Choose a Dvorak keyboard layout

Keyboard layouts let you customize your keyboard for a specific language or font. They control which characters appear on the screen when you press the keys on your keyboard. Some input languages have several keyboard layouts and others have one. For example, you can change your keyboard from English QWERTY format to the English Dvorak format. Alternative keyboard layouts called "Dvorak" layouts may be helpful to people who type with one hand or finger. These layouts make the most frequently typed characters on a keyboard more accessible to people who have difficulty using the standard keyboard layout by reducing the amount of motion required to type common English text.

Mouse actions

Keyboard actions

To open the Ease of Access Center, select:

Start.
Control Panel.
Ease of Access.
Ease of Access Center.

To open the Ease of Access Center, press:

Windows logo key +U.

Under Explore all settings, select:

Make the keyboard easier to use.

Under Explore all settings, select:

Make the keyboard easier to use by pressing TAB, then ENTER.

Under See also, select:

Add a Dvorak keyboard and change other keyboard input settings.

Under See also, select:

Add a Dvorak keyboard and change other keyboard input settings by pressing ALT+G.

In Regional and Language Options, on the Keyboards and Languages tab, select:

Change keyboards button.

In Regional and Language Options, on the Keyboards and Languages tab, select:

Change keyboards button by pressing ALT+C.

On the General tab, under Installed services, select:

Add button.

On the General tab, under Installed services, select:

Add button by pressing ALT+D.

In Add Input Language, select:

The Dvorak keyboard layout you want to use from the drop-down list.
Select OK.

In Add Input Language, select:

The Dvorak keyboard layout you want to use by pressing the arrow keys, then SPACEBAR.
Press ENTER.

Select an installed input language

Mouse actions

Keyboard actions

In Text Services and Input Languages, under Installed services:

Select the Dvorak keyboard layout you just installed.
Select OK.
Select OK to close Regional and Language Options.

In Text Services and Input Languages, under Installed services:

Select the Dvorak keyboard layout you just installed by pressing ALT+I, then the arrow keys.
Press ENTER.
Select OK to close Regional and Language Options, by pressing TAB, then ENTER.