How to Show / Hide the Language Bar in Windows 11

Windows allows the user to change the keyboard layouts when they need to type in another language. On adding a language to your Windows PC, the default keyboard layout for that language is installed automatically.

Usually, a Language Bar is displayed in the notification area on your taskbar if you have more than one language or keyboard layout installed on your Windows 11 PC. Using this language bar, you can change the display language. You can also use the Windows + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to cycle through all the installed languages and choose one of them.

This language bar can be configured to be shown on the desktop as a floating language bar or docked in the taskbar on Windows 11. In this article, we have detailed the steps that will help you display the language bar on the desktop or the taskbar on your Windows 11 computer.

 

Show Language Bar on Desktop in Windows 11

 

By default, the language bar icon is displayed on the right side of the taskbar on your Windows 11 PC. To see the language bar as a floating window on the desktop, follow the steps mentioned below.

 

1. Open the Windows Settings app using the Windows and I key combination on your keyboard.



On the Settings page, choose the Time & language tab on the left panel.

2. Now, move over to the right side and click on the box with the text Typing.

 

 

 

 

Settings Time Language Typing Min

 

Once you are on the Typing Settings page, scroll down and click on the tile labeled Advanced keyboard settings.

 

Settings Time Language Typing Advanced Keyboard Settings Min

 

3. In the Advanced keyboard settings window that opens, check the box next to Use the desktop language bar when it’s available.

Next, click on the link Language bar options.

 

Advanced Keyboard Settings Check Use Desktop Language Bar Options Min

 

4. This will open the Text Services and Input Languages window.

Here, choose the Language Bar tab.

In the Language Bar section, select the radio button next to Floating On Desktop.

5. Then, click on the Apply button and then on OK to save the changes.

 

Text Services Inut Languages Floating On Desktop Min

 

You will now see the language bar as a floating window on the desktop as shown below.

 

Floating Language Bar On Dekstop Min

 

Show Language Bar on Taskbar in Windows 11

 

If the Language bar disappears from the taskbar or is changed over to a floating window on the desktop, then use the steps below to show it again on the taskbar.

 

1. Press the Windows + R key combination on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.

Type ms-settings:typing and hit the Enter key to open the Typing Settings in Time & Language.

 



Run Ms Settings Typing Min

 

2. On this page, scroll down and locate the Advanced keyboard settings tile.

Click on this tile.

 

Settings Time Language Typing Advanced Keyboard Settings Min

 

3. Once you reach the Advanced keyboard settings window, make sure to uncheck the option Use the desktop language bar when it’s available under the Switching input methods section.

Then, click on the Language bar options link at the bottom.

 

Advanced Keyboard Settings Uncheck Use Desktop Language Bar Options Min

 

4. In the Text Services and Input Languages window, unselect the option Hidden if it is selected in the Language Bar tab

Tap on the Apply button and then on the OK button.

 

Text Services Show On Taskbar Language Bar Min

 

You will see the language bar displayed on the taskbar. You can just press the Windows + spacebar key combination to view the language options and then change it.

 

Language Bar On Taskbar Change Using Windows Spacebar Min

 

 



Hide Language Bar on Taskbar and Desktop in Windows 11

 

1. Go to the Advanced keyboard settings page in Typing Settings using the steps mentioned above.

2. Once you are on the Advanced keyboard settings page, make sure that the option Use the desktop language bar when it’s available is checked.

Then, click on the link labeled as Language bar options.

 

Advanced Keyboard Settings Check Use Desktop Language Bar Options Min

 

3. In the window that opens, select the Hidden option in the Language Bar tab.

Click on Apply and then on OK to confirm the changes.

 

Text Services Inut Languages Select Hidden Min

 

4. Now, the language bar icon will no longer be visible on the taskbar as well as the desktop.

But, you can change between languages using the Windows + Spacebar keyboard shortcut.

That’s it!

Thanks for reading. We hope this article has been informative enough. Please let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.