How to set default input language in OS X Yosemite?

In System preferences choose "keyboard" enter image description here

Be sure the "Show input in menu in menu bar" is checked then click the "+" sign in the bottom left keyboard preference pane choose your language and keyboard type for the language and click "Add" additional language pane then in your OS menu at the top right you will find and input menu where you can select "French" or whatever language you have chosen. enter image description here

EDIT

Adding default language to the os

choose Language and Region in System Preferences
Click "+" in bottom left corner of preferences pain.
Choose your language
you will be prompted asking if you would like to make it your primary language , do that.
you may be prompted to add an input devices language
click keyboard preferences. It will prompt you to restart, again , do that.

good luck

mcgrailm

Posted 2015-06-13T07:50:48.350

Reputation: 312

1Thanks, but this is just switching languages. I need this French to become the default language when the computer turns on. Another issue is that the language gets reset back to English randomly when I'm using the computer. – Nikita – 2015-06-16T04:18:56.177

That IS how you "make Russian my default keyboard input language" if you want to set your system language to Russian I can show you how to do that as well, however you will still need to use this method to set the keyboard language – mcgrailm – 2015-06-16T12:43:37.337

1Ok, what you've added after "Adding default language to the os" did help. Thanks a lot @mcgrailm! Not sure what was wrong with my preferences, but after I've removed and added Russian to "Languages" (as opposed to keyboard inputs), it seems to have started behaving as expected. – Nikita – 2015-06-18T03:36:52.210

How do you mean, it won't let you? What happens when you try and change it? – slhck – 2015-06-13T09:12:05.913

I gave it a try and it didn't work until selecting a Russian keyboard in the input menu in the menu bar (which is enabled by [] Show input menu in menubar in Keyboard Preferences. This on 10.9.5. – user187561 – 2015-06-14T06:44:48.603

Sorry, I must have been more clear. There is no option anywhere in the GUI to set the default input language. Every time my computer turns on, it's set to English. It is often reset back to English throughout the day, even though I have "Remember input language for each document" disabled. – Nikita – 2015-06-14T08:11:32.330

How to set default input language in OS X Yosemite?

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