# \[26.04 Wayland\] Keyboard Layout applet is completely missing and cannot be added to the panel

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/26-04-wayland-keyboard-layout-applet-is-completely-missing-and-cannot-be-added-to-the-panel/8808>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [September 5, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/26-04-wayland-keyboard-layout-applet-is-completely-missing-and-cannot-be-added-to-the-panel/8808 "2026-09-05T18:26:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AlexVDem1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/alexvdem1/32/5929_2.png) [@AlexVDem1](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/AlexVDem1)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/26-04-wayland-keyboard-layout-applet-is-completely-missing-and-cannot-be-added-to-the-panel/8808/1 "2026-09-05T18:26:35Z")

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Hello everyone,

I am testing the new Ubuntu Budgie 26.04 release, but I have run into a critical blocker regarding the keyboard layout indicator.

**The Issue:**  
The **Keyboard Layout** (or Language Switcher) applet is completely missing from my panel. When checking the system packages via terminal, it says that the budgie-desktop-environment and corresponding applets are fully installed. However, when I open **Budgie Desktop Settings → Top Panel → Applets** and click the “+” button, the Keyboard Layout applet does not appear in the list of available applets at all.

**What I have tried so far:**

- I tried resetting the panel via `budgie-panel --reset --replace`, but it didn’t bring the applet back or make it appear in the settings list.
- I attempted to use alternative input methods like **iBus / ibus-setup** to add a tray indicator, but these workarounds do not work or show up in the new Wayland/Labwc session either.

Because having a visible keyboard layout indicator is essential for my daily multi-language workflow, I have to downgrade and stay on **Ubuntu Budgie 24.04 LTS** for now until this is resolved.

Is this a known limitation of the transition to Wayland/Labwc in 26.04, or is there a specific config file (like `rc.xml`) or a missing experimental package I need to look into?

Thank you for your hard work on the 26.04 release!

* * *

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/26-04-wayland-keyboard-layout-applet-is-completely-missing-and-cannot-be-added-to-the-panel/8808/2 "2026-09-05T18:30:00Z")

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> <https://github.com/BuddiesOfBudgie/budgie-desktop/pull/937>
>
> \## Description
> 
> This is a full rewrite of the old keyboard layout applet in C.… It retains all of the features of the old applet, namely, selecting the current keyboard layout, and adds one.
> 
> The new applet features a header with a button to open the keyboard settings page in Budgie Control Center. This makes it way easier to configure your keyboard layouts without having to guess where to go.
>     
> Unlike the old applet, we now call out to the Locale1 D-Bus interface instead of setting a setting in the GNOME desktop schema. This is more robust, in case upstream finally decides to remove that deprecated key in the future.
> 
> Also unlike the old applet, IBus is not used. Instead, we rely on the libgnome-desktop API to get information about an input source. The old applet did this, too, just with the added step of going to IBus first, for some reason.
> 
> Depends on #936 
> 
> Fixes #650 
> 
> \## Test plan
> 
> Use the applet to switch the currently-selected keyboard layout. I monitered the changes to the Locale1 D-Bus interface via D-Spy. I also used D-Spy to change the locale, and made sure that the applet updated accordingly.
> 
> \### Submitter Checklist
> 
> \- \[x\] All commits are signed off (\`git commit -s\`) per the \[DCO\](DCO.txt)
> \- \[x\] Squashed commits with \`git rebase -i\` (if needed)
> \- \[x\] Built budgie-desktop and verified that the patch worked (if needed)
> \- \[\] If AI tools or LLMs were used as part of this contribution, I have read the \[AI Policy\](https://docs.buddiesofbudgie.org/organization/ai-policy) and commits include \`Assisted-by\` trailers where applicable

The keyboard applet didnt make it iinto 26.04. You can follow along with progress above.

In terms of ibus, [[Request] Support Ibus and fcitx for budgie desktop 10.10 · Issue #881 · BuddiesOfBudgie/budgie-desktop · GitHub](https://github.com/BuddiesOfBudgie/budgie-desktop/issues/881#issuecomment-5150700445)

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**Author:** ![jlb](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jlb/32/4919_2.png) [@jlb](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jlb)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/26-04-wayland-keyboard-layout-applet-is-completely-missing-and-cannot-be-added-to-the-panel/8808/3 "2026-09-06T03:37:21Z")

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> [@AlexVDem1](#):
>
> Because having a visible keyboard layout indicator is essential for my daily multi-language workflow […]

Hi @AlexVDem1!

Otherwise, if you only need two keyboard layouts, you can switch between them by pressing Shift+Alt+L.

Sometimes—not always, but I can’t seem to reproduce it anymore—this also displays an “L” this also displays an “L” that you have to delete but the switch works fine, even with UB 26.04:

```auto
azertyL
qwertyL
azerty

```

  

**PS:** But this works better (using the Alt+Shift combination):

`setxkbmap -option grp:alt_shift_toggle fr,us`