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If your Mac types a different character than the one on a key, first check whether the active macOS input source matches the keyboard’s printed layout. Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit, select the active source, then compare its mapping in Keyboard Viewer with the physical key legends. If they do not match, switch to the intended source.
Why is my Mac typing the wrong symbols?
An input source is the macOS keyboard layout or input method that determines how key presses are interpreted. It is separate from the physical keyboard and the characters printed on its keys. If the selected source represents a different layout, a key can produce an unexpected character even though the keyboard itself is working normally. Apple explains input sources and layout selection in its guide to writing in another language on Mac.
This is a software mapping issue to check before assuming you need a replacement keyboard. The keyboard’s physical type and a faulty key are separate possibilities if the mapping appears correct.
How do I check my Mac keyboard layout?
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard.
- Under Text Input, click Edit.
- Review the enabled input sources and select the one currently in use. Selecting a source displays its layout. Apple documents this path in Change Input Sources settings on Mac.
- If the Input menu is not visible in the menu bar, turn on Show Input menu in menu bar in Input Sources settings. The menu provides access to enabled sources and Keyboard Viewer.
- Open the menu bar’s Input menu and choose Show Keyboard Viewer. Compare the displayed mapping with the physical keyboard’s key legends. Press Shift or Option to see how those modifiers change the mapping.
Apple’s instructions for showing and using the viewer are in Use the Keyboard Viewer on Mac.
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How do I switch keyboard input sources on a Mac?
Choose a source that matches the keyboard you are using. You can switch through the Input menu, use Control-Space, or configure the Fn/Globe key to change input sources. The menu is a visible option; the shortcut or configured key lets you switch without opening the menu. Apple describes these options in Write in another language on Mac and Change Input Sources settings on Mac.
If you use a non-Latin input source, Caps Lock can also be configured to switch between that source and the last-used Latin source. This setting is relevant only when that switching behavior suits your input setup.
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What if the selected source matches but keys are still wrong?
Check whether the physical keyboard type corresponds to its layout. macOS recognizes ANSI, ISO, and JIS keyboard types; Apple explains how to identify layouts by region in How to identify your Apple keyboard layout by country or region and how to specify a keyboard type in Specify a keyboard type on Mac.
If Keyboard Viewer shows the expected mapping but one physical key still behaves incorrectly, that points away from a general input-source mismatch and may indicate a physical-key problem. For a keyboard that needs repair or replacement, Apple advises contacting Apple or an authorized service provider; see its keyboard layout and service guidance.
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