Where to Find Locale and Keyboard Layouts in Regedit

Windows manages region, language, and typing configurations by storing system locales, active keyboard layouts, and input language profiles across specific keys in the Windows Registry (regedit). This guide outlines the exact registry paths under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and HKEY_USERS where these settings are defined and modified.

1. System and User Locale Paths

Current User Locale and Formatting

User-specific region settings, date/time formats, measurement systems, and decimal separators are stored under: * Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International * Key Values: * Locale: The Hexadecimal Locale ID (LCID) for the current user. * LocaleName: The modern BCP-47 language tag (e.g., en-US, ja-JP). * sLanguage: The 3-letter language abbreviation (e.g., ENU).

System-Wide Default Locale (Non-Unicode Programs)

The system-wide language for non-Unicode programs and core installation settings is stored under: * Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Nls\Language * Key Values: * Default: The default system LCID. * InstallLanguage: The base language used during Windows setup.

2. Keyboard Layouts

Active Keyboard Layouts for the Logged-In User

The keyboard layouts currently enabled in the user’s taskbar/language switcher are listed under: * Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Preload * Key Values: String values named 1, 2, 3, etc., representing the order of active keyboards, each containing an 8-character hexadecimal identifier (e.g., 00000409 for US English).

Keyboard Layout Substitutions and Remappings

Custom keyboard layout substitutions (such as when a specific hardware layout replaces a default) reside under: * Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes

System Database of All Available Keyboard Layouts

The global master list of every keyboard layout installed on Windows (including their driver DLLs and localized display names) is located at: * Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layouts * Details: Each subkey corresponds to a layout ID (e.g., 00000409) containing the layout file name (Layout File) and localized name (Layout Text).

3. Modern Input Language Profiles and IMEs

Windows 10 and 11 Language Profiles

Modern Windows interface languages, handwriting dictionaries, and speech packs are managed per user under: * Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International\User Profile * Key Values: * Subkeys represent installed BCP-47 language tags (e.g., en-US, de-DE). * Inside each language subkey, the DWORD values define specific input methods and features enabled for that language.

Text Input Processors (TIP / IME Profiles)

Advanced input methods, such as Japanese, Chinese, or Korean Input Method Editors (IMEs), are registered globally at: * Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CTF\TIP * User Sort Order Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CTF\SortOrder\Language

4. Welcome Screen and Default User Profile

To modify keyboard layouts and locales for the Windows Welcome Screen (Logon Screen) and the template used for newly created user accounts, the configurations are stored in the Default User hive: * Locale: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\International * Keyboard Layouts: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Preload