3. Click the plus and choose a language and layout, for example "ABC" (English), "U.S." or "Dutch".
4. Remove layouts you do not use with the minus.

Which layout is handy in the Netherlands?

Many people in the Netherlands use the ABC or U.S. layout on the Mac, because it matches the QWERTY keyboard. You then type accents by holding a letter, or with Option combinations. The ABC – Extended layout gives even more special characters via Option. See typing special characters and accents and typing the euro sign.

Switching quickly between layouts

If you have more than one input source, a flag or abbreviation appears in the menu bar. Click it to switch. You can also press the globe key (fn), or use Control + Space bar. Set this up in System Settings, Keyboard.

Changing your Mac's language

1. Go to System Settings, General, Language and Region.
2. Drag the language you want to the top of the list, or add it with the plus.
3. Restart the Mac if asked.

Under Applications you can choose a different language per app, for example Word in English and the rest in Dutch.

Wrong characters: common confusion

• @ and " swapped: the input source is British while your keyboard is US, or the other way round.
• Z and Y swapped: a German layout is on.
• A and Q swapped: a French (AZERTY) or Belgian layout is on.
• § and ` mixed up: the difference between a US and an international keyboard.

Typing accents without another layout

You do not need to switch layouts to type é, ë or ç. Hold the letter down for a moment; a small menu with variants appears. Choose with the number or the mouse. That works in almost every app. For fixed combinations: Option + E then the letter gives an acute accent, Option + U then the letter a diaeresis.

An external keyboard

If you connect a keyboard from another brand, macOS sometimes asks which type it is (Keyboard Setup Assistant). Choose the right type and the characters match again.

A key does nothing at all

Then it is not a layout matter. Test with an external keyboard and read MacBook keyboard not working.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

If keys do not work or respond oddly, we test the keyboard and replace what is broken. More on our page about MacBook keyboard repair.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Dutch keyboard on my MacBook?

Most people in the Netherlands use QWERTY with the ABC layout. A different physical keyboard means replacing the keyboard.

Why does my layout change by itself?

You probably press the globe key or Control + Space bar by accident. Remove layouts you do not use.

Does the language also change Siri?

No, Siri's language is set separately.