How do I add an input menu to my login screen so I can set the keyboard layout?

I have a virtual Mac with one language (English) as a preferred language, and multiple keyboard layouts installed and only one user. When I go to the login screen, my user name is prefilled and there is only the password field. I don't get an input menu, so I can't see what keyboard layout I'm using. If I guess wrong, I can't tell if it's because it's an unexpected layout or because my typing is bad (which often happens).


How do I set the Mac to always show the input menu on the login screen? I can't find it in the settings.


I must have done it at some time in the past, as my real Mac does have that menu, but I set that setting years ago on an earlier macOS. Where is the setting on Tahoe?

Mac mini, macOS 26.3

Posted on Mar 22, 2026 3:43 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 22, 2026 5:31 PM

Charles Belov wrote:

I have a virtual Mac with one language (English) as a preferred language, and multiple keyboard layouts installed and only one user. When I go to the login screen, my user name is prefilled and there is only the password field. I don't get an input menu, so I can't see what keyboard layout I'm using. If I guess wrong, I can't tell if it's because it's an unexpected layout or because my typing is bad (which often happens).

How do I set the Mac to always show the input menu on the login screen? I can't find it in the settings.

I must have done it at some time in the past, as my real Mac does have that menu, but I set that setting years ago on an earlier macOS. Where is the setting on Tahoe?



See if this is it—

To add an input menu (keyboard switcher) to your Mac's login screen,

go to System Settings > Keyboard, click Edit under "Text Input," and turn on "Show Input menu in menu bar".




would require more than one keyboard layout for the flag icon to show on login...

multiple languages are added enables the flag icon to appear on the login screen, allowing language changes.


Change Input Sources settings on Mac





2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 22, 2026 5:31 PM in response to Charles Belov

Charles Belov wrote:

I have a virtual Mac with one language (English) as a preferred language, and multiple keyboard layouts installed and only one user. When I go to the login screen, my user name is prefilled and there is only the password field. I don't get an input menu, so I can't see what keyboard layout I'm using. If I guess wrong, I can't tell if it's because it's an unexpected layout or because my typing is bad (which often happens).

How do I set the Mac to always show the input menu on the login screen? I can't find it in the settings.

I must have done it at some time in the past, as my real Mac does have that menu, but I set that setting years ago on an earlier macOS. Where is the setting on Tahoe?



See if this is it—

To add an input menu (keyboard switcher) to your Mac's login screen,

go to System Settings > Keyboard, click Edit under "Text Input," and turn on "Show Input menu in menu bar".




would require more than one keyboard layout for the flag icon to show on login...

multiple languages are added enables the flag icon to appear on the login screen, allowing language changes.


Change Input Sources settings on Mac





How do I add an input menu to my login screen so I can set the keyboard layout?

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