How to Type in Korean on a Computer

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Co-authored by The Bad Korean Teacher and Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: June 15, 2025

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• Windows
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• macOS
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• Linux
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• Expert Q&A

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This wikiHow teaches you how to install the Korean/Hangul language input on your Windows, macOS or Linux computer.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Windows

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1. 
   1
   Open the Windows search bar. You can usually do this by clicking the circle or magnifying glass at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. 
   2
   Type region & language. A list of matching search results will appear.
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3. 
   3
   Click Region & language settings.
4. 
   4
   Click + Add a language. It’s under the “Languages” header in the right panel. A list of languages will appear.
5. 
   5
   Click the Korean language. This returns you to the previous screen. Korean now appears in the language list.
6. 
   6
   Click the Korean language and select Options.
7. 
   7
   Click Download. This installs the language pack. You’ll be prompted to restart your computer once its installed.
8. 
   8
   Click Restart the machine to complete the installation. The computer will shut down and restart. Continue to the next step once you’ve returned to the desktop.
9. 
   9
   Press and hold the Windows ⊞ Win key and the spacebar. A list of installed languages will appear.
10. 
    10
    Select the Korean language. To do this, continue holding the Windows key and press the spacebar until the language is selected.
11. 
    11
    Click the A. It’s at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This switches the keyboard to Hangul (한글).
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

macOS

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1. 
   1
   Click the

   

   menu. It’s at the top-left corner of the screen.
2. 
   2
   Click System Preferences….
3. 
   3
   Click International. It’s the blue flag with a white map inside.
4. 
   4
   Click the Input Menu tab. It’s at the top of the window. A list of language inputs will appear.
5. 
   5
   Scroll down and check the box next to “Hangul.” You’ll see several options beneath it.
6. 
   6
   Check the box next to “2-Set Korean.” You won’t need to select the other options to type in Korean.
7. 
   7
   Switch to the Korean keyboard/input. When you’re ready to start typing, click your country’s flag icon at the top-right corner of the screen, then select 2-Set Korean.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Linux

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1. 
   1
   Open the command Line. It is needed to install the ibus-hangul package. On most Linux platforms, the icon of the command line is a black screen icon, labeled Terminal.
2. 
   2
   Install the ibus-hangul package. This is done from the package manager, which is apt on Debian and Ubuntu, and yum on some other platforms. On Ubuntu or Debian, type sudo apt-get install ibus-hangul. This will install the package and the necessary dependencies. Type Y (for "Yes") when it asks you whether you want to proceed.
3. 
   3
   Run im-config. Type im-config into the command line. On the window that opens, always click OK and click Yes when it asks you "Do you explicitly select the user configuration?". This will configure the computer to actually notice that you have a new input method.
4. 4
   Restart the computer. For whatever reason, it won't notice the change if you don't.
5. 
   5
   Open the (system) settings (usually has a picture of a gear or wrench or some other tools) and go to the section where you can select input sources. Depending on the platform, it is called something like Text Entry, Language & Input or just Input Sources.

   • On some Linux configurations, you need to open "IBus Parameters" instead of your system's usual settings. Check your menus to see if you have "IBus Parameters" on your system. If you opened the system settings and don't see the Hangul input source in the next step, that also means that you should open the IBus settings instead.
6. 
   6
   Add the Hangul input source. To do this, click on the + symbol or Add under the list of input sources. A new window which shows all possible input sources will appear. Search for "Korean". Select the Korean (Hangul) option, which was not there before you installed the ibus-hangul package, and add it.
7. 7
   Remember to activate "Hangul mode". When you switch to the Korean keyboard and type something, you will first see Latin letters. To actually type in Hangul, click on the input source selection menu (which you used to switch to the Korean keyboard) and click on Hangul Mode. Now, you can type in Hangul.

   
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Expert Q&A

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Add New Question

• Question

  How can I easily practice and type if I'm just starting to learn Korean?

  

  The Bad Korean Teacher
  Korean Language and Culture Educator

  The Bad Korean Teacher is a Korean language and culture educator and content creator based in New York City. He has spent years teaching conversational Korean to students worldwide, helping learners move beyond textbook phrases and understand how Korean is actually spoken in daily life. With a combined social media audience of over 130,000 followers at the time of writing, he is known for breaking down complex grammar and cultural behaviors into clear, relatable explanations. His teaching philosophy centers on building confidence through practice, encouraging students to embrace imperfection as part of mastery. He offers private lessons, digital materials, and cultural workshops designed to improve pronunciation, fluency, and real-world communication skills.

  

  The Bad Korean Teacher

  Korean Language and Culture Educator

  Expert Answer

  You could start by getting keyboard switches or stickers that show both the English and Korean characters. Just place them over your keys, which really helps you see where everything is while you’re learning. You can also use the Branah, this website lets you type using a QWERTY keyboard and shows the Hangul as you go. Play around with it and try typing simple Korean words, practice and see how things work out.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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• Question

  How can I type in Korean if I don't have a Korean keyboard?

  

  Farhana Gouher

  Community Answer

  To type Korean on a non-Korean keyboard, you can add the Korean language pack in your device's settings. You then use your existing QWERTY keyboard layout to input Hangul characters via the Microsoft IME, often switching with Win + Spacebar (Windows). This setup allows you to type Hangul using phonetic English key mappings, with on-screen guides available to help you learn which English keys correspond to Korean letters and structures, making it easy to type Korean without a physical Korean keyboard.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

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• Question

  How can I type in Korean on my Lenovo computer?

  

  Farhana Gouher

  Community Answer

  You will need to install the Korean language pack and keyboard layout through Windows settings, as Lenovo laptops typically run on the standard Windows operating system. The exact steps may vary depending on whether you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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