Flags in menu bar for keyboard language replaced by naff text icons

[Chungkring]

Just updated to Monterey 12.4 and it appears Apple have removed the flag icons to indicate keyboard language in the menu bar and replaced them with boring white-on-black text (eg GB for British English, and Mā for Māori). Annoying.

Does anyone know if there's an option somewhere to display the flags instead?

 

[nemanjasl]

I am so sad to see they changed this. I would not update if I knew this would happen. I hope there is a way to get back the flags.

 

[Chungkring]

I can understand the (probable) reason for Apple doing this - to make the OS more usable for people who have colour blindness. But the new icons are a bit fuzzy on my Thunderbolt monitor, which means I now have to take up more menu bar space by switching on the option to display the keyboard name in text next to the icon as well. My guess is that Apple only test the new UI on a nice sharp Studio Display or XDR, not on screens that others might still be using.

 

[gilby101]

I can understand the (probable) reason for Apple doing this - to make the OS more usable for people who have colour blindness.

More likely because language does not (in general) equate to a country. Some countries use multiple languages, so a flag would be confusing. Also, there are cases where choice of language might be displaying an enemy's flag.

But I agree the 2 or 3 letter symbols are ugly and the 2 line symbols even worse.

 

[Chungkring]

Yes - New Zealand uses two languages, English and te reo Māori. The 'flavour' of English used in NZ is English GB (not Australian or US spellings), so the two flags I alternatively had on display were the UK flag and the Māori tino rangatiratanga flag. Now the options are 'GB' and 'Mā'

 

[tadasZ]

This is really bad, it's so simple, but i never felt i have to downgrade mac os like i feel now, i have to change my keyboard layout a lot and it bothers me so much that i can't see what layout i'm in, but i have to read..

funny, but for me its the worst mac os update since i've been using mac os, now i feel like in windows - waste energy on determining what layout i'm in...

apple please revert back to flags, or let me choose color of the language icon.

 

[freefelt]

Hi guys! Just try YouType. It shows the current indicator in the status bar as flags.

 

[tadasZ]

Hi guys! Just try YouType. It shows the current indicator in the status bar as flags.

this is not a solution, not even close.. i don't want to hover over input just to know if i can take a screenshot using shortcuts or if i have to switch language.

 

[freefelt]

this is not a solution, not even close.. i don't want to hover over input just to know if i can take a screenshot using shortcuts or if i have to switch language.

Hi! You don't have to hover over inputs. You can see your current keyboard layout in status bar. You can hide the System indicator and use YouType instead of it. And YouType shows flags.

 

[MajorFubar]

I am so sad to see they changed this. I would not update if I knew this would happen. I hope there is a way to get back the flags.

What? That's a serious 21st century over-reaction right there to what is essentially a non-problem, even though I do agree with OP.

 

[Penage]

Just updated to Monterey 12.4 and it appears Apple have removed the flag icons to indicate keyboard language in the menu bar and replaced them with boring white-on-black text (eg GB for British English, and Mā for Māori). Annoying.

Does anyone know if there's an option somewhere to display the flags instead?

For anybody still looking, I found 'Colorful Input Menu Flags' on the App Store for $1. Even has a nice option for an oversized flag. I'm constantly switching back and forth between English and Korean, and frequently started typing in the wrong language because the menu bar indicator was monochrome. This is just what I was looking for.

 

[gilby101]

I found 'Colorful Input Menu Flags' on the App Store for $1.

I use 'Keyboard Switcheroo'. Much the same.