Installing Mac format Key layouts

Procedure for Mavericks, Yosemite or possibly later versions of Mac OS X.

  1. On any of the keyboard download pages on this site, download the keyboard you want to use by finding “Mac Keyboard” in the download table. By clicking on this link, the Save File process will begin. Remember where you save it! The desktop is a convenient location.
  2. Unzip by keyboard layout by either simply double clicking the zipped file or by using other software like StuffIt. Safari unzips automatically.
  3. The keyboard will either have the extension .keylayout or .bundle. If it’s a bundle, the icon will look like a white lego piece.
  4. In the Finder, choose Go from the menu at the top of your screen. With that drop-down menu open, hold down the Option key. This will make the Library show up in the list. Click Library.
  5. In the new Finder window, scroll down to find Keyboard layouts.
  6. Drag the keyboard layout you saved earlier into the Keyboard layouts list.
  7. Log off the computer or restart it.
  8. Open System Preferences >Language and Region. Click the Keyboard Preferences button at the bottom.
    • Click the Input Sources tab at the top.
    • Click the + (plus) sign at the bottom left to ‘add a keyboard layout’.
    • Select Others in the left-side pane, this should display a list of keyboard layouts which includes the one you are looking to activate. Select the keyboard you want and click add. Don’t worry if the message says ‘Keyboard layout not available’, just ignore this.
    • The layout is now ready to use.
  9. To access the key layout, click on the flag at the top of your screen. Select the keyboard layout from the list.
  10. The keyboard may be listed under either its Native, English, or French name. Please check through the list for alternate names and/or spellings.

 

Mac keyboard layout installation procedure for earlier versions of OS X

  1. On any of the keyboard download pages on this site, download the keyboard you want to use by finding “Mac Keyboard” in the download table. By clicking on this link, the Save File process will begin. Remember where you save it! The desktop is a convenient location.
  2. Unzip by keyboard layout by either simply double clicking the zipped file or by using other software like StuffIt. Safari unzips automatically.
  3. The keyboard will either have the extension .keylayout or .bundle. If it’s a bundle, the icon will look like a white lego piece.
  4. In the Finder, choose Go > Computer or type Shift-Command-C. This opens up your account folder.
  5. Expand the Macintosh HD item, then the Library item, scroll down to find Keyboard layouts.
  6. Drag the keyboard layout you saved earlier into the Keyboard layouts list.
  7. Log off the computer or restart it.
  8. Open System Preferences > International. Click the Input Menu tab.
    • Scroll down until you find the name of the keyboard layout you just installed. Make sure the checkbox is selected. The layout is now ready to use.
  9. To access the key layout, click on the flag at the top of your screen. Select the keyboard layout from the list.
  10. The keyboard may be listed under either its Native, English, or French name. Please check through the list for alternate names and/or spellings.

 
Home Previous Page Last Update: Friday, February 09, 2007