If you need to type Arabic regularly on your Windows PC, you can add Arabic as a native keyboard language directly through Windows Settings. No third-party software required. Here’s exactly how to do it.
Option A: Use an Online Keyboard (No Setup Required)
The quickest solution is keyboard-arabic.org. Open it in any browser, type your Arabic text, and copy it wherever you need it. No installation, no system changes, works immediately. This is ideal if you only occasionally need to type Arabic, or if you’re on a shared or work computer where you can’t change system settings.
Option B: Add Arabic Keyboard to Windows
Windows 11
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Go to Time & language → Language & region.
- Click Add a language.
- Search for “Arabic” and select your preferred regional variant (e.g., Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Arabic (Egypt)).
- Click Next, then Install.
- After installation, the Arabic keyboard will appear as an input option in the taskbar language switcher.
Windows 10
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Go to Time & Language → Language.
- Click Add a preferred language.
- Search for “Arabic”, select your variant, and click Next then Install.
Switching Between Languages
Once installed, you can switch between English and Arabic input using Win + Space (cycles through installed keyboards) or by clicking the language indicator in the system tray (bottom right). The taskbar will show ARA when Arabic is active and ENG when English is active.
The Arabic Keyboard Layout on Windows
Windows uses the standard Arabic keyboard layout — the same mapping used on keyboard-arabic.org. If you’ve practised with our virtual keyboard, you’ll already know the layout when you switch to the Windows Arabic keyboard.
Showing the On-Screen Keyboard
If you’re not sure which physical key maps to which Arabic letter, open the Windows On-Screen Keyboard: press Win, search for “On-Screen Keyboard”, and open it. Switch your input language to Arabic and the on-screen keyboard will show the Arabic letters on each key.
Still Prefer the Browser?
Many people find it more convenient to keep using an online Arabic keyboard even after setting up system-level Arabic input, because an online keyboard works regardless of the active system language and is always accessible from any device without configuration. Try keyboard-arabic.org — it’s always one click away.