Ghost/phantom keyboard appears sometimes on launch that cannot be selected with Win+Space and prevents use of Shift+Alt

MyNameIs 55 20 Reputation points
2025-07-30T12:53:03.06+00:00

Summary

After some time of using a laptop I noticed that sometimes a ghost DEU keyboad may appear in the Win+Space language select menu. It cannot be selected with Win+Space (the language doesn't change) and because of it Alt+Shift also cannot be used (which I normally use a lot to switch between either of the 2 main language keyboards). The problem persists until startup (unless it appears again at startup).

Environment

  • Windows 10 Pro 22H2
  • Four input languages installed (ENG ‑ US + ENG - DE, UKR - UKR + UKR + RU)
  • Advanced keyboard settings → Left Alt + Left Shift, Windows + Space

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Turn on device.
  2. Try to change language with either shortcut.

Expected Result

Language changes normally between those specified in the settings (as listed above).

Actual Result

The ghost keyboard prevents the use of Alt+Shift, also causes problems with Win+Space due to having to cycle over the ghost keyboard to select another keyboard.

Troubleshooting Attempted

  • Changed keyboard and language settings (no DEU keyboard, only ENG-DE which works fine all the time)
  • Registry editing (removed de-DE with value 00000407)

Impact

Reduced work speed and unnecessary stress.

Request

Help fix this problem of the ghost keyboard appearing.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Input and language
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
DaveM121 936.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-07-30T13:27:51.9166667+00:00

Open the old Control Panel

At the top of Control Panel, set View to Icons

Select Region

Select the Administrative Tab on the resulting dialog

Click Change System Locale in the 'Language for non-Unicode Programs' section

Set the language in the drop down to the same as the System location/Language

Open the Settings App, then go to Time & language - Language & region

Scroll down and select Administrative language settings

On the Administrative tab click the Copy settings button

Enable 'Welcome screen and system accounts' and also New user accounts

Save that setting.

Restart (not shut down) the PC

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