Restoring Default Keyboard List after Installing and Modifying Keyboards in Windows 10

Windows 10 offers users the ability to install and modify keyboard layouts to suit their individual needs. This can be done using the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) tool, which allows you to create custom keyboard layouts, modify existing ones, reinstall them, and have up to five different versions installed at any given time.

Restoring Default Keyboard Layout

If you have made modifications to your keyboard layout that you would like to reverse, you can restore the default keyboard layout by following these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Select Change keyboards or other input methods under Clock, Language, and Region.
3. On the Keyboards and Languages tab, click the Add… button.
4. In the Add Input Method window, scroll down and select English (United States), then click Add.
5. Select United States from the list of keyboards, then click the Move Up button until it is the only keyboard listed.
6. Click OK to save your changes and close the window.

Creating a Custom Keyboard Layout using MSKLC

To create a custom keyboard layout, you will need to download and install the MSKLC tool from the Microsoft website. Once installed, follow these steps:

1. Open the MSKLC tool.
2. Click File and select Load Existing Keyboard….
3. In the Load Keyboard window, scroll down and select United States, then click Open.
4. Make the desired modifications to the keyboard layout using the visual editor.
5. Click File and select Save Source File… to save your changes.
6. Click Project and select Build DLL and Associate… to build the new keyboard layout.
7. Follow the prompts to install the new keyboard layout on your system.

Modifying an Existing Keyboard Layout

To modify an existing keyboard layout, you can follow the same steps as creating a custom layout, but instead of selecting Load Existing Keyboard…, you can select New Keyboard and create a new layout based on an existing one. This allows you to make modifications to any keyboard layout that is currently installed on your system.

Reinstalling a Keyboard Layout

If you need to reinstall a keyboard layout, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Select Change keyboards or other input methods under Clock, Language, and Region.
3. On the Keyboards and Languages tab, click the Change Keyboards… button.
4. In the Text Services and Input Languages window, select the keyboard layout you want to reinstall and click the Remove button.
5. Click Add… and follow the steps outlined in the Restoring Default Keyboard Layout section to reinstall the keyboard layout.

The ability to install and modify keyboard layouts in Windows 10 provides users with a great deal of flexibility and customization. With the MSKLC tool, users can create custom keyboard layouts, modify existing ones, reinstall them, and have up to five different versions installed at any given time. This makes it possible for users to work with multiple languages, special characters, and unique keyboard setups, all within a single operating system.

References

• Type the keyboard layout you want. Microsoft Support. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/type-the-keyboard-layout-you-want-3bd86b43-2e9a-83d8-b3b4-64d7c5df1828

• Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator. Microsoft. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=102134