Setting up Arabic typing on your computer is straightforward but involves a few steps that are easy to miss. Once configured correctly, you can switch between English and Arabic input instantly with a single keyboard shortcut. This guide covers the complete setup for Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS and shows you how to verify that every Arabic key is working correctly once you are set up.
Setting up Arabic typing on Windows 10 and Windows 11
Step 1 – Add Arabic as an input language
Open the Start menu and go to Settings. Select Time & Language from the menu, then click Language & region (Windows 11) or Language (Windows 10). Click Add a language. In the search box, type Arabic. A list of regional Arabic variants will appear select the one appropriate for your region (Arabic Saudi Arabia, Arabic Egypt, Arabic UAE, etc.). Click Next, then Install. Windows will download the Arabic language pack.
Step 2 – Set the keyboard layout
After installing the language, click on Arabic in your language list and select Language options. Under Keyboards, you will see the default Arabic 101 layout has been added automatically. This is the standard Arabic keyboard layout used across most Arab countries. If you prefer the Arabic QWERTY layout (where Arabic letters are on the same positions as their phonetic English equivalents), click Add a keyboard and select Arabic 102 AZERTY or the QWERTY variant.
Step 3 – Switch to Arabic input
Press Windows + Space to cycle through your installed input languages. A small popup appears at the bottom right of your screen showing the current language. Keep pressing Windows + Space until Arabic is selected. Alternatively, click the language indicator in the taskbar (it shows ‘ENG’ by default) and select your Arabic layout from the list.
Step 4 – Enable the language bar (optional)
For easier language switching, right click on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, and ensure the language indicator is visible. This shows you at all times which input language is currently active particularly useful when switching between Arabic and English frequently.
Setting up Arabic typing on macOS
Step 1 – Add the Arabic keyboard input source
Open System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (older macOS). Go to Keyboard, then click Input Sources on the left, and click the + button at the bottom left. In the search field, type Arabic. You will see several options: Arabic, Arabic PC, Arabic QWERTY, and Arabic 123. For standard Arabic typing, select Arabic and click Add.
Step 2 – Show the input menu in the menu bar
In the same Keyboard Input Sources settings, check the box that says Show Input menu in menu bar. This adds a flag or keyboard icon to your menu bar at the top right of the screen. Clicking it lets you switch languages with one click.
Step 3 – Switch to Arabic input
Click the Input menu icon in the menu bar and select Arabic. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Control + Space (or Command + Space on some configurations) to cycle through input sources. The menu bar icon will change to reflect the active input language.
Step 4 – Show the keyboard viewer
macOS includes a built in keyboard viewer that shows which character each physical key produces in your current input layout. Open it from the Input menu → Show Keyboard Viewer. This is useful when learning the Arabic key positions since Arabic characters do not match the Latin letters printed on most physical keyboards.
How to verify your Arabic keyboard is working correctly
After setting up Arabic input on Windows or Mac, the next step is confirming that every Arabic character key is registering correctly. The fastest way to do this is with the TechTester Arabic keyboard checker at techtester.online/arabic-keyboard-checker/.
- Switch your input language to Arabic (Windows + Space on Windows, Input menu on Mac)
- Open techtester.online/arabic-keyboard-checker/ in your browser
- Press each key on your keyboard while in Arabic mode
- Each Arabic character should light up on the virtual Arabic keyboard display
- If any key fails to register or shows the wrong Arabic character, your layout setting needs adjustment
Common problems and how to fix them
Arabic characters appear left to right instead of right to left
This is an application level issue rather than a system level one. Most modern applications Word, Google Docs, Chrome, Firefox handle Arabic RTL automatically when Arabic text is detected. If a specific application is displaying Arabic left to right, look for a text direction setting in that application. In Microsoft Word, use the Paragraph direction button in the Home tab.
Pressing Arabic keys types English characters
Your input language is not switched to Arabic. Check the language indicator in the taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). If it shows ‘ENG’, press Windows + Space (Windows) or use the Input menu (Mac) to switch to Arabic.
The Arabic characters are wrong for my country’s layout
Different Arab countries use slightly different keyboard layouts for some characters. If the characters are mostly right but a few seem wrong, try a different regional variant of the Arabic language in your language settings for example, switch from Arabic Egypt to Arabic Saudi Arabia, or try the Arabic 102 layout.