Hindi Typing Setup on Windows
Go to Settings › Time & language › Language & region, add Hindi, then open its Options and add a keyboard. Press Win + Space to switch. Windows includes the InScript keyboard and the Mangal font, but it does not include Remington GAIL or Kruti Dev.
You do not need any of this to practise here. This site's typing engine maps your keystrokes inside the browser, so every Hindi layout works on a plain English Windows install with nothing added. Do this setup when you want to type Hindi in Word, email or anywhere else — for practice outside this website.
Setup reference: Microsoft’s language and keyboard instructions, checked 7 September 2026. Microsoft also documents the Mangal font.
Add the Hindi keyboard on Windows 11
- Open language settingsSelect Start › Settings, then Time & language › Language & region.
- Add HindiNext to Preferred languages, select Add a language. Type "Hindi" in the search box, select it, and choose Next.
- Install the language packLeave Install language pack ticked and select Install. This downloads, so stay online. The download time depends on your connection.
- Add the keyboard layoutBack on Language & region, find Hindi in the list and open its Options (the three-dot menu). Under Keyboards, select Add a keyboard and pick the layout you need.
- Switch to HindiPress Win + Space to cycle input methods, or click the ENG / HIN indicator in the taskbar near the clock.
On Windows 10 the path is nearly identical — Settings › Time & Language › Language — and Win + Space works the same way.
Which layouts Windows actually gives you
Check the arrangement required by your notice before adding a keyboard.
| Layout | Included in Windows? | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Mangal InScript (often listed as Hindi Traditional) | Yes | Nothing extra. Comes with the Hindi language pack. |
| Hindi Phonetic | Available to add | Added the same way, under the same Keyboards menu. Not usually the exam layout. |
| Remington GAIL | No | Not a Windows layout. Exam centres install their own software for it. Practise it in a browser-based simulator instead. |
| Kruti Dev 010 / DevLys 010 | No | These are legacy fonts, not keyboard layouts. For legacy documents, install the correct font and use its required key sequences. A separate input tool may be needed if you want Unicode output. |
The Mangal font itself is bundled with Windows, so Unicode Hindi displays correctly out of the box once the language is added.
Unicode and legacy fonts
Mangal is a Unicode font. The letter क is stored as the character क, so it survives copy-paste, email and search, and it looks right on any machine with a Devanagari font.
Kruti Dev and DevLys are legacy fonts. They store Devanagari in slots that a normal computer reads as Latin letters. That is why Kruti Dev text pasted somewhere without the font looks like Hkkjr ,d fo'kky ns'k gS rather than Hindi. Nothing is broken — the bytes are Latin and only the font makes them look Hindi.
If you have text in the wrong one, convert it rather than retyping: our Kruti Dev ↔ Unicode/Mangal converter runs in your browser and goes both ways.
Common problems
Hindi shows as empty boxes
The font in use has no Devanagari glyphs. Select the text and switch it to Mangal or another Devanagari font. If the text is still wrong after changing fonts, check its encoding and source.
Hindi shows as random Latin letters
You are looking at legacy Kruti Dev or DevLys text displayed in a Unicode font. Either apply the Kruti Dev font to that text, or convert it to Unicode.
The keys do not match what I expected
Check the selected layout and input method. InScript and Remington-style layouts differ, and Remington GAIL and Kruti Dev also differ on some keys. Check your notice for the layout name, then look it up in the full key chart.
The vowel sign lands on the wrong side
On the legacy typewriter layouts you type in visual order: the vowel sign ि is typed before its consonant, and the half-र form र् after its cluster. InScript instead follows spoken order. Use the key chart for the particular layout you selected.
Which layout should you practise?
Use the arrangement named in your recruitment instructions. If the notice only names a font, read the Hindi keyboard layout comparison to see whether it means InScript, Remington GAIL or Kruti Dev.
Our supported Hindi layouts run in the browser without this Windows setup, so the install question never decides what you practise. Pick from your notice, check the layout in the key chart, and start.
Start a free Hindi test →Frequently asked questions
Does Windows include a Hindi keyboard?
Yes — the traditional InScript keyboard comes with the Hindi language pack, and the Mangal font is bundled too. Phonetic keyboards can be added the same way.
Does Windows include Remington GAIL or Kruti Dev?
No. Windows ships InScript. Kruti Dev is a legacy font convention; use the correct font and its required key sequences. Neither is needed to practise in a browser simulator.
How do I switch between English and Hindi?
Press Win + Space, or click the ENG/HIN indicator in the taskbar.
Do I need this to practise on this site?
No. Keystrokes are mapped in the browser. The setup matters for typing Hindi in other applications.
Menu names follow current Windows 11 and Windows 10 builds; Microsoft occasionally renames Settings pages, so wording on your machine may differ slightly. Sarkari Exam Typing is an independent private practice tool, not affiliated with Microsoft or with any government body or recruiting authority.
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