Which layout the lessons use
Our German lessons and the on-screen keyboard follow the standard German QWERTZ layout used in Germany and Austria, on a keyboard with an extra key next to the left Shift key. Compared with an English keyboard, Z and Y swap places: Z sits next to T, and Y sits in the bottom row. The umlauts ä, ö and ü and the sharp s (ß) each have their own key, so you type them with a single press, and Shift gives Ä, Ö and Ü.
Windows
Open Settings, then Time and language, then Language and region. Add German (Germany) as a language, or open the language options of the German you already have, and check that the German keyboard is in its list. Switch between installed layouts at any time with Windows + Space.
macOS
Open the Apple menu, then System Settings, then Keyboard in the sidebar. Under Text Input, choose Edit, then the add button, search for German, select German and choose Add. Switch from the input menu in the menu bar, or press Control + Space to select the last input source you used. The Globe key switches input sources once you set its option in the Keyboard settings to Change Input Source.
Chromebook
Open Settings, then Device, then Keyboard and inputs, then Input settings. Under Input methods, choose Add input methods, select the German keyboard and choose Add. Switch with Ctrl + Shift + Space, and press Ctrl + Space to go back to the previous one.
Accents: the dead keys
The circumflex (^, the key left of 1), the acute accent (´, the key right of ß) and the grave accent (`, Shift plus the same key) are dead keys: pressing one types nothing yet, and the next key completes the character. Press ^ and then e to get ê, or ´ and then e to get é. To type the accent mark on its own, press the dead key and then Space: ^ followed by Space gives ^. This works the same way on Windows and on a Mac.
Caps Lock
On the standard Windows German layout, Caps Lock works like a held Shift key for the number row and several symbol keys, not only for letters: with Caps Lock on, 1 types ! and ß types ?. If digits or ß suddenly come out as symbols, switch Caps Lock off. On a Mac and on the German (IBM) layout, Caps Lock changes letters only.
The capital sharp s (ẞ)
On Windows, the capital sharp s ẞ is Shift + AltGr + ß (AltGr is the right Alt key). A Mac has no key for it. Lessons never ask you to type ẞ.
Swiss German keyboards
The Swiss German layout keeps Z, Y and the umlauts ä, ö and ü in the same places, so most letter lessons work as they are. It has no ß key, because Swiss German writes ss instead, and several symbols sit on other keys. The lessons use ß, so add the German layout as described above for the ß lessons and the symbol lessons. On a Mac with the Swiss German layout, Option + S types ß.
German (IBM)
Windows also offers a German (IBM) layout. Its keys type the same characters as the standard German layout, so every lesson works on it. The one difference is that Caps Lock changes letters only.
US-International and other English keyboards
On the United States-International layout you can type German letters with AltGr: AltGr + Q gives ä, AltGr + P gives ö, AltGr + Y gives ü and AltGr + S gives ß; add Shift for Ä, Ö and Ü. Z, Y and many symbols sit on other keys than in the lessons, so while you practise, add the German layout as described above and follow the on-screen keyboard, because your printed key labels will not match.
Prefer not to change it?
You can still type on your current layout: the on-screen keyboard always shows the German QWERTZ layout and highlights the next key, so you can follow along. See what the on-screen keyboard is for. If keys stop highlighting, read how to fix the keyboard not highlighting.