Arabic Keyboard Layouts Explained: Arabic 101 vs 102 vs Mac Arabic
There are four Arabic keyboard layouts in common use. They share the same Arabic letters but differ in key positions, digit style, and structure. Learning to type on the right one is what makes your practice transfer to your real keyboard — here's how they compare.
| Layout | OS | Digits | Key difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic 101 | Windows / Linux | Western (1234) | The default. ANSI structure. |
| Arabic 102 | Windows | Western (1234) | Home row shifted right: أ on H, ا on J. |
| Mac Arabic | macOS | Arabic-Indic (١٢٣٤) | ISO Mac. Diacritics on top-row Shift. |
| Mac Arabic PC | macOS | Arabic-Indic (١٢٣٤) | Same letters as 101, but ISO structure. |
Which one should you learn?
Learn the layout that matches the physical keyboard you type on every day — there's no benefit to learning a layout you won't use. If you're on Windows, that's almost always Arabic 101. On a Mac, it's Mac Arabic or Mac Arabic PC. Typing Safari detects your layout automatically from the keys you press, then teaches touch-typing on exactly that layout — including the diacritics and shadda on the Shift layer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Arabic 101 and Arabic 102?
Arabic 101 (Windows KBDA1) is the default Windows and Linux Arabic layout with Western digits and an ANSI structure. Arabic 102 (KBDA2) is a Windows variant whose home row is shifted one key to the right — أ sits on the H key and ا on the J key. The letters are the same; their positions differ.
Which Arabic keyboard layout does a Mac use?
macOS offers 'Arabic' (Mac Arabic) and 'Arabic PC' (Mac Arabic PC). Both use Arabic-Indic digits (٠١٢٣) and an ISO keyboard structure. Mac Arabic PC keeps the same letter positions as Windows Arabic 101 but in the Mac's ISO layout; Mac Arabic places diacritics on the top-row Shift keys.
Do Arabic keyboards use Western or Arabic-Indic digits?
It depends on the layout: Windows Arabic 101/102 type Western digits (1234) on the number row, while the macOS Arabic layouts type Arabic-Indic digits (١٢٣٤). Typing Safari matches whichever your layout uses.
How do I know which Arabic layout I'm using?
It's set by your operating system's keyboard/input source. On Windows it's usually Arabic 101; on Mac it's 'Arabic' or 'Arabic PC'. Typing Safari auto-detects the layout from the keys you press, so you don't have to guess.