Arabic 101 vs Arabic 102
Two Arabic keyboard layouts, almost-identical letter positions, three small differences that decide which one you should pick.
Last updated: May 2026
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TL;DR
Install Arabic 101. Unless you have a physical keyboard specifically labelled for the 102 layout (rare outside of European-market ISO keyboards), Arabic 101 is the right default on every OS, in every course, and on every keyboard sold in the Middle East.
The Arabic letters are in identical positions on both layouts. The differences come down to punctuation keys, one extra ISO key, and which OS defaults to which — none of which affects how you type Arabic letters or diacritics.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Arabic 101 | Arabic 102 |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic letter positions | Standard mapping | Identical to 101 |
| Number of physical keys | 101 / 104 (ANSI) | 102 / 105 (ISO — adds one key near left Shift) |
| Punctuation & symbols | PC-standard placement | Slightly different — uses the extra ISO key for an additional symbol |
| Windows 10 / 11 default | ✅ Default for every Arabic regional variant | Available but not default |
| macOS naming | “Arabic - PC” | Not offered as a separate input source — 101 only |
| Linux X11/XKB naming | “Arabic” / “Arabic (Standard)” | “Arabic (102 AZERTY)” or similar regional variants |
| Used by Arabic Typing 101 | ✅ All lessons | Compatible (letter positions match) |
| Recommended for new learners | ✅ Yes — universal default | Only if your physical keyboard requires it |
What actually differs between the layouts
Despite the name, the “101” and “102” in these layouts refer to the physical key count of the keyboard standard they were designed for — not to two different ways of arranging Arabic letters. Both layouts place every Arabic letter (ا، ب، ت، ث، …) in the same spot.
1. The ISO key
ISO-standard keyboards (common in Europe and on some Middle Eastern keyboards) have one extra physical key tucked between the left Shift and the Z key. ANSI keyboards (the US standard, common globally) don't have this key. Arabic 102 uses that extra ISO key for a punctuation/symbol mapping; Arabic 101 simply doesn't use it. If your keyboard is ANSI, you can ignore this entirely.
2. A handful of punctuation positions
Arabic 102 shifts a few punctuation keys (most commonly the < > and additional symbol keys) to match European punctuation conventions. Arabic 101 follows the US PC convention.
3. Which OS defaults to which
Windows, macOS, and most Linux desktops default to Arabic 101 when you install “Arabic” from the language list. Some North African and European-market builds may default to Arabic 102. You can change this in your OS settings without uninstalling anything.
Which one should I pick?
Pick Arabic 101 if:
- You're a learner or new to Arabic typing — every course assumes 101.
- You bought your keyboard in the GCC, Egypt, or the Levant — almost all are 101-labelled.
- You use a US-style ANSI keyboard.
- You want the simplest possible setup with no manual layout switching.
- You're on macOS — “Arabic - PC” is the 101 layout.
Pick Arabic 102 only if:
- Your physical keyboard's printed labels follow the 102 mapping.
- You bought a keyboard in a market where 102 is standard and the keycap labels show 102 punctuation positions.
- You specifically need the extra ISO key for a particular symbol.
- You're on Linux and your distribution defaulted you to 102.
If you don't fall into the 102 column above, pick 101.
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Move from reading to hands-on typing with Arabic Typing 101.
Frequently asked questions
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arabic 102 better than Arabic 101?
Neither is "better" — they place every Arabic letter in the same position. The 102 layout has a few different punctuation key positions and adds one extra physical key (the ISO key, next to the left Shift) found on European-style keyboards. For learners, Arabic 101 is the safer choice because every Arabic typing course, every Windows machine, and most printed keycap stickers assume 101.
Will I have to relearn typing if I switch from 101 to 102?
No. The Arabic alphabet is laid out identically on both. The only retraining needed is for punctuation and symbol keys, which most people use less often than letters. Switching between them mid-learning costs you almost nothing.
Which Arabic layout is Mac's "Arabic - PC"?
Apple's "Arabic - PC" input source is the Arabic 101 layout, designed to match what users see on PCs and on standard Arabic keyboards. macOS's plain "Arabic" input source is a Mac-specific legacy layout you generally shouldn't pick if you want compatibility with everyone else.
Do Arabic keyboards sold in the Middle East come labelled with 101 or 102?
Both exist, but the vast majority of Arabic-labelled keyboards sold in the GCC, Egypt, and the Levant use the Arabic 101 mapping. Keyboards manufactured to ISO physical standards (more common in North Africa and parts of Europe) may use Arabic 102. If you're buying a physical Arabic keyboard, look at the printed labels — if the layout matches what you've practiced, that's the one to pick in your OS settings.
Does Arabic Typing 101 teach 101 or 102?
Arabic 101. Every drill, lesson, and shortcut on this site assumes the Arabic 101 layout (the universal default).