Polish Characters ą, ę, ł: Polish Keyboard on Windows, iPhone, and Android

On an American computer or phone, there are no keys for ą, ę, and ł. You don't need to buy a new keyboard. Just add the Polish layout and remember one simple shortcut.

Windows 11: Adding the Polish Layout

1. Click Start › Settings › Time & language › Language & region.
2. If Polish is not on the list of languages, click Add a language next to Preferred languages, type "polski" (Polish), click Next, and Install. If you want Windows to remain in English, do not check the option Set as my Windows display language.
3. Click the three dots next to Polish and select Language options.
4. In the Keyboards section, check if Polish (Programmers) is already there. If not, click Add a keyboard and select it from the list.

How to Type Polish Letters

In the Polish (Programmers) layout, the letters on the keyboard stay where they were. You type Polish characters by holding the right Alt (on some keyboards labeled as AltGr) and pressing the letter:

For uppercase letters, add Shift: right Alt + Shift + L gives Ł. The most common mistake is with ź and ż: ż is under Z, and ź is under X.

Polish (214), or Why Z and Y are Swapped

Windows also has a second Polish layout, Polish (214). In this layout, Polish letters have separate keys, and Z and Y are swapped. If after adding the Polish language you suddenly type "yupa" instead of "zupa", you have Polish (214) enabled. Remove it: in the Language options for Polish, click the three dots next to this keyboard and select Remove.

Switching Between English and Polish Keyboard

• Hold the Windows key and press space. Each subsequent press of space switches to the next layout.
• Or click the language icon on the taskbar, near the clock, and select the layout from the list.

iPhone

1. Open Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards.
2. Tap Add New Keyboard and select polski (Polish).
3. While typing, hold the globe or emoji icon in the lower left corner of the keyboard and select the keyboard.
4. You can type a Polish letter by holding the regular letter, for example, e, and sliding your finger to ę.

Android with Gboard

1. Open any app where you type, e.g., Gmail, and tap the text field.
2. At the top of the keyboard, tap the Settings icon, then Languages › Add keyboard.
3. Select polski, the layout, and tap Done.
4. You switch languages by holding the space key. Polish characters are under the held letter.

Changing the keyboard language does not change the phone language.

If This Didn't Help

• Right Alt does nothing. Check the taskbar to see if the Polish layout is enabled. The left Alt alone will not work; you need the right one.
• No Polish on the keyboard list. First, add the Polish language in Language & region, and then the keyboard.
• No language icon on the taskbar. You have only one layout. Add a second one following the steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will adding Polish change Windows to Polish?

No. The keyboard layout does not change the display language. Windows will only switch to Polish if you select it separately.

Can I have both English and Polish keyboards at the same time?

Yes, on both computer and phone. You switch using the Windows + space shortcut, and on the phone using the globe icon or by holding the space key.

Sources

Status as of October 24, 2026. Menu names may vary depending on the version of the system and the phone manufacturer. This guide is for informational purposes.