How to fix Error 1457 on Windows 11

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Why This Error Happens

Error 1457 (Invalid keyboard layout handle) typically occurs when the Windows registry contains corrupted or mismatched keyboard layout entries, often after a botched language pack installation or an abrupt system shutdown during a layout switch. It can also happen when a third-party input method editor (IME) or remapping tool leaves behind an orphaned handle that the system can no longer resolve. In some cases, outdated keyboard drivers fail to properly register with the Text Services Framework (TSF), causing the OS to reference a layout handle that no longer exists in memory.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Verify and Reset Language/Keyboard Settings

  • Navigate to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region.
  • Click the three-dot menu next to your primary language and select Remove, then re-add it.
  • This forces Windows to regenerate the keyboard layout handle from a clean state.

Step 2: Clear Corrupted Registry Entries

  • Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  • Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Preload.
  • Back up the key (right-click > Export) before making changes.
  • Delete any duplicate or non-standard numeric entries (e.g., values other than 00000409 for US English) that don’t correspond to an installed language.

Step 3: Update or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

  • Open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc).
  • Expand Keyboards, right-click your device, and select Uninstall device.
  • Check “Attempt to remove the driver software for this device” if prompted.
  • Restart your PC to let Windows reinstall the default driver automatically.

Step 4: Run System File Checker and DISM

  • Open Terminal (Admin) via right-clicking the Start button.
  • Run sfc /scannow to repair corrupted system files tied to input handling.
  • Follow with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to fix any underlying Windows image corruption.

Step 5: Restart Text Services Framework Process

  • Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
  • Locate ctfmon.exe under the Processes tab, right-click, and select End Task.
  • Reopen it manually by running ctfmon.exe via Win + R to reinitialize the keyboard layout handles.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • To verify the fix, open Notepad and switch between installed keyboard layouts using Win + Space—no error dialogue should appear.
  • If the issue persists, create a new local user profile via Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, as the current profile’s user-specific registry hive may be irreparably corrupted.