How to switch your Linux keyboard layout to US (United States)

Here’s how to switch your Linux keyboard layout to US (United States), either temporarily or permanently.

🧩 Option 1 – Temporary switch (immediate effect)

Run this in a terminal:

setxkbmap us

That changes the layout instantly (no reboot needed).
Test it:

• Shift + 3 → should give #
• Key left of Enter → gives ' and "
• Key left of Z → gives < and >

This lasts until logout or reboot.

⚙️ Option 2 – Make it permanent

🖥️ If using GNOME, KDE, XFCE, etc.

1. Open Settings → Keyboard → Layout (sometimes under “Region & Language”).
2. Add English (US).
3. Remove or move down any other layouts (e.g. “English (UK)”).

🧱 If on a terminal-only or server system

Edit the system keyboard configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/default/keyboard

Find the line:

XKBLAYOUT="gb"

and change it to:

XKBLAYOUT="us"

Save (Ctrl + O → Enter → Ctrl + X), then apply:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

sudo udevadm trigger --subsystem-match=input --action=change

🧪 Verify current layout

setxkbmap -query

Expected output:

layout:     us