How to find the language bar on Windows 7. Has the language bar disappeared? Let's put it back in place

The language bar is a section of tools on the desktop that displays the current keyboard layout, current input languages, handwriting recognition, speech recognition, and other regional settings-related features. But the most convenient thing it does is it makes it possible to quickly change the keyboard layout directly from the taskbar.

Many will say that it is much more convenient to switch the input language using the hotkeys Alt + Shift or Ctrl + Shift, but agree, before switching, be sure to look at the language bar to find out the current keyboard layout.

Unfortunately, many Windows 7 users often complain that their language bar has disappeared. The reasons why it disappears can be different: it happens that it is hidden by the user accidentally, it disappears due to a system error of the “seven”, or it is hidden by a virus. In any case, the recovery process is the same. We will describe two ways to enable the language bar if it has disappeared.

Restoring the language bar through the control panel

Open the Start menu and select Control Panel. Under Clock, Language, and Region, select Change keyboard layout or other input methods.

The “Regional and Language Options” window will appear in front of you. On the “Languages ​​and Keyboards” tab, click the “Change Keyboard” button and go to the “Language Bar” tab.

As you can see, the panel is not displayed because it is hidden. To display it, check the “Pinned to taskbar” and “Show text labels in the language bar” checkboxes and click “Apply” and “OK”.

After that it should appear on the taskbar. If you did everything as described above, but the panel still does not appear, then you need to use the second method.

If the Windows 7 language bar disappeared after the system was infected with a virus, a situation may arise when you cannot open the Control Panel settings in the standard way. In this case, the following control panel applets will help us, which are entered in the search bar of the Start menu (it is opened by the keyboard shortcut Win + R). Applets are ordinary .dll libraries with a .cpl extension.

  • The intl.cpl applet opens the Regional and Language Options window (Regional Options tab);
  • applet control intl.cpl,1 opens the Regional and Language Options window (languages ​​tab);
  • applet control intl.cpl,2 opens the “Languages ​​and Keyboards” tab;
  • The control intl.cpl,3 applet opens the “Advanced” tab.

Enabling the language bar through the registry

Open the Start menu and type regedit in the search bar. The Registry Editor will open:

Go to the following path and check for the presence of the CTFMon string parameter with the value “C:\Windows\system32\ctfmon.exe”

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

If this parameter does not exist, then it needs to be created. Right-click on the “Run” section name or on an empty space in the section window, and select create a string parameter.

Name the created parameter CTFMon, then right-click on its name and select “Edit”. In the "Value" field, enter the following:

C:\Windows\system32\ctfmon.exe

All that remains is to apply the changes and reboot. After reboot, the language bar should appear on the taskbar.

Setting up the language bar

Since we're talking about the language bar, it wouldn't hurt to say a few words about setting it up. The panel can be freely moved to any location on the screen, hidden or minimized to the taskbar (this is the state it is in by default). In the picture below you can see both described options:

The buttons and other elements that appear on the panel depend on what text input services are installed and whether the display of additional icons on the taskbar is selected. By right-clicking the mouse, you can open the settings menu to change the position on the taskbar or display the panel vertically rather than horizontally, as is done by default.

If you have configured something incorrectly and don’t know how to return everything back, use the “Restore defaults” item.

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This element allows you to quickly switch between keyboard layouts. Even those users who are accustomed to switching using keys still look for it visually when they look at the monitor.

If the Windows 7 language bar disappears, this brief instruction will help. Let's start with its definition. The language bar automatically appears on the system tray taskbar when typing services are started, for example, hand input recognition, layout, etc. This panel is needed to quickly change the typing language or keyboard layout. It can be placed on the desktop in any place convenient for the user. Usually located in accordance with the default settings of Windows 7 at the bottom right, near the tray.

But sometimes she disappears. A possible reason for the non-display could be a virus program that has infected the computer, or it disappears as a result of the system cleanup wizard (therefore, you should work with optimizers carefully, with knowledge of the processes it performs). Of course, switching between languages ​​can be done by simultaneously pressing Alt/Ctrl + Shift on the keyboard. But without seeing the language settings currently in use on the screen, this is not convenient.

Restoring the language bar

Restoring in Windows 7 is performed using many methods. All of them will restore the display of the disappeared icon depending on the reason that caused its loss. There are the following methods to enable its display, we will list them here, starting with the simplest:

Using normal Windows 7 features

After completing the above steps, the disappeared icon will begin to appear.

If there is no positive result, it is recommended to activate the language bar using an alternative method.

Using the Windows 7 scheduler

The main functional difference between the language bar in Win 7 and previous versions of Windows is that it is included in the Windows system scheduler.

This scheduler is responsible for starting the ctfmon.exe process, which manages it. The icon may be missing due to problems starting this service.

To determine the correct operation of the scheduler service, do the following:


Using the Windows 7 registry

This method is already more complex. This method also requires that you include the ctfmon.exe utility in the startup system. Before starting work, determine the presence of this file. Location in Windows 7 in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. If missing, you should copy it from any other computer that has working Windows 7.

The culprit for the disappearance of the icon can be viruses, as well as various failures in the system, but sometimes the owner of the personal computer himself inadvertently removes the language indication by transferring it to the desktop. In this case, it is simply necessary to install it in its original place using the drag-drop method.

Sometimes while working at the computer we notice that the icon for the selected language disappears. This causes serious inconvenience, because... You can only find out the current keyboard layout by directly entering data. Luckily, there are several ways to fix the problem. Let's look at how to restore the language bar in Windows 7.

How to fix it?

There are currently three known ways to solve the problem. Let's look at each of them in detail.

Changing language settings

In most cases, this method is quite sufficient. Do the following:

After this, the problem should be resolved. If nothing happens, move on to the next step.

Enabling Task Scheduler

Sometimes, due to system failures, Windows services that are responsible for the operation of individual operating system modules are disabled. To enable them you need:


After turning on the PC, the language bar should be present in its usual place. If this does not happen, move on to the next point.

Recovery via the registry

This is the most difficult method and the last possible. In this case, we need to add the process responsible for the language bar to startup. To do this:


These are all known methods to help fix the layout icon problem. An alternative option is a system update (restoration) or a clean reinstallation of Windows. But it’s unlikely that the lack of a language badge justifies such drastic measures. Now you know how to restore the language bar in Windows 7.

Our realities are such that most domestic users have to work with two languages ​​(Russian and English), and some with even more. The language panel helps you navigate what the current active language mode is in the system. In addition, those users who are not accustomed to switching between modes using hot keys do so using this particular icon. But it also happens when he simply disappears. Let's figure out what to do if the panel disappears and how to restore it in Windows 7.

The language switching panel may disappear due to failures in the OS or deliberate actions of users. In addition, there are even situations where the user accidentally disables the tool and then does not know how to restore it. The choice of recovery option largely depends on the reasons why the language switcher disappeared from the taskbar.

Method 1: Collapse the Language Bar

One of the reasons why the language bar is not displayed in the usual place may be that the user accidentally clicked on it and clicked on "Restore language bar".


Method 2: Control Panel

There is a simple but quite effective way to enable the display of the language bar through the “Control Panel”.


After making these adjustments, the language bar should appear in its original place.

Method 3: Enable the service

Sometimes the language bar is missing because the service that is responsible for launching it is disabled. In this case, the corresponding service must be enabled through the system scheduler. In Windows 7, this service can be stopped manually only by making changes to the registry, since it is systemically significant and the developers have removed the very possibility of stopping it in standard mode. However, due to various failures, it can become disabled even without user intervention, which will cause various negative phenomena, including the absence of a language bar. Let's see how we can start the specified service.


After restarting the PC, the language bar will again appear in its usual place.

Method 4: Manually launch the bootloader

If for some reason it was not possible to start the service, then, in this case, as a temporary measure, you can manually launch the language bar loader. The measure is temporary because with the launch of the service "Task Scheduler" you will still need to decide something, since it is responsible for activating many processes in the system.


There is also another possibility.


The operation will have to be carried out every time after starting the computer.

It should be noted that this method will only work if the object has disappeared due to a service shutdown. If it was disabled manually through the context menu, then in this case you need to apply the actions described in Method 2.

Method 5: adding to startup

But it is still possible to make the language bar automatically start when the system starts, even when the task scheduler is deactivated. To do this, add the CTFMON.EXE object to autorun in the registry editor.

  1. Before you begin manipulations in the registry editor, .
  2. Launch the window "Run" (Win+R). Enter:

    Click "OK".

  3. The Registry Editor starts. In the left area of ​​the window there is a navigation tool with a tree arrangement of directories. Click on "HKEY_CURRENT_USER".
  4. Next we go to the section "Software".
  5. After that, click on the folder "Microsoft".
  6. Next, we proceed sequentially through sections "Windows", "CurrentVersion" And "Run".
  7. In the right area, click anywhere with the right mouse button. Follow the inscription "Create". Select from the list "String parameter".
  8. A new string parameter has appeared.
  9. Instead of name "New parameter" drive in "CTFMON.EXE". Click Enter. Double-click on this parameter with the left mouse button.
  10. A window for changing the string parameter opens. To the region "Meaning" enter the full path to CTFMON.EXE, namely:

    C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

    Click "OK".

  11. After the string parameter is generated, you can click on the icon to close the registry editor.
  12. All that remains is to restart the computer so that the language bar is in its place. Now it will always run automatically even when the scheduler is turned off.

    Attention! If you are not ready to follow the instructions in this method to the smallest detail, or are not confident in your abilities, then it is better not to even try to make changes in the registry editor. After all, if an error is made, it can have an extremely negative impact on the performance of the system as a whole.

    It should also be noted that there are other options for adding the CTFMON.EXE file to Windows 7 startup. But the described method of making an entry in the registry is the most optimal, since startup will occur regardless of which account you are logged into.

Method 6: System Restore

If none of the above methods helped you return the language bar, although it was previously present, we suggest you use a method that allows you to solve various problems that have arisen in the operation of the operating system - perform a recovery procedure.

The essence of the method is that the operating system, just for such cases, automatically creates restore points to which you can completely return the computer to operation. You only need to select the rollback point when the language bar was still present and there were no problems with it.

The restore function will completely return Windows to the selected time period, but there are still exceptions: the process will not affect user files - music, videos, documents, etc.

Previously, our website has already discussed system recovery in detail, so we recommend that you study the article on this topic.

As you can see, there are various reasons why the language bar disappeared from its usual location: unpinning, closing, stopping the service. Accordingly, the choice of method to solve the problem depends on its causes.

Hello friends! If you have lost your keyboard layout on Windows 7 (for the same problem in Windows XP), then this article will be useful to you.

  • If you have already followed the path: Control Panel - Settings - Language and Regional Standards. And there are checkboxes, but the keyboard layout has not appeared.
  • If you tried to rollback using a restore point.
  • If you have already created a REG file and added it to the registry.

And all this did not bring the desired results? Then there are a couple of options:

The Windows 7 keyboard layout has disappeared: solutions

  1. Search for the missing language bar. It will be more difficult, but quite possible.

In Windows 7, the ctfmon.exe application is responsible for the language bar. It is associated with the Task Scheduler service, in which Startup Type select “Automatic”. Otherwise it will not start on its own.

Check the setting in this way:

1) Start – Computer Management


2) Services and applications – Services – Task Scheduler.

3) Open “Task Scheduler” and go to the “Properties” tab. Here check if automatic start is set.

Another way to solve the problem if “the keyboard layout has disappeared on Windows 7”

Follow this route:

1) Start – Control Panel – Small Icons – Regional and Language Options – Languages ​​and Keyboards tab – Change keyboard.

2) The “Languages ​​and text input services” setting will open. Open the General tab.

In the window that opens, you should see two layout options: English and Russian. This indicates the presence of the Language panel. If there is only one, then click “Add” and select the missing one from the list.

3) In the “Language Bar” tab, check the “Pinned to Taskbar” checkbox and check the “Display text labels on the language bar” checkbox.

These are the main points for setting up the Language panel.

If they did not work, and the question remains open, then you need to resort to creating a REG file.

It contains information on changes in the registry (change the launch of the ctfmon.exe application, which is responsible for the operation of the language bar).

To create a REG file:

  1. Create a regular text file and copy the following text into it.
  2. Save the file with the extension .reg


"ctfmon.exe"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\ctfmon.exe"
We run our file, changes are made to the registry, then we reboot.

That's it! I think now you know why the Windows 7 keyboard layout disappeared and you already know how to solve this problem. I hope I helped you and you like this article to help other people. I also invite you to read an article about this or why. If you have any questions about this article, write in the comments, I will be glad to help. I wish you all good health!

With UV. Evgeny Kryzhanovsky