Download AZERTY Global
Struggling to type É, Ç, À, œ, « » — or the accents of your own language — on a French keyboard? AZERTY Global installs an improved French keyboard layout without starting from scratch.
Easy accented capitals, direct period access, better-placed programming symbols, and international accents for Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian and many more languages. 99% of your AZERTY habits preserved.
Microsoft Store app Recommended
- ✅ No admin rights required
- ✅ Windows 10 1809+ and Windows 11 (x64/ARM64)
- ✅ Full English interface available
- ✅ Built-in virtual keyboard and character search
- ✅ Automatic updates, no SmartScreen warning
✅ After installing
Click "Open" in the Store: AZERTY Global starts in the notification area (bottom right, near the clock) and a welcome window guides you in a few minutes. The interface is available in English — switch anytime in the welcome window or in Settings. To find the app later: type AZERTY in the Start menu.
🏪 No access to the Microsoft Store, or is it blocked by your employer?
Enterprise kit (signed MSIX)
Direct installation for Windows 10/11, signed by the Association pour la Modernisation du Clavier Français (AMCF). The ZIP kit contains the signed MSIX package plus deployment documents (in French), and avoids browser download blocking.
Download the enterprise kit (ZIP)Just want the package itself? Signed MSIX only (.msixbundle).
On a company computer, ask your IT department to allow download.azerty.global.
MSIX SHA-256 checksum: 3E6C88C7617F719915F876BC21745C0A2D85D3AA1C71BA0775A8C181E392B92C
⚠️ Windows may display "Uses all system resources": this is the standard label for full desktop applications. AZERTY Global does not collect what you type and never transmits your keystrokes.
📦 Prefer the classic installer? (PCs without the Store or legacy setups)
EXE installer
Classic installation in the Windows language and keyboard settings.
Recommended mostly for Windows 10/11 without the Store or for older PCs.
Admin rights required.
⚠️ Triggers a SmartScreen warning.
Works with your current keyboard
AZERTY Global is a software keyboard layout: no need to buy a new keyboard. Your current AZERTY keyboard works perfectly.
100% open source
All the source code is available on GitHub. You can inspect and audit the project yourself.
🔄 How do I switch back to my old keyboard?
Microsoft Store app:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Caps Lock to turn AZERTY Global off at any time, or right-click the AG tray icon. To remove it completely: Win + I → Apps → Installed apps → search for "AZERTY Global" → Uninstall.
EXE installer:
Press Win + Space to switch between keyboard layouts. To remove it: Win + I → Time & language → Language & region → French (⋯) → Language options → select AZERTY Global → Remove.
✅ Your original keyboard layout is never modified — it stays available in Windows.
📖 Installation instructions
1. Copy the .keylayout file
In the Finder, open the "Go" menu while holding the Option (Alt) key,
click "Library", then copy AZERTY Global.keylayout into the
"Keyboard Layouts" folder (create it if needed).
Full path: ~/Library/Keyboard Layouts/
2. Log out and back in
Restart your session or your Mac (required for macOS to detect the file).
3. Add the keyboard
- Open "System Settings" → "Keyboard" → "Text Input" → "Edit..."
- Click "+", look under "Others" (at the bottom) or "French"
- Select "AZERTY Global" and click "Add"
💡 Switch between keyboards with the input menu in the menu bar, or Ctrl + Space (or Cmd + Space depending on your settings).
🗑️ Uninstall
- Open "System Settings" → "Keyboard" → "Text Input"
- Select "AZERTY Global" and click "-"
- Delete
AZERTY Global.keylayoutfrom~/Library/Keyboard Layouts/ - Log out and back in
✅ The steps above remove all installed files.
📖 Installation instructions
1. Unzip and open a terminal
Extract the ZIP file, then open a terminal in the extracted folder.
2. Run the installation script
sudo ./install.sh
3. Log out and back in
Log out then log back in (or restart).
4. Enable the keyboard
GNOME / Fedora / Ubuntu: Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → + → click the three dots at the bottom of the list → type "azerty global" → open "Other" → choose "French (AZERTY Global)".
KDE / Plasma: System Settings → Keyboard → Layouts → Add → "French (AZERTY Global)"
🗑️ Uninstall
- Remove "AZERTY Global" from your input sources in the settings
- Delete the file:
sudo rm /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/azerty_global - Restore your previous
~/.XComposeif needed (a backup was created) - Log out and back in
✅ The steps above remove all installed files.
Already adopted
Installation FAQ
Which Windows option should I choose?
The Microsoft Store app is recommended for Windows 10 and 11: no admin rights, automatic updates, English interface. If the Store is blocked, use the signed MSIX. The EXE installer remains useful mostly for PCs without the Store or legacy setups.
Do I need admin rights?
Not with the Microsoft Store app — it installs without admin rights and without any SmartScreen warning. Only the classic EXE installer requires admin rights.
How do I switch back to the traditional AZERTY?
At any time. With the Store app, press Ctrl + Shift + Caps Lock or right-click the AG tray icon to turn it off, and uninstall it like any other app. With the EXE, macOS or Linux versions, simply select your previous layout again in your system settings. Your original keyboard layout is never modified.
Is it free?
Yes. AZERTY Global is free and open source (EUPL 1.2), with no account, no telemetry and no hidden cost. The source code is on GitHub.
Do I need to buy a new keyboard?
No. AZERTY Global works with your current AZERTY keyboard: it only changes what the keys produce on screen. Stickers or a printable reference card can help during the first days, but they are optional.
More questions? See the full FAQ in English.