Issue with Right Alt + Shift Not Switching Languages Properly in Windows

Question

Issue with Right Alt + Shift Not Switching Languages Properly in Windows

Mohamed Samir Ahamed Fooda 65

Hello,

I am experiencing an issue in Windows with the keyboard shortcut Right Alt + Shift used for switching input languages. The shortcut works only when switching from English to Arabic, but it does not work when switching from Arabic back to English. Meanwhile, the Left Alt + Shift shortcut works normally in both directions.

I have already tried the following troubleshooting steps, but the problem persists:

Adjusting the Advanced Keyboard Settings.

Removing and re-adding the input languages.

Resetting the Input Language Hotkeys.

Testing with an external keyboard – the issue remains the same.

Running settings/tools as Administrator.

Fully updating the Windows system.

Despite all of this, Right Alt + Shift still does not work when switching from Arabic to English.

Please assist in resolving this issue, as it significantly affects my workflow and typing speed. Kindly advise if there is an update or specific configuration that can fix this problem.

Thank you.

Adham Elshabasy 5 Reputation points

2025-12-10T15:23:19.84+00:00

I just did the latest update, and I have the same issue. Glad I am not the only one.
Yousef Seyam 5 Reputation points

2025-12-10T16:23:50.9966667+00:00

same here, after the latest win11 update i tried to go tot the language settings where i can change the key binding but i can't find right Alt + shift in the listed hot keys hope this gets fixed soon cause i'm used to this quick hot key for changing the lang
Ziad Amin 5 Reputation points

2025-12-11T11:24:30.12+00:00

i literally have the same issue after updating the latest windows 11 update which was yesterday.
Mamdouh Sukkar 0 Reputation points

2025-12-11T15:42:35.4933333+00:00

Same issue here after latest windows 11 update.
Suhaib Al 0 Reputation points

2025-12-12T21:53:43.4833333+00:00

I have the same problem, It's driving me crazy
muhamed esmaeil 0 Reputation points

2025-12-14T06:40:21.8+00:00

h am faced the same issue after last update
Firas Al Meshari 0 Reputation points

2025-12-14T19:29:50.7566667+00:00

When a platform unilaterally alters basic input behavior, the burden is not on users to “adapt,” but on the decision-makers to explain why disruption was necessary. Requiring people to repeatedly correct themselves for a problem that did not previously exist is not progress it is inefficiency imposed from the top. This needs to be addressed, not dismissed.

6 answers

Your answer

Adham Elshabasy 5 Reputation points

2025-12-10T15:23:19.84+00:00

I just did the latest update, and I have the same issue. Glad I am not the only one.
Yousef Seyam 5 Reputation points

2025-12-10T16:23:50.9966667+00:00

same here, after the latest win11 update i tried to go tot the language settings where i can change the key binding but i can't find right Alt + shift in the listed hot keys hope this gets fixed soon cause i'm used to this quick hot key for changing the lang
Ziad Amin 5 Reputation points

2025-12-11T11:24:30.12+00:00

i literally have the same issue after updating the latest windows 11 update which was yesterday.
Mamdouh Sukkar 0 Reputation points

2025-12-11T15:42:35.4933333+00:00

Same issue here after latest windows 11 update.
Suhaib Al 0 Reputation points

2025-12-12T21:53:43.4833333+00:00

I have the same problem, It's driving me crazy
muhamed esmaeil 0 Reputation points

2025-12-14T06:40:21.8+00:00

h am faced the same issue after last update
Firas Al Meshari 0 Reputation points

2025-12-14T19:29:50.7566667+00:00

When a platform unilaterally alters basic input behavior, the burden is not on users to “adapt,” but on the decision-makers to explain why disruption was necessary. Requiring people to repeatedly correct themselves for a problem that did not previously exist is not progress it is inefficiency imposed from the top. This needs to be addressed, not dismissed.

Answer 1

Abdelrahman Hesham 20

Same Issue, there is no (Right Alt+Shift) option

User's image

ali qasim 0 Reputation points

2025-12-08T00:03:19.84+00:00

I did the Ctrl+Shift for the current time which resolved the issure for me as I can now switch from Arb to Eng from both sides of the keyboard
Abdelrahman Hesham 20 Reputation points

2025-12-08T01:24:12.2233333+00:00

okay but by this you lost the layout switching
JokerBH 5 Reputation points

2025-12-08T02:18:47.0366667+00:00

its bug from Windows Update
Saud Mubarak 0 Reputation points

2025-12-08T22:02:16.4433333+00:00

i have the same issue and it's really annoying me i really hope they solve this issue ASAP
john smith 0 Reputation points

2025-12-10T17:11:02.6766667+00:00

Same issue here. I used to use right Shift+Alt keys but the word "Right" option no longer available ... very annoying

Answer 2

PC- DABOUR 20

As I said in this post in Arabic, this is the only solution; there is no other solution.

https://v4.hkg1.meaqua.org/en-us

This is the solution, my friend

Download the program:

AutoHotkey.exe

Then use the script I created below. This problem literally made me unable to type properly, so I had to use an external program as a temporary workaround.

1 - :

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
*RAlt::SendInput {LAlt Down}
*RAlt Up::SendInput {LAlt Up}

Save this code in a file named:

VolumeControl.ahk

Then right-click the file and choose Run with AutoHotkey.exe

2 - :

shell:startup

To run the script every time Windows starts, place a shortcut of this file in that path.

Abdelrahman Hesham 20 Reputation points

2025-12-09T23:53:02.6866667+00:00

Perfect, thanks a lot bro
murtaza yeah 0 Reputation points

2025-12-10T09:28:40.4066667+00:00

Nice solve
Ahmed Abdelfattah 0 Reputation points

2025-12-10T15:08:43.9166667+00:00

it worked very fine, only one concern that i have to press Shift first before the right alt, is there anything we can do on the code to avoid this ??, but thank you of course, it saved alot of time
PC- DABOUR 20 Reputation points

2025-12-11T19:46:40.4366667+00:00

Ahmed Abdelfattah The real problem occurs when you press Alt + Shift and the Caps button Activated

I don't know exactly how to solve this problem using a program AutoHotkey

I'm trying to build a small tool using Python to help solve this problem

Gawish 5

this scrpit generated with AI but it change lang with every right alt + shit like orginal one in win11

#NoEnv
#UseHook On
SendMode Input

; 1) لو RAlt متداس.. أي Shift يتداس => بدّل اللغة
#If GetKeyState("RAlt","P")
$*LShift::
$*RShift::
    SwitchLang()
return
#If

; 2) لو Shift متداس.. RAlt يتداس => بدّل اللغة
#If GetKeyState("Shift","P")
$*RAlt::
    SwitchLang()
return
#If

SwitchLang() {
    ; AltGr ساعات بيبعت Ctrl مع RAlt.. نفكّه لو مش متداس فعليًا
    if !GetKeyState("LCtrl","P") && !GetKeyState("RCtrl","P")
        SendInput {Ctrl Up}

    ; أضمن سويتش للّغة في ويندوز
    SendInput #{Space}   ; Win + Space
    ; لو انت مصبط السويتش Alt+Shift وعايزه بدل Win+Space:
    ; SendInput !+        ; Alt + Shift
}

Answer 3

Noel Macadangdang 8,155 Independent Advisor

Hi Mohamed,

Thank you for sharing your question. I understand how annoying this language switching thing is when you need it to work fast. Based on what Microsoft says and what others are seeing, I am here to help.

The reason Right Alt + Shift only goes one way (English to Arabic) is a bug in recent Windows updates (like KB5070311 for Windows 11). It's not your fault. Left Alt + Shift still works because the system likes it better. Right Alt (which is like AltGr) can mess with language switching, especially after updates.

Please follow these steps.

Double-Check Your Shortcut Settings

Head to Settings > Time & Language > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings.

Click Input language hotkeys → Change Key Sequence.

Make sure both Left and Right Alt + Shift are turned on for switching languages. Turn them back on if they aren't.

Use a Different Shortcut for Now

Try using Win + Spacebar to switch languages. People say it works even when Alt + Shift doesn't.

Look for Bad Updates

If this started after you updated Windows, get rid of the update that's causing trouble:

Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.

I hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Noel

Mohamed Samir Ahamed Fooda 65 Reputation points

2025-12-05T16:00:32.2033333+00:00

I don’t remember if there was a right and left Alt option, but this is the picture from my pc.
For the second option, as for removing the updates, it doesn’t allow me to remove the update that you pointed out.
Amjed Almousa 5 Reputation points

2025-12-05T23:03:32.4133333+00:00

I have the same issue. Right Alt + shift does not appear as a valid option.

I also tried the power toys to map Right Alt to Left Alt. This also does not work.
JokerBH 5 Reputation points

2025-12-06T19:49:48.31+00:00

same for me i just do Uninstall updates and fix it for me for now we need new update
Mohammad H Alwazzan 0 Reputation points

2025-12-11T09:36:48.85+00:00

There are no Right Alt and Shift keys option to turn on.

Answer 4

Abdulaziz Alhurr 10

Guys, I had the same issue, and it's super frustrating. Here's a fix that worked for me:

Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout

In the right panel:

If Scancode Map exists, double-click it

If not, right-click → New → Binary Value → name it Scancode Map

In Value data, enter the following exactly

00 00 00 00

02 00 00 00

38 00 38 E0

00 00 00 00

It should look like this at the end:

User's image

Click OK and restart Windows (full reboot). This should resolve the issue.

SalemBawazir 0 Reputation points

2025-12-14T19:35:51.6366667+00:00

Man Thx for the help.
Your solution has worked for me.
You are the GOAT
JokerBH 5 Reputation points

2025-12-14T21:34:38.0966667+00:00

thanks

Answer 5

Mohammad Zaatra 0

Same issue within my company here

Right Alt+Shift only moves languages to the right and doesnt keep switching

This only happened after the latest update

Looking for a fix that i can deploy to my company desktops

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Issue with Right Alt + Shift Not Switching Languages Properly in Windows

6 answers

This is the solution, my friend

Your answer