How to configure your computer to type in Hebrew
Most computers are not automatically configured to type in right-to-left languages like Hebrew, Arabic, and Farsi unless you purchased your computer in a right-to-left language country.
When I started studying Hebrew, I realized that my computer could be used as another study guide. Many computer language programs like Rosetta Stone (which I own and really love) have exercises teaching you how to type and spell in Hebrew. Not to mention, it’s really fun instant messaging and writing emails with Hebrew type. My family really loved seeing their names written in Hebrew in emails from me!
I put together this video together to show everyone how to get their computer to type in Hebrew (or any other right-to-left language for that matter).
Installing right-to-left languages on Windows XP:
Loading Right to Left Languages on Your Computer from Jami Gibbs on Vimeo.
Windows XP (See Video Above for Detailed Instructions)
- Go to Control Panel, Regional and Language Options, Languages tab
- Make sure that “Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai)” is ticked: If it isn’t ticked, tick it and click OK, follow the prompts to restart Windows, and start this process again.
- Click Details button, click Add
- Select your right-to-left language for the Input language and US keyboard layout from the “Keyboard layout/IME” list, click OK
- Click OK, OK
- Use ‘Alt + Shift’ to toggle between languages.
I’m fully aware that not all of you are running on Windows XP so I found another great website who explained how to install right-to-left languages on other operating systems:
From www.tavultesoft.com:
Windows Vista
- Go to Control Panel, “Change keyboards or other input methods”, under the “Clock, Language and Region” option (in Classic View, select Regional and Language Options, Keyboards and Languages tab)
- Click Change Keyboards, click Add
- Select your right-to-left language for the Input language*, and US keyboard layout from the “Keyboard layout/IME” list, click OK
- Click OK, OK
- Start Keyman Configuration, and click the Languages tab
- For your right-to-left language entry, select the Keyman keyboard and click OK
* If your language does not appear in the list, use either Hebrew or Arabic instead.
Windows 2000
- Go to Control Panel, Regional Options, General tab
- In the “Language settings for the system” box, make sure that your language* is ticked: If it isn’t ticked, tick it and click OK, follow the prompts to restart Windows, and start this process again.
- Click Input Locales tab, click Add
- Select your right-to-left language for the Input language*, and US keyboard layout from the “Keyboard layout/IME” list, click OK
- Click OK
- Start Keyman Configuration, and click the Languages tab
- For your right-to-left language entry, select the Keyman keyboard and click OK
* If your language does not appear in the list, use either Hebrew or Arabic instead.
Mac
1. Open System Preferences
2. Click the International button
3. Click “Input Menu”
4. Scroll down until you see Hebrew, then put a check next to it
5. Put a check next to “Show input menu in menu bar”
6. To change the language to Hebrew when you type, click on the American flag on the top right of the menu bar, and then select Hebrew. From now on when you type with the Hebrew flag selected, Hebrew letters will show up.
You can also have the entire computer’s language be Hebrew by downloading the localization software from iDigital’s website here: http://idigital.co.il/hebrew/index.html
How to type with nikudote (Hebrew vowls):
1. Type the Hebrew letter that you would like to add the nikude to.
2. Turn on Caps Lock
3. Hold the Shift key while also pressing the number key corresponding with the nekudote (see keyboard below) that you want.
4. Turn off Caps Lock to continue typing the next Hebrew letter
Hebrew Keyboard Layout
Don’t forget Hebrew stickers for your keyboard!
Click image to purchase keyboard stickers
Be sure to get Hebrew keyboard stickers for your computer too.
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27 Responses to “How to configure your computer to type in Hebrew”
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I thought I’d add instructions to enable hebrew typing on a Mac.
1. Open System Preferences
2. Click the International button
3. Click “Input Menu”
4. Scroll down until you see Hebrew, then put a check next to it
5. Put a check next to “Show input menu in menu bar”
6. To change the language to hebrew when you type, click on the American flag on the top right of the menu bar, and then select Hebrew. From now on when you type with the hebrew flag selected, hebrew letters will show up.
You can also have the entire computer’s language be hebrew by downloading the localization software from iDigital’s website here: http://idigital.co.il/hebrew/index.html
Thanks Jason! Of course I can’t forget Mac users! This is very helpful.
Hi. I recently began studying Hebrew in the US. I want to type Hebrew on my Vista computer. I configured control panel as indicated. But when I select the Hebrew language on my language bar, what I type is still English letters, not Hebrew. Do you have any idea what I’m doing wrong? Thank you!
@Alaric
Have you tried toggling between the language options with “Alt + Shift” ?
Thanks, Jami. I figured it out. When I added Hebrew in the control panel, I had selected the "US keyboard" because I thought that was the correct one since that is what I am using. But it didn't work correctly until I selected "Hebrew keyboard". Now I've been having fun figuring out how to add the vowel signs using caps lock and shift and all that. (I'm a total beginner, if it doesn't show, BTW.)
I'm glad you got it working on your Vista computer! Perhaps I should augment the Vista instructions in the post to specifically say to use the "Hebrew Keyboard".
And also, you're already ahead of me having figured out the vowel signs (nikudote)! I haven't tried that out yet.
What about vowels? How do I type them?
Hey Burt…
-Type the Hebrew letter
-Turn on Caps Lock
-Hold the Shift key while also pressing the number key corresponding with the nekudote you want.
-Turn off Caps Lock to continue typing the next Hebrew letter
Reference the Hebrew keyboard layout below to know which number will display the correct nekudote you need.
http://www.davka.com/files/keyboardnikud.jpg
Thank you. But I am still not able to type all of the nekudotes. The keyboard diagram you reference is not 100 per cent correct. In particular, I cannot type a high dot except at the end of a word because it creates a blank space. I also cannot type 2 vertical dots beneath the letters and combinations of those with other vowels. I cannot type a hyphen.
Thank you again
Thanks for letting me know that keyboard pictured wasn't accurate for the nekudote. I changed the picture so that it's accurate now.
I am also having trouble with the high dot creating a blank space. I'm sorry it isn't typing absolutely correct but it's not necessary to be able to in an every day sense. I asked an Israeli from of mine how to make the nekudote work correctly and she said, "I have no idea. We never use it." So, there ya go.
Thanks for letting me know that keyboard I had pictured wasn't accurate for the nekudote. I changed the picture so that it's accurate now.
I am also having trouble with the high dot creating a blank space. I'm sorry it isn't typing absolutely correct but it's not necessary to be able to in an every day sense. I asked an Israeli from of mine how to make the nekudote work correctly and she said, "I have no idea. We never use it." So, there ya go.
after reconfiguring my computer so I could type in Hebrew, how do I switch from Hebrew back to English? Will I need to go through this process every time I want to change the language?
What is "Keyman Configuration"?
what is "Keyman Configuration"? (step 5 in vista)
You simply need to toggle between English and Hebrew each time you want to write in either one.
From the Microsoft Vista help website:
To change the input language
• Click the Input language button on the Language bar, and then click the input language you want to use.
Note: If you don't see the Language bar, right-click the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and then click Language bar.
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/He...
Below is a comment posted by another Windows Vista user (Alaric). I'm not sure if it will help but I thought I'd repost it anyway:
"When I added Hebrew in the control panel, I had selected the 'US keyboard' because I thought that was the correct one since that is what I am using. But it didn't work correctly until I selected 'Hebrew keyboard'."
Very helpful ~! (^-^) Thanks. Would you be able to show us how to use an input method for a mobile phone?
thats kinda strange to use I think.
what can you do when your computer doesn't have the hebrew under the language bar, the computer's response is that i need an xp professional disk, but i don't have it. please advise what can be done.
thank you.
I set up my keyboard for Hebrew but when I type the hebrew on Microsoft Works, on a spreadsheet I am setting up as a studying tool, the hebrew font changes to question marks when I leave that field, that square. How can I make it stay there? I also notice the hebrew alephbet wont type on AIM. Any ideas or suggestions CML62@aol.com
Charlie,
You're probably going to have to get with those program manufacturers (Microsoft Works and AIM). Their procedures to activate Hebrew typing will be different than the Windows Operating System procedures outlined in this post.
i am still having trouble typing hebrew when i put on caps lock and use shift key the numbers keys give me symbols above the letters, not like normal nikudot at all! plz help
Hi,
If you are using firefox and wants a phonetic keyboard just have a look over here https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/3990 it’s a great way to input hebrew as you don’t need to remember the hebrew keyboard layout
also the webpage of the guy who helps implementing hebrew in “any key” extension http://ericdavid.cc/default.php?pageid=blog20070527
Thanks for your blog Jami, very helpful as i’m planing to go learn hebrew next year!!!
PS: i’m not jewish, i have no jew in my familly…and i’m not planning in getting married with an israeli girl…i just love hebrew language so much!!!
Thank you for the helpful links! And thanks for stopping by this site too!
I’m also not Jewish (a big ol’ goy, as they say) so I can definitely relate to what you’re going to experience there.
If you have any trouble or questions, please don’t hesitate to come back and send me a message. It isn’t easy being in Israel or learning Hebrew (regardless of if you’re Jewish or not).
Thanks a lot. very helpful (:
I’m glad it was helpful! Soon I’ll have to post one for Windows 7. yikes!
I have a mac and holding using the caps lock and the shift key won’t give me the vowels. Any suggetions?
Can someone please help us? Writing Hebrew in Word on our desktop computer is fine, but on our laptop, which is Windows Vista and has Microsoft Works, I have succeeded in writing the Hebrew from right to left, however WHEN I PRESS THE SPACE BAR TO BEGIN THE NEXT WORD, THE WORD APPEARS ON THE RIGHT OF THE PREVIOUS WORD INSTEAD OF TO THE LEFT!!!
Is there something I have overlooked?
I’ve done a lot of research but could not find this problem anywhere.