If you’ve bought a new MacBook or any other Mac device, then you would not find the option to type in Hindi by default. Apple offers three ways for Hindi typing on macOS, and you have to enable them from the System settings.
The easiest way to type in Hindi on a Mac computer is through transliteration, where you’ve to type the Hindi words in Roman script (example, Hemant) and the system will change it automatically into Devanagari script (example, हेमन्त).
Most people are used to this typing method on their smartphones, and you’ll soon find it the best way for Hindi typing.
The other two options available on MacBook change the keyboard layout to the Devanagari script itself. These are also good, but there’s a steep learning curve, and you might find them a bit difficult.
If you practice typing for some time, then you might like the phonetic keyboard for Hindi typing, where English characters of the QWERTY keyboard are mapped with Hindi sounds.
How to Enable Hindi Typing on a MacBook?
- To enable Hindi typing on a Mac, click on the little Apple icon on the top left side of the desktop.
- Click on ‘System Settings’ and locate ‘Keyboard’ settings.
- In the ‘Text Input’ section, click on the ‘Edit’ button in ‘Input Sources’ option.
- Now, click on the bottom left + icon and select Hindi language.
- You’ll find three options under it: Devanagari – QWERTY, Hindi – InScript, and Hindi -Transliteration.
- If you want a smartphone-like Hindi typing feature, then select the ‘Transliteration‘ option and add it to your Mac.
In this way, you can add a Hindi typing option on your MacBook and start typing by switching the input source.
Switching from English to Hindi Typing
Now that you’ve added the Devanagari Hindi typing feature on your Mac, you should know how to switch between English and Hindi typing.
There might be situations where you would be typing in both languages, and a shortcut to change the input sources would enhance your typing experience.
By default, input sources can be switched by pressing the Function (fn) key at the bottom left of your Mac keyboard. This option can be changed in the Keyboard settings window, which opens after clicking ‘System Settings’ under the top Apple icon.
You can also show the input menu in the menu bar alongside battery percentage and Wi-Fi icons. This option can be found in the window where the input source is added.
Hidden Shortcut for Fast Hindi Typing
You can switch between the input sources through the Function (fn) key or manual selection from the menu bar. But both these methods don’t feel natural and smooth if you type a lot and want fast typing experience.
The hidden shortcut is using the ‘Caps Lock‘ key to switch from English to Hindi typing and back to English. This key is easily reachable and feels very handy when typing in a combination of both languages.
You can find this option inside the window where ‘Input Sources’ are added. Enable the ‘Caps Lock’ key to switch between input sources, and you’ll surely love it once you get used to it.
Caps Lock Key Function
If you enable the ‘Caps Lock’ key to switch between English and Hindi typing, then a single press will change the input sources.
You can still use it for its default function — to capitalise the characters. For this, you have to press and hold to enable typing in uppercase.
This simple shortcut will give you the best Hindi typing experience on a MacBook, but it will take some time to adapt to the normal functioning of the ‘Caps Lock’ key by pressing and holding for a few seconds.
