How to fix multilingual keyboard layout switching on Mac?

This issue has persisted across multiple macOS versions, Mac models, and years.

There are two major problems for multilingual users:

1. Layout switching via the Globe key takes ~1 second. This delay causes a very common issue: you start typing and realize you’re in the wrong layout (happens to every multilingual user sooner or later). So you quickly hit the Globe key to switch—but if you don’t wait a full second, the layout switches after the first letter, not before. Now your sentence is a mix of two languages, and you have to backtrack and retype. It’s a small delay that creates a surprisingly disruptive user experience. In contrast, Cmd + Space switches instantly and doesn’t suffer from this issue—which is why longtime Mac users stick with it.
2. Keyboard layout switching doesn’t work in Launchpad. It’s locked to the default (usually English). This makes it impossible to search for apps with non-English names unless you first switch the layout outside Launchpad. For those of us who’ve used Launchpad + swipe + search for over a decade, switching to Spotlight isn’t a simple habit change.

Both of these issues affect basic usability for multilingual users and have been around for a surprisingly long time. I hope Apple considers improving layout handling—it’s a small detail that creates a daily friction point for many.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]