How to Enter Cheat Codes for PC Games With a Non-US Keyboard

Activate cheats for computer games using different keyboard layouts

What to Know

  • With any keyboard layout, use the key in the same location as the tilde key (~) on U.S. keyboards to display the cheat console.
  • Some keyboard layouts do not work with cheats that require the tilde key, so you need to add one manually.
  • In Windows, go to Language settings > [language] > Options > Add a keyboard. Choose a layout that includes the tilde key (~).

Most cheat codes for computer games require players to press a certain key to display the cheat console, but some keys don't work as expected if you don't use a standard U.S. keyboard. Learn how to activate Windows and PC cheat codes using any keyboard layout.

How to Activate the Cheat Console With Most Keyboards

In PC games, like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the tilde key (~) is used to display the console window where cheat codes are entered. On most U.S. keyboards, the tilde key is located above the Tab key. On a Swedish keyboard, however, the tilde key is located near the Enter key, and pressing it doesn't load the cheat console.

Regardless of the keyboard layout, use the key in the same location as the tilde key on U.S. keyboards to display the cheat console. For example, on a Swedish keyboard, the correct key is the one that has the ½ and § symbols on it. You shouldn't experience any problems pressing the tilde key (or the key above Tab) on the following keyboard layouts:

  • U.S.
  • U.S.-International
  • AZERTY (France, Belgium)
  • Dvorak Simplified
  • QZERTY
  • Sebeolsik 390
  • Sebeolsik Final
  • Sebeolsic Noshift
  • Arabic
  • Bulgarian
  • Chinese
  • Danish
  • Devanāgarī
  • French
  • Greek
  • Hangul (Korean)
  • Hebrew
  • Japanese
  • Norwegian
  • Swedish / Finnish
  • U.K.

Some games use different keys to activate the cheat console. Consult cheat guides for the game to find out how to enter codes.

Potentially Problematic Keyboard Layouts

The following keyboard layouts aren't likely to work with cheats that require the tilde key:

  • Armenian
  • Bulgarian BDS
  • Canadian French
  • Canadian Multilingual Standard
  • Danish
  • Hungary
  • Norwegian
  • Portuguese (Portugal)
  • Portuguese (Brazil)
  • QWERTZ (Germany, Austria)
  • QWERTZ (Swiss-German, Swiss-French, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg)
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Thai

How to Use PC Game Cheats With Other Keyboards

If the standard keyboard layout precludes the use of the tilde key as mapped to U.S.-based keyboards, it's possible to add alternative keyboards to your system.

To add a new keyboard in Windows 10:

  1. Go to the Windows search bar, type language, then select Language settings.

    Language settings in Windows
  2. Select your language, then select Options.

    Options for English in Windows
  3. Select Add a keyboard.

    Add a keyboard in Keyborads section of Windows Settings
  4. Select a new keyboard layout.

    United States-International keyboard selection for Windows
  5. Press Windows key+Spacebar to cycle through keyboard layouts so that you can enter cheats.

    If English isn't your primary language, install English-language support before adding an English keyboard layout.