Using CapsLock to switch the keyboard language layout on Windows-7

Question

Currently I am using Recaps for switching between keyboard layouts. But I am looking for a replacement, because it is a little buggy and not updated for years. Do you know any replacement?

Solution 1

In windows you can set Windows to use Grave Accent (`) for switching between languages or keyboard layouts via a single key press.

If your windows is set to change keyboard layout by Ctrl+Shift you can use following AutoHotKey script (I strongly recommend using http://www.autohotkey.com/) to map them to Caps Lock, normal CapsLock will be achieved by Shif+CapsLock

SetCapsLockState, AlwaysOff
+CapsLock::CapsLock

CapsLock::Send, {Ctrl down}{Shift down}{Shift up}{Ctrl up}{Ctrl up}
return

Solution 2

Following @Bob's suggestion to use AutoHotkey, the following script will simulate Alt+Shift when you press CapsLock:

CapsLock::Send, {Alt Down}{Shift Down}{Shift Up}{Alt Up}

Windows can be a little stubborn when it comes to keyboard shortcuts only consisting of modifiers, but the above technique works.

Solution 3

Use lswitch.

Use any key to switch input languages, usage: lswitch [keycode]. Keycode is optional and defaults to context menu key. Another good candidate is a CapsLock key with a keycode of 20.

Cheers!

Solution 4

Punto Switcher can do this! http://punto.yandex.ru/win/

Basically it allows you to switch keyboard layout automatically, based on what you are typing. But it also can switch keyboard layouts on Caps Lock or many other keys. If don't like automatic switching you can turn it off in settings.

Solution 5

Around a year ago I switched from ReCaps to keyla and I am pretty much happy with it.

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Comments

[Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams]

Any particular OS, or will you accept an answer for Haiku?

[Paul]

Recaps is a Windows app, so it is either that or Plan 9

[tvdo]

Is it alright for Alt + Shift to still be assigned to language switching? If so, AutoHotkey could be used to send an Alt + Shift on CapsLock.

[iglvzx]

@Reza Your AHK code is wrong. + is the Shift modifier, it must come before {Raw} or normal keys. Try: Send, +{LAlt}

[Handsome Nerd]

@iglvzx It did not work.

[tvdo]

What do you mean by not so stable yet?

[Handsome Nerd]

@Bob It stop working in win 7 suddenly, also you have set language each time you restart windows

[Handsome Nerd]

Dose it have an English version?

[icem]

Sorry, it seems that it's Russian only. Probably because it's main function is keyboard layout auto-switch (rus-en). Anyway, my answer can help Russian users.

[turbanoff]

l.autohotkey.net is down :(

[Handsome Nerd]

@turbanoff Updated.

[Paul Annekov]

Skype 7.23 hangs when switching language via Caps Lock in Windows 10.

[Monah Tuk]

Second {Ctrl up}? Why?

[Monah Tuk]

Keyla site is die.

[kyb]

too much functional for this task in this app.

[Per Lundberg]

Wonderful, works like a charm! Thanks for this.

[Muhammad bin Yusrat]

I was forced to use windows at work after a long time, and can't even imagine how easy things were in Ubuntu and how difficult these things are here on Windows. For things as trivial as a keyboard shortcut you have to install an separate program.

[Handsome Nerd]

⊙﹏⊙ I wish I had AHK in ubuntu to easily create my shortcut!

[Vojtěch Dohnal]

Simplest solution.

[mini]

What about Caps Lock for 1st layout and Shift+CapsLock for 2nd layout, any idea?

[Diego]

This works for English, German and/or Russian keyboard layouts or input languages as well. The only thing that reliably worked for me for decades already in any Windows version. Add a shortcut it to C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup with target "lswitch.exe 20" (no quotes) to run all the time. Grave Accent doesn't work for e.g. German layout.

[coolcat007]

A little off topic, but in Windows you don't always need to install a program for keyboard shortcuts. To start programs, you can add keyboard shortcuts to the desktop shortcuts, from their properties. Also, AHK is just a nice tool to programmatically create macros, including, but not limited to creating keyboard shortcuts. Also, with linux you have the benefit of choosing a distro that has all the features that you want preinstalled. Windows is a one size fits all and im glad that they don't add ALL the bloat that some people might not need.

[Weirdei]

Still smaller then AHK though

[Dmitriy]

@PHPst on ubuntu caps lock could be enabled to switch layaout in settings without any scripts.

[Gennady G]

@PHPst Fantastic. Thank You much!

[Handsome Nerd]

@GennadyG pleasure