Setting Up An Austrian Keyboard On Windows: A Step-By-Step Guide

If you're using a Windows PC, you can add an Austrian keyboard layout in your language settings. This will allow you to type Austrian language characters such as ä, ö, and ü. The process is straightforward: simply go to your language settings, add German (Austria) as a language, and you'll be able to select this keyboard layout when typing. You can also purchase Austrian keyboard labels to stick on your existing keyboard, which will allow you to see the Austrian layout without having to refer to an on-screen keyboard.

How to set up an Austrian keyboard on Windows

To set up an Austrian keyboard on Windows, follow these steps:

• Go to your Windows Settings.
• Navigate to "Time & Language", then "Region & Language".
• Under "Languages", click on "English (United States)" or whichever language you are currently using.
• Click on "Options".
• From the options, select "Add a keyboard" and choose "German (Austria)".
• Follow the on-screen instructions to add the Austrian keyboard layout.
• Once added, you can switch between your original keyboard layout and the Austrian layout by using the keyboard shortcut "Windows key + Spacebar".

Alternatively, if you want to keep your system language as English but have the ability to type in German with Austrian characters, you can add German keyboard labels to your existing keyboard. This will create a bilingual keyboard. You can purchase German (Austrian) language keyboard labels that conform to the Austrian layout in Windows. These labels are printed on clear material, allowing the original key legend to show through. The labels are easy to apply and will not damage your original keyboard keys. With this method, you can continue using your English system language while being able to type Austrian characters.

How to type Austrian characters on Windows

To type Austrian characters on Windows, you need to change your keyboard layout settings. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Go to your Windows Settings.
• Navigate to "Region & Language" settings.
• Under "Languages", click on "Add a language".
• Search for and select "German (Austria)".
• Once the language is added, click on it and select "Options".
• Choose "Add a keyboard" and select the "German keyboard".
• Now, when you want to type in Austrian characters, you can switch between your regular keyboard layout and the German (Austria) layout.

Alternatively, you can use the following methods to type specific Austrian characters:

• For "ä, ö, and ü", hold the "Alt Gr" key and press the corresponding vowel.
• For "^, `, and ´", use these as dead keys. Press and release the accent key, then press a vowel key to form accented characters.
• For "², ³, {, [, ], }, \, @, €, |, µ, and ~, hold the "Alt Gr" key and tap the other key. Alternatively, you can use "Ctrl + Alt" and press the respective key.

Please note that the left "Alt" key will not access these additional characters.

How to use the AltGr key to access language-specific characters

The AltGr key is used to type special characters and symbols that are not widely used in the territory where the keyboard was sold. These include foreign currency symbols, typographic marks, and accented letters.

On a Windows-compatible PC keyboard, the AltGr key, when present, takes the place of the right-hand Alt key. The key will operate as AltGr if a keyboard layout using AltGr is chosen in the operating system, regardless of what is engraved on the key.

The AltGr key is used as an additional Shift key, to provide a third and a fourth grapheme (when Shift is also pressed) for most keys. Most are accented variants of the letters on the keys, but also additional symbols and punctuation marks.

The AltGr key has no function on its own – if you press the key alone, it does not execute a command. The key combination [Ctrl] + [Alt] serves as a replacement for the AltGr key.

If you are using a Windows operating system on an Apple Mac, you can substitute the AltGr key with the key combination Alt + Ctrl.

• German keyboards: AltGr+H → capital ß.
• Hebrew keyboards: AltGr+ש‎ → $.
• UK and Ireland keyboards: AltGr+4 → the euro sign.
• US-International keyboard: AltGr+C → © (copyright sign).

How to use the Windows language bar to switch between keyboard layouts

To use the Windows language bar to switch between keyboard layouts, you must first ensure that you have enabled the keyboard layout for two or more languages in the Windows operating system.

To do this, follow the steps below:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap or click "Time and Language".
• Tap or click "Region and Language".
• Tap or click "Add a language".
• Browse for the language you want and tap or click it to add it to your language list.

Once you have enabled the keyboard layouts for multiple languages, you can use the Language bar to switch between them. The Language bar should appear on your taskbar near the clock. Click on the language icon on the Language bar and then select the language you want to use.

If you do not see the Language bar, you can check if it is hidden by following these steps:

• Press the Windows logo key and type "Control Panel".
• Click on "Control Panel".
• Under "Clock, Language, and Region", click on "Change input methods".
• Click on "Advanced settings".
• Under "Switching input methods", select the "Use the desktop language bar when it's available" checkbox, and then click "Options".
• In the "Text Services and Input Languages" dialog box, click on the "Language Bar" tab and ensure that either "Floating on Desktop" or "Docked in the taskbar" is selected.

Now you can use the Language bar to switch between your installed keyboard layouts.

Note: If you are using Windows 10 or 11, you can also switch between keyboard layouts by pressing and holding the Windows key and then repeatedly pressing the Spacebar to cycle through your installed keyboards.

How to add an Austrian keyboard layout in Windows Settings

To add an Austrian keyboard layout in Windows Settings, follow these steps:

• Go to your Windows Settings.
• Navigate to "Region & language" settings.
• Under "Languages", click on "English (United States)" or whichever language is currently set as your default.
• Click on "Options".
• In the new window, click on "Add a keyboard" and select "German (Austria)".
• Follow the on-screen instructions to add the Austrian keyboard layout.

Alternatively, you can try the following method:

• Go to your Windows Settings.
• Navigate to "Region & language" settings.
• Under "Languages", click on "Add a language".
• Select "German (Austria)" from the list of languages.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to add the Austrian keyboard layout.

Note that the Austrian keyboard layout is based on the QWERTZ layout, which is different from the standard QWERTY layout. The QWERTZ layout is commonly used in German-speaking countries and has some special key inscriptions translated into German, such as "Strg" for "Ctrl" and "Entf" for "Delete". To type accented characters, the Austrian layout employs dead keys and the AltGr key for the third level of key assignments.

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