Wrong keyboard at login

I know that this question has been asked before - but those threads are not old and closed, so Apple suggested to ask the question again.


On my Macbook (Retina, 12'',2017 - BigSur 11.5.2) I have this problem since the beginning (so under Catalina) - after poweroff / restart the previously used keyboard (French Switzerland) is not active.


An older Macbook Pro - too old to be updated - doesn't have this problem. So this only became a problem starting with Catalina.


i found the partial workaround using <sudo languagesetup>, but the list of languages proposed is too short, it doesn't include the Swiss keyboards for German or French. The Swiss keyboard is special, because it includes both special characters for German (üöä) and French (èéà). More importantly the Shift-characters are different on the top number row.


My workaround had been to use the <sudo languagesetup> option to set the keyboard to German (which seems closest to what I need), but its not perfect and I need to remember to use two "wrong" keys for my login.


So sudo languagesetup works, but the list should be extended to include more country specific keyboards, like French (Swiss) and German (Swiss).


I kind of got used to it - the way you get used to avoid an obstacle that shouldn't be there in the first place - but this should be fixed by Apple (it has been an issue for more than 2 years now).

MacBook

Posted on Sep 2, 2021 2:04 AM

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8 replies

Sep 2, 2021 6:47 AM in response to Womble_1202

It is probably something specific to that system. I have several keyboard layouts, and I have not experienced it, in my macs or any of those of family, coworkers and friends who'd come frantically calling for my help... (and they do often) :-)


Could you try one more thing?

Restart in Safe Mode. Set the desired keyboard layout.

Restart in Safe Mode again. Does the layout "stick"?

If so, does it also stick after restarting normally?

Sep 2, 2021 8:23 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Sorry it took a while longer.


I did restart, having first selected Swiss French layout.

In the login window, it had selected Portuguese instead.

I had to dig through a submenu to find and select Swiss French again, so I think I just reproduced what you are up against.

Sadly, I have no suggestion other than to tell Apple: https://www.apple.com/feedback

Sep 2, 2021 7:23 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Let me ask in return - do any of your family, coworkers and friends require a specific keyboard layout *at login* ?


The keyboard layouts are there and charge correctly - after login ! So once I passed that login screen, I have my Swiss French layout available and usable. Only the login screen seems to be limited to the 40ish keyboard layouts which are offered with sudo languagesetup

Sep 2, 2021 7:34 AM in response to Womble_1202

They are all Portuguese, so... yeah! We all have macs that came with the Portuguese layout.

I use the Portuguese, and also the US layouts, and I have at times tested several other layouts.

I have now set my layout to the Swiss French and will restart to see how that goes. I will let you know.

(fortunately, my password uses keys that are in the same position in most layouts, including this one; plus I have the option to change layout in the login window).


See you in a minute or two.


Sep 2, 2021 3:32 AM in response to Womble_1202

I don't know why the keyboard selection is wrong, but perhaps it will help if you add the keyboard layout to the menu bar and to the login window.


In System Preferences->Keyboard->Input Sources, check "Show Input menu in menu bar".



In System Preferences->Users & Groups, click "Login Options", click the padlock to authenticate, and check "Show Input menu in login window".



Sep 2, 2021 4:22 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you - I have this activated and use it on the Macbook. On the MacMini I got used to know where are the characters on the "wrong" keyboard. When I am fully awake, I get it right at 1st try, otherwise only on 2nd.


Anyway - all that's been found so far are "work-arounds" - not Apple actually solving the problem of not remembering the keyboard - and correcting the OS.

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Wrong keyboard at login

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