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saikonobiwa's avatar
saikonobiwa
Copper Contributor
Feb 27, 2026

Unwanted keyboard layouts keep showing up

Greetings,

In one of my Windows 11 PC I am experiencing a very annoying problem.

I have two keyboard profiles: Japanese and Canadian multi-language (QWERTY). I switch between them with Win+SPACE shortcut. But ENG US and ENG UK also show up, despite the fact that I have not installed those keyboards or language packs.

I have removed the corresponding registry entries in HKEY_USERS.Default/Keyboard Layout/Preload (data is 409 and 809) but this does not remove the keyboard layouts and when I reboot those registry entries are again there.

How can I get rid once for all of unwanted keyboard layouts? I am clueless. Especially considering that this problem never occurred in my three other Win11 PC or a Win10 PC I own too.

Any help would be highly appreciated.

configuration
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4 Replies

  • Luxix's avatar
    Luxix
    Brass Contributor
    Mar 09, 2026

    This is a notoriously frustrating issue with Windows, and you're right to be puzzled—especially since your other PCs are fine. The fact that the registry keys you deleted (HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Preload) keep coming back is a massive clue: something is actively repopulating them. The source is likely a corrupted system profile, a synchronization setting, or a specific application.

  • Quincos's avatar
    Quincos
    Iron Contributor
    Mar 03, 2026

    Dealing with persistent unwanted keyboard layouts in Windows 11 can be frustrating, especially when they keep reappearing despite manual removal. Since you've already tried removing registry entries in HKEY_USERS\.Default\Keyboard Layout\Preload but the layouts return after reboot.

  • Abdielop's avatar
    Abdielop
    Copper Contributor
    Mar 02, 2026

    Disable Automatic Language Pack Reinstallations

    • Go to Settings > Accounts > Windows backup
    • Turn off Sync your settings
    • Under Time & Language > Language & Region, disable Automatically install language packs
  • Jakarimom's avatar
    Jakarimom
    Brass Contributor
    Feb 27, 2026

    Method: Remove Unwanted Layouts from Settings

    1. Open Settings (You can search for "Settings" in the Start menu or press the Windows key + I).

    2. Click on Time & language.

    3. Click on Language & region.

    4. Click on Language.

    5. Select the language you want to keep (for example, English for Canada).

    6. Click on Options.

    7. Click on Keyboards.

    8. Remove any unwanted keyboard layouts from the list by clicking on the three dots next to them and selecting Remove.