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Troubleshooting / Pi 400 Keyboard

Pi 400 - Incorrect Keyboard Layout

Fix incorrect Raspberry Pi 400 keyboard layout. Learn how to change keyboard language and region settings through Raspberry Pi OS desktop preferences.

Raspberry Pi 400KeyboardBy Vilros

Overview

Is your Raspberry Pi 400 keyboard typing the wrong characters or symbols? This happens when the keyboard layout setting doesn't match your physical keyboard layout (US, UK, AZERTY, etc.).

This quick fix will help you configure the correct keyboard layout in Raspberry Pi OS.

Change keyboard layout

When to change keyboard layout:

  • Wrong keys: Keys produce different characters than what's printed on them
  • Different region: You bought a US keyboard but the system is set to UK layout (or vice versa)
  • Special characters wrong: Symbols like @, #, ", and ~ appear in unexpected places

The Raspberry Pi 400 is available in different regional keyboard layouts. Make sure your OS keyboard settings match your physical keyboard.

Step-by-step instructions

Follow these steps once you've booted into the Raspberry Pi desktop:

  1. Click the Raspberry icon in the top-left corner of your screen

    This opens the system start menu.

  2. Hover over "Preferences"

    Then click "Mouse and Keyboard Settings"

  3. Click the "Keyboard" tab

    This tab is located at the top of the dialog box.

  4. Click "Keyboard Layout..." button

    This opens the keyboard layout configuration dialog.

  5. Select your keyboard layout

    Choose the correct country and keyboard variant:

    • Country: Select your region (United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, etc.)
    • Variant: Select the specific layout (US English, UK English, QWERTY, AZERTY, etc.)

  6. Click OK to save your changes
  7. Reboot your Pi 400

    Click Raspberry icon → Shutdown → Reboot

Test your keyboard layout

After rebooting, test these keys to verify the layout:

  • @ symbol: Should be Shift+2 on US keyboards, Shift+' on UK keyboards
  • # symbol: Should be Shift+3 on US keyboards, usually £ on UK keyboards
  • " quote: Should be Shift+' on US keyboards
  • ~ tilde: Location varies by layout

If keys still produce wrong characters, go back and try a different variant for your country.

Further help

Common keyboard layout regions:

  • US English: QWERTY layout, @ on Shift+2
  • UK English: QWERTY layout, @ on Shift+', £ on Shift+3
  • French (AZERTY): AZERTY layout instead of QWERTY
  • German (QWERTZ): QWERTZ layout with Z and Y swapped
  • Spanish: QWERTY with additional characters like ñ

See also:

Sources

Based on the Pi 400 keyboard layout guide from Vilros Help Center. Updated October 26, 2026 with detailed configuration steps and layout descriptions.