Keyboard typing the wrong characters? @ and “ swapped, # instead of £, numbers instead of letters
You press Shift+2 for @ and get “, the £ key types #, or your letters suddenly come out as numbers. The keyboard is almost never broken: the computer is reading it with a different layout, or a lock key is on.
1. UK and US layouts: the classic swaps
Keyboards look almost the same, but the symbols differ. If the computer thinks your keyboard has a different layout, these keys come out wrong:
| You press | UK layout gives | US layout gives |
|---|---|---|
| Shift+2 | “ (double quote) | @ |
| Shift+' (key by Enter) | @ | “ |
| Shift+3 | £ | # |
| # key (by Enter on UK) | # | \ (backslash) |
| \ key (by left Shift on UK) | \ | \ or nothing |
| Key left of 1 | ` and ¬ | ` and ~ |
So if your @ and quote are swapped, Windows is using the US layout on a UK keyboard (or UK on a US keyboard).
2. Fix the layout on Windows
- Quick fix: press Win+Space and choose the right one, or click the language letters (ENG, ENG UK) at the right of the taskbar.
- Permanent fix: Settings > Time & language > Language & region > click ··· next to your language > Language options > Keyboards. Add the layout that matches your keyboard (United Kingdom, or US) and remove the other. If "English (United States)" is listed as a whole separate language with its own keyboard, removing that language removes the US layout too.
- The accidental switch is usually Left Alt+Shift (switch input language) or Ctrl+Shift (switch layout), easy to hit while typing. With only one layout installed, they do nothing. You can also turn them off: Settings > Time & language > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings > Input language hot keys.
- Sign-in screen still wrong? The lock screen uses the system default. In Language & region > Administrative language settings > Copy settings, tick "Welcome screen and system accounts".
- Remote desktop and virtual machines can use the layout of the other computer; set it there too.
3. Mac: input sources
- System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources > Edit. Keep the one that matches the keys (British, or U.S.) and remove the others; switching uses the globe/Fn key or Ctrl+Space when there's more than one.
- On a British Mac layout, Shift+3 is £ and Option+3 is #. "British - PC" is a separate layout for Windows-style keyboards plugged into a Mac, where @ and “ are where a PC keyboard prints them.
- Words changing by themselves are text replacements or autocorrect: Keyboard > Text Replacements, and Text Input > Edit.
4. Letters typing numbers
Many laptops without a separate number pad hide one in the letter keys: 7 8 9 / U I O / J K L / M become 7 8 9 / 4 5 6 / 1 2 3 / 0. With Num Lock on, typing "milk" gives "0153". Press Num Lock, NumLk, or Fn plus the key with a small lock or "Num" on it. An external keyboard's Num Lock can switch it on for the laptop too.
5. Other lock keys and accessibility switches
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Typing replaces the letter after the cursor | Overtype mode (Insert key) | Press Insert (Fn+Ins on laptops) |
| Everything in capitals, Shift gives lower case | Caps Lock | Press Caps Lock; fix text already typed with a case converter |
| Shift or Ctrl seems stuck on | Sticky Keys (Shift pressed 5 times) | Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Sticky keys off, and turn off its shortcut |
| Keys ignored unless held, or no repeats | Filter Keys (right Shift held 8 seconds) | Accessibility > Keyboard > Filter keys off |
| F1-F12 change volume and brightness instead | Fn Lock | Often Fn+Esc, or a BIOS setting "Action keys mode" |
| Windows key does nothing | Win Lock on gaming keyboards | Fn+Win, or the lock button / software for the keyboard |
| Accents appear (é, á) when typing quotes | "International" layout with dead keys | Switch to plain US or UK layout |
6. Is it the keyboard itself?
- Open the on-screen keyboard (Win+R,
osk): keys light up as you press them, showing what Windows receives. If one key types two characters, never types, or repeats, it's hardware: dust, a spill, or a failing switch. - Try another USB port, or the keyboard on another computer. Wireless keyboards misbehave with low batteries.
- Not sure what a strange character you got actually is? Paste it into What is this? to see its name and code.
Related
Keys not working or sticky after a spill · Touchpad not working or cursor jumping · Webcam not working · Microphone not working · Second monitor not detected
Questions
Why are my @ and " keys swapped?
Your computer is using the US keyboard layout on a UK keyboard (or the reverse). Press Win+Space to switch, then remove the layout you don't use in Settings > Time & language > Language & region > Language options > Keyboards.
Why does my keyboard keep changing layout by itself?
You're probably pressing Left Alt+Shift or Win+Space by accident, which switch between installed layouts. Remove the extra layout, or turn off the hot keys in Advanced keyboard settings.
Why does my laptop type numbers instead of letters?
Num Lock is on, turning U I O, J K L and M into a hidden number pad. Press Num Lock, NumLk or Fn plus the Num Lock key to turn it off.
Why is the £ key typing #?
The US layout is active. On a UK layout Shift+3 is £; switch to English (United Kingdom) with Win+Space. On a Mac with the British layout, # is Option+3.
Why does typing delete the next letter?
Overtype mode is on. Press the Insert key (Fn+Ins on many laptops) to go back to inserting text.
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