In short: the Polish laptop keyboard is physically the US layout (ANSI) - Polish characters are typed with the right Alt key. A laptop bought in Germany, the UK or Scandinavia has an ISO layout: a different Enter key shape, a shorter left Shift and different key legends. Switching to another layout is almost always possible, and whether you need just the keyboard or the whole palmrest depends on how the chassis of your model is built.
Below we show how to identify the layout in 30 seconds, in which Lenovo models the swap is simple, in which the keyboard has to be replaced together with the palmrest, and how to order the right part.
The split of models into standard and island-style palmrests is based on ABCDEAL's long-standing service practice and on the FRU numbers of the Lenovo parts we sell.
How to identify the keyboard layout in a laptop?
No disassembly needed. Just look at three places on the keyboard:
- The shape of the Enter key. A single-row, horizontal rectangle = ANSI layout (US, and therefore also Polish). A tall, two-row Enter shaped like an inverted L = ISO layout (UK, DE, Nordic, French and most European layouts).
- The left Shift. Long = ANSI. Short, with an extra key next to it (e.g.
< >or\ |) = ISO. - Legends on letters and digits. They tell you which country the keyboard comes from (see the table below).
| Layout | Standard | How to recognise it |
|---|---|---|
| Polish (programmer's) / US | ANSI | Single-row Enter, long left Shift, the \ | key above Enter. Polish characters via right Alt. |
| British (UK) | ISO | Tall Enter, £ on the 3 key, @ next to Enter, a # key by the Enter key. |
| German (DE) | ISO | QWERTZ layout (Y and Z swapped), Ä Ö Ü ß keys. |
| Nordic | ISO | Å Ä Ö or Æ Ø keys to the right of the letters. |
| French / Belgian | ISO | AZERTY layout (A in place of Q), digits typed with Shift. |
Why does it matter when ordering? An ISO keyboard has a different Enter key and an extra key by the left Shift. In a chassis with a separate opening for every key, an ANSI keyboard simply does not fit the openings cut for ISO - and vice versa.
Can a German, British or Nordic keyboard be swapped for a Polish or US one?
Yes, in the vast majority of cases. What it costs and what has to be replaced depends on one thing: the type of palmrest, i.e. the upper part of the chassis around the keyboard.
Standard palmrest - the keyboard alone is enough
The palmrest has one large rectangular opening for the whole keyboard. A keyboard in any layout (PL, US, DE, UK) fits the same opening, because the ISO/ANSI differences only concern the keys themselves, not the frame. The swap is simple and the cheapest.
Island-style palmrest - the keyboard is replaced together with the palmrest
The palmrest has a separate opening for every key, cut for a specific language layout. The keyboard is screwed in from below with dozens of tiny screws. Here, the keyboard alone can only be replaced with the same language version. Changing the layout (e.g. DE to PL/US) means replacing the set: palmrest + keyboard in the target layout.
Which Lenovo models have which palmrest?
| Model | Palmrest | Same layout (e.g. US to US) | Layout change (e.g. DE to US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| X1 Carbon - all generations | Island | Keyboard only | Palmrest + keyboard set |
| T14s, T490s, T480s, T470s (versions with the letter "s") | Island | Keyboard only | Palmrest + keyboard set |
| X13 Gen 2 and newer | Island | Keyboard only | Palmrest + keyboard set |
| T14, T490, T480, T470 (without "s") | Standard | Keyboard only | Keyboard only |
| T15, T15p, T15g | Standard | Keyboard only | Keyboard only |
| L14, L15, L490, L590 | Standard | Keyboard only | Keyboard only |
| Classic T440 - T480 | Standard | Keyboard only | Keyboard only |
| E series, IdeaPad, ThinkBook, Legion | Depends on the model | We check individually - in most IdeaPads and Legions, and among others in the ThinkPad E15 / E16, the keyboard is riveted to the palmrest and the whole palmrest with keyboard is the standard replacement | |
The most common mistake: the T14 and the T14s are completely different laptops. One letter "s" changes the scope of the repair. The T14 has a standard palmrest (the keyboard alone is enough), while the T14s has an island-style one (a set is needed when changing the layout). The same applies to the T490 / T490s and T480 / T480s pairs. Before ordering, check the full model name on the label underneath the laptop.
A third case: a riveted keyboard. In some laptops the keyboard is neither screwed in nor seated in an opening, but heat-staked to the palmrest with plastic rivets. In that case - regardless of the layout - the standard part is the palmrest with keyboard. The difference between screwed and riveted keyboards is described in our guide ThinkPad palmrest and chassis.
Is it enough to change the layout in Windows?
Partly. In Windows you can add any layout on any keyboard - including a German or British one. It is a good temporary solution, but:
- the legends will not match what you type (on a German keyboard Z and Y are swapped, and umlauts sit where punctuation should be),
- an ISO keyboard keeps the extra key by the left Shift and the tall Enter, which gets in the way when touch-typing,
- for work that requires fast typing (programming, accounting) the different placement of characters is a daily nuisance.
If the laptop is meant to serve for years, swapping to a physical keyboard in your layout is a one-off expense that solves the problem for good.
What else to check when ordering a keyboard or palmrest?
The language layout is not the only variant. Within a single model Lenovo produces several versions of keyboards and palmrests with different FRU numbers:
- Keyboard backlight - backlit and non-backlit keyboards are different parts. A backlit keyboard will work in a laptop that was not originally backlit only if the board and chassis support it - ask us if in doubt.
- TrackPoint (the red dot on ThinkPads) - keyboards with and without a TrackPoint are not interchangeable.
- Fingerprint reader - in older models (up to around T470/T480) it is a separate reader below the arrow keys and the palmrest either has an opening for it or not. In newer ones (from around T490 / X1 Carbon Gen 7) the reader is built into the power button.
- WWAN or WLAN - for palmrests and sets: the version prepared for an LTE/5G modem differs underneath (antenna mounts). A simple hint: a SIM card slot in the chassis = WWAN version.
- Colour and material - black or silver, aluminium, plastic, carbon.
The surest way is to give us the FRU number from the label on the back of the old keyboard or the machine type (MTM) from the label on the chassis. How to read them is described in our guide how to read a Lenovo FRU number.
How to switch from a foreign layout - step by step
- Identify the exact model from the label underneath (with or without the letter "s") and the machine type (e.g. 20W0).
- Identify the current layout by the Enter shape and the legends (table at the top of the page).
- Check the palmrest type in the model table: standard = order the keyboard alone, island = order a palmrest + keyboard set.
- Check the variants: backlight, TrackPoint, fingerprint reader, WWAN (SIM slot).
- Order the part or send us the MTM and a photo of the label - we will match the right number.
- After the swap set the matching layout in Windows and remove the old language layout so that keyboard shortcuts match the legends.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Polish keyboard differ from the US one?
Not physically. The Polish programmer's layout uses the same keyboard as the US (ANSI) layout. That is why our listings describe these keyboards as "QWERTY PL/US". The only difference is in the system settings.
I bought a ThinkPad T14 from Germany. Do I need to replace the palmrest?
No. The T14 (without "s") has a standard palmrest, so the keyboard alone is enough. Just remember the backlit / non-backlit variant and the TrackPoint.
I have an X1 Carbon with a Nordic layout. What do I need to buy?
A palmrest + keyboard set in the target layout, matching your X1 Carbon generation. Every X1 Carbon generation has an island-style palmrest, so the keyboard alone will not fit the openings cut for the Nordic layout. You can identify the generation in our guide X1 Carbon - how to identify the generation.
Does a UK keyboard fit a laptop with a US keyboard?
In models with a standard palmrest, yes - ISO and ANSI keyboards for the same model are mechanically interchangeable and differ only in the keys. In models with an island-style palmrest, no, because the openings in the chassis are cut for one layout.
Can I replace just a few keys to get different legends?
No. ISO and ANSI keys have different shapes (especially Enter and the left Shift), and the remaining keys differ in legends in many places. Individual keys are replaced when damaged - more in our guide single key replacement.
How long does a keyboard swap take in a model with a standard palmrest?
In most ThinkPads with a standard palmrest the keyboard is held by a few latches and 2-3 screws, and the swap takes a few minutes. In island-style models (e.g. X1 Carbon) it is precision work with dozens of M1.2 screws, or a replacement of the whole set.
Looking for a keyboard for your Lenovo?
At ABCDEAL you will find keyboards for Lenovo laptops and palmrests with keyboard (sets for models with an island-style palmrest). General rules for choosing by model and FRU number are described in our guide how to choose a keyboard for a Lenovo laptop, and if the keyboard has stopped working - in laptop keyboard failures.
Bought a laptop abroad and not sure what you need? Send us the model and machine type from the label - we will check whether the keyboard alone is enough and match the right version.
📞 +48 601 415 357 / +48 33 853 26 20 · ✉️ sklep@abcdeal.pl