Install an Arabic Keyboard Layout

Configuring your computer for international support is not complicated, but is different for every operating system. Please follow the instructions below, and report back if you have any problems or additional tips.

Microsoft Windows XP

For Windows XP, follow the instructions here. Please keep in mind that you will need to enable International Language Support (particularly by making sure to install “files for complex script and right-to-left languages”) under Regional and Language Options. Then you will need to add the Arabic keyboard layout, making sure NOT to use the “Arabic qwerty” layout.

Microsoft Windows Vista

Click here and scroll down to the instructions under “Adding Arabic language support.”

Mac OS X

If you use an Apple computer, there is a special case. The keyboard layouts that come with the standard operating system are obscure and non-standard. For special instructions on how to configure the Arabic keyboard layout, please click here.

Linux

Enabling keyboard support in Linux is easiest if you use a modern desktop environment like GNOME or KDE. In this case, simply enable the Keyboard layout applets, which are directly accessible under the system configuration windows. If you do not use one of these window managers, you may still enable the Arabic keyboard, but typing into a terminal will be necessary to toggle keyboards:

1. To switch to Arabic, type “setxkbmap -layout ara -variant basic”
2. To switch back to English, type “setxkbmap -layout us”

Please contact us if you have any problems or any additional information that other users may find useful.