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?

score 41 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:04

41

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.

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:04

Community

1

answered Jun 01 '12 at 05:20

iglvzx

23,818

score 28 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 18 '21 at 12:43

28

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!

edited Jan 18 '21 at 12:43

Dave M

13,250

answered Mar 08 '18 at 07:19

Dimko Desu

381
3
2

score 24 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 06 '24 at 06:43

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 the 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

Edit: Updated the script to work with AHK 2.x

SetCapsLockState('AlwaysOff')
+CapsLock::{
    if (GetKeyState("CapsLock", "T")) {
        SetCapsLockState('Off')
    } else {
        SetCapsLockState('On')
    }
}
CapsLock::Send("{Shift down}{Alt down}{Shift up}{Alt up}")

score 7 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 23 '12 at 07:10

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.

score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 16 '13 at 11:14

3

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

answered Jan 16 '13 at 11:14

Tagir Bakirov

31

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered May 28 '19 at 14:13

2

Use Capslang: simply download suitable exe and put it in folder

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

(to make it launch automatically when system starts)

answered May 28 '19 at 14:13

Pavel

349

score 1 · Answer 7 · edited May 10 '16 at 09:12

1

I made it using PowerPro tool (as if it is constantly loaded already for other stuff) And now I achieve language change by tapping and CAPSLOCK via long press.

edited May 10 '16 at 09:12

Victor Marchuk

807

answered Jun 23 '12 at 16:45

ClockworkBastard

11

score 0 · Answer 8 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:16

You can easely (by changing first two lines to:

$~CapsLock::LangSwitch(1)
$~CapsLock up::LangSwitch(2)

) modify wOxxOm's Keyboard layout switcher for using Win+Space instead of right control. And it will work no matter which hotkeys are set up for switching layout in Windows (default is Alt+Shift, I'm using Ctrl+Shift).

Because of non-ahk-native switching (script uses WinAPI), whole script is rather bulky, so I didn't paste it inline. In case of autohotkey.com inaccessibility, here it is: http://pastebin.com/RayAw1VP

(again, all credits go to wOxxOm, source script is there: http://www.autohotkey.com/board/topic/24666-keyboard-layout-switcher/)

P.S. That script is quite old, and has hardcoded byte-offsets, so I'm not sure if it will work with 64-bit Autohotkey.exe or in 64-bit Windows. I only have 32-bit at hand.

P.P.S. This answer is nearly duplicate to another but questions are also nearly similar.

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

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