the french and belgian french keyboard are both AZERT, and the one in the middle is QWERTY

Understanding Keyboard Layouts: AZERTY and QWERTY Differences on French and Belgian Keyboards

If you’ve ever used a French or Belgian keyboard, you’ve likely encountered the distinctive AZERTY layout. Although both French and Belgian keyboards typically utilize AZERTY configurations, there can be variations or even unexpected switches to other layouts such as QWERTY, which may cause confusion, especially during gaming, typing, or multimedia usage.

In this article, we will explore the differences between AZERTY and QWERTY keyboard layouts, common issues related to layout switching, and practical solutions to maintain your preferred setup.

Understanding AZERTY and QWERTY

The AZERTY layout is predominantly used in France and Belgium, featuring specific key arrangements designed to accommodate the French language’s unique characters and accents. The layout starts with the letters A, Z, E, R, T, Y on the top row, which contrasts with the QWERTY layout, common in English-speaking countries, where the top row begins with Q, W, E, R, T, Y.

Key differences include:

Placement of the ‘A’ and ‘Q’ keys
Special characters accessible via modifier keys
Positioning of accented characters relevant to French language input

Common Issues with Keyboard Layout Switching

Some users, like the individual in the original post, experience involuntary switching between AZERTY and QWERTY layouts, especially during gaming sessions, media playback, or typing. This can be frustrating when the layout locks to a different configuration until a system reset.

Typical causes include:

Multiple language or keyboard input methods enabled in the operating system
Default keyboard layout settings that change based on application focus or system events
Shortcut keys (e.g., Alt + Shift, Ctrl + Shift) that toggle between layouts unintentionally

Troubleshooting and Fixes

To ensure your keyboard remains consistent with your preference, consider the following steps:

Verify Language and Keyboard Settings
On Windows:
- Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language
- Select your preferred language (e.g., French) and click on Options
- Ensure the correct keyboard layout (AZERTY) is added and set as default
Remove any unnecessary or conflicting keyboard layouts to prevent accidental switches
Disable Unwanted Input Methods
Remove or disable third-party input tools that may interfere with default layouts
Use the “Advanced Keyboard Settings