Windows Server 2022 Core: how to change default keyboard layout for all users (also login screen)

Question

I have a Server with Windows Server 2022 Core Standard and I set the language and time to US but the keyboard layout to German during installation.

However the keyboard layout is US by default for all users also on the login screen. Does anyone know how to adjust?

What I have tried so far:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Preload -> name:1, value:"00000407" Works only for current user and not for login screen.

HKEY_USERS.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Preload -> name:1, value:"00000407" Changes back to "00000409" after new logout and login.

Answer 1

On Windows Server 2022, the cmdlet Copy-UserInternationalSettingsToSystem is available now. You can use this cmdlet to copy the Diplay Language, Input Language, Format and Location settings of your current user (with administrative privileges) to the system defaults.

I assume that you also need the german keyboard layout on the welcome screen, so that you can input your passwords correctly. Therefore, call Copy-UserInternationalSettingsToSystem with both of its switches:

Copy-UserInternationalSettingsToSystem -WelcomeScreen $True -NewUser $True

Answer 2

Here is a qick way to change the keyboard layout to a German keyboard using powershell in Server Core:

PS C:\> Set-WinUserLanguageList -LanguageList "de-DE"