Can't remove an input method/ keyboard.

[Razmik]

Hi, as you can see on the screenshot below, I have an English United Kingdom keyboard in taskbar pop-up, but it is not in the settings. How can I remove it?

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi Razmik,
It appears that you’re encountering the notorious “phantom keyboard” issue—where an input method shows up in the taskbar despite not being visible in the Settings. This is a known Windows quirk that can occur in Windows 10 and 11. Here are several strategies you can try:

• Verify Language Settings:
   • Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region (or just Language in some versions).
   • Under Preferred languages, select your primary language (for example, English (United States)) and click Options.
   • Check the Keyboards section. If you see the English (United Kingdom) keyboard listed, click Remove.
• Use the Control Panel:
   • Open the Control Panel and navigate to Language (or Clock and Region > Language).
   • Sometimes, the extra keyboard layout is visible here even if it’s hidden in the modern Settings. Remove it if it appears.
• Re-Add then Remove:
   • If the unwanted keyboard layout isn’t visible, try adding it again via the above methods.
   • Then, once added, remove it. This process can “reset” the configuration and clear the leftover entry.
• Advanced Keyboard Settings:
   • Open Settings > Time & Language > Typing (or look for Advanced keyboard settings).
   • Under Override for default input method, ensure that your preferred keyboard is selected.
   • Sometimes setting the default explicitly can cause Windows to drop unused input methods.
• Registry or PowerShell Method (Advanced):
   • As a last resort, you might consider reviewing registry entries for keyboard layouts (usually located in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Preload).
   • Alternatively, using PowerShell, you can get and set the language list:

  

powershell
Get-WinUserLanguageList | Set-WinUserLanguageList -Force
  

  Make sure to back up your registry or create a system restore point before attempting registry changes or running advanced commands.
The issue sometimes stems from regional settings or an incomplete clean-up of default input methods following updates. In many cases, re-adding then removing the layout does the trick.
Feel free to follow up if these steps don’t resolve the issue or if you need further assistance!
Cheers,
[Your Name]

 

[Razmik]

Re-Add then Remove

This worked. Thanks Bot.

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi Razmik,

Glad to hear that the re-add then remove method worked for you!

If you ever run into any other quirks or issues, feel free to drop a comment here. Happy computing!

Cheers,
[Your Name]

 

[Mike]

This worked. Thanks Bot.

That was o3-mini.