You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in English! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a English keyboard.

Table of Contents

1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in English
2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for English
3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer
4. How to Change the Language Settings to English on Your Computer
5. Activating the English Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet
6. English Keyboard Typing Tips
7. How to Practice Typing English

1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in English

Learning a new language is made so much easier when you’re able to read and write/type it. This way, you will:

• Get the most out of any dictionary and English language apps on your devices
• Expand your ability to find English websites and use the various search engines
• Be able to communicate much better online with your English teachers and friends, and look super cool in the process! 

2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for English

It takes only a few steps to set up any of your devices to read and type in English. It’s super-easy on your mobile phone and tablet, and a simple process on your computer.

On your computer, you’ll first activate the onscreen keyboard to work with. You’ll only be using your mouse or touchpad/pointer for this keyboard. Then, you’ll need to change the language setting to English, so all text will appear in English. You could also opt to use online keyboards instead. Read on for the links!

On your mobile devices, it’s even easier—you only have to change the keyboard. We also provide a few alternatives in the form of online keyboards and downloadable apps.

However, because the UK and US keyboards are different, we’ll explain each part twice, once for the English (UK) keyboard and once for the English (US) keyboard.

3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer

1- Mac

1. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard.

2. Check the option “Show Keyboard & Character Viewers in Menu Bar.”

3. You’ll see a new icon on the right side of the main bar; click on it and select “Show Keyboard Viewer.”

2- Windows

1. Go to Start > Settings > Easy Access > Keyboard.

2. Turn on the option for “Onscreen Keyboard.”

3- Online Keyboards

If you don’t want to activate your computer’s onscreen keyboard, you also have the option to use online keyboards. Here are some good options for UK:

• Branah
• Virtual Keyboard
• English Keyboard

And for the US:

• Branah
• Virtual Keyboard

4- Add-ons of Extensions for Browsers

Instead of an online keyboard, you could also choose to download a Google extension to your browser for a language input tool. The Google Input Tools extension allows users to use input tools in Chrome web pages, for example.

4. How to Change the Language Settings to English on Your Computer

Now that you’re all set to work with an onscreen keyboard on your computer, it’s time to download the English language pack for your operating system of choice:

• Windows 8 (and higher)
• Windows 7
• Mac (OS X and higher)

1- Windows 8 (and higher) (UK)

1. Go to “Settings” > “Change PC Settings” > “Time & Language” > “Region & Language.”
2. Click on “Add a Language” and select “English (United Kingdom).” This will add it to your list of languages. It will appear as English (United Kingdom) with the note “language pack available.”
3. Click on “English (United Kingdom)” > “Options” > “Download.” It’ll take a few minutes to download and install the language pack.
4. As a keyboard layout, you’ll only need the one marked as “English (United Kingdom).” You can ignore other keyboard layouts.

2- Windows 8 (and higher) (US)

1. Go to “Settings “> “Change PC Settings” > “Time & Language” > “Region & Language.”
2. Click on “Add a Language” and select “English (United States).” This will add it to your list of languages. It will appear as English (United States) with the note “language pack available.”
3. Click on “English (United States)” > “Options” > “Download.” It’ll take a few minutes to download and install the language pack.
4. As a keyboard layout, you’ll only need the one marked as “US.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts.

3- Windows 7 (UK)

1. Go to “Start” > “Control Panel” > “Clock, Language, and Region.”
2. On the “Region and Language” option, click on “Change Keyboards or Other Input Methods.”
3. On the “Keyboards and Languages” tab, click on “Change Keyboards” > “Add” > “English (United Kingdom).”
4. Expand the option of “English (United Kingdom)” and then expand the option “Keyboard.” Select the keyboard layout marked as “English (United Kingdom).” You can ignore other keyboard layouts. Click “OK” and then “Apply.”

4- Windows 7 (US)

1. Go to “Start” > “Control Panel” > “Clock, Language, and Region.”
2. On the “Region and Language” option, click on “Change Keyboards or Other Input Methods.”
3. On the “Keyboards and Languages” tab, click on “Change Keyboards” > “Add” > “English (United States).”
4. Expand the option of “English (United States)” and then expand the option “Keyboard.” Select the keyboard layout marked as “US.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts. Click “OK” and then “Apply.”

5- Mac (OS X and higher) (UK)

If you can’t see the language listed, please make sure to select the right option from System Preferences > Language and Region

1. From the Apple Menu (top left corner of the screen) go to “System Preferences” > “Keyboard.”
2. Click the “Input Sources” tab and a list of available keyboards and input methods will appear.
3. Click on the plus button, select “English,” and add the “British” keyboard. The “British – PC” keyboard can be used if you’re either using a non-Apple keyboard or are more used to those.

6- Mac (OS X and higher) (US)

1. From the Apple Menu (top left corner of the screen) go to “System Preferences” > “Keyboard.”
2. Click the “Input Sources” tab and a list of available keyboards and input methods will appear.
3. Click on the plus button, select “English,” and add the “U.S.” keyboard.

5. Activating the English Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet

Texting and searching in English will greatly help you master the language! Adding a English keyboard on your mobile phone and/or tablet is super-easy.

You could also opt to download an app instead of adding a keyboard. Read on for our suggestions.

Below are the instructions for both iOS and Android mobile phones and tablets.

1- iOS (UK)

1. Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Keyboard.”
2. Tap “Keyboards” and then “Add New Keyboard.”
3. Select “English (United Kingdom)” from the list.
4. When typing, you can switch between languages by tapping and holding on the icon to reveal the keyboard language menu.

2- iOS (US)

1. Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Keyboard.”
2. Tap “Keyboards” and then “Add New Keyboard.”
3. Select “English (U.S.)” from the list.
4. When typing, you can switch between languages by tapping and holding on the icon to reveal the keyboard language menu.

3- Android (UK)

1. Go to “Settings” > “General Management” > “Language and Input” > “On-screen Keyboard” (or “Virtual Keyboard” on some devices) > “Samsung Keyboard.”
2. Tap “Language and Types” or “+ Select Input Languages” depending on the device, and then “MANAGE INPUT LANGUAGES” if available.
3. Select “English (UK)” from the list.
4. When typing, you can switch between languages by swiping the space bar.

4- Android (US)

1. Go to “Settings” > “General Management” > “Language and Input” > “On-screen Keyboard” (or “Virtual Keyboard” on some devices) > “Samsung Keyboard.”
2. Tap “Language and Types” or “+ Select Input Languages” depending on the device, and then “MANAGE INPUT LANGUAGES” if available.
3. Select “English (United States)” from the list.
4. When typing, you can switch between languages by swiping the space bar.

3- Applications for Mobile Phones

If you don’t want to add a keyboard on your mobile phone or tablet, these are a few good apps to consider.

UK:

• Microsoft SwiftKey
• Classic Big Keyboard

US:

• Microsoft SwiftKey
• Gboard
• Classic Big Keyboard

6. English Keyboard Typing Tips

Typing in English can be very challenging at first! Therefore, we added here a few useful tips to make it easier to use your English keyboard.

1- Computer

1. To capitalise letters, you can either press the ‘caps lock’ button, or hold shift and then press the letter.
2. You can get the Euro sign (€) by pressing ‘AltGr’ and ‘4 ‘(Windows) or ‘Option,’ ‘Alt,’ and ‘3’ (Mac). (for UK users)
3. You can get the US Dollar sign ($) by holding down “Shift” and then pressing “4.” (for US users)
4. The default for changing keyboard language/layout on Windows is to press ‘Left Alt’ and ‘Shift.’

2- Mobile Phones

1. Many mobile keyboards will automatically capitalise new sentences.
2. If you tap a double space after a word, the mobile keyboard will input a full stop.
3. Pressing and holding a vowel will let you choose accented vowels.

7. How to Practice Typing English

As you probably know by now, learning English is all about practice, practice, and more practice! Strengthen your English typing skills by writing comments on any of our lesson pages, and our teacher will answer. If you’re a EnglishClass101 Premium PLUS member, you can directly text our teacher via the My Teacher app—use your English keyboard to do this!