The mangal font keyboard shortcut is really a keyboard switch: Mangal is a Unicode Hindi font, so you type in it by turning on a Hindi keyboard with Win + Space and using the Inscript layout. On that layout, K types ka and E adds the aa matra, so k then e gives का.
Because Mangal is Unicode, the text shows correctly on every computer, phone and government website, unlike Kruti Dev. Many typing tests and e-office systems ask for Mangal or another Unicode font for this reason.
Quick facts
Switch language
Win + SpaceLayout
Hindi Traditional (Inscript)Font
Mangal or Nirmala UIHalant
DWorks on
Any computer, phone or websiteExams
Many accept Unicode Inscript
Mangal font keyboard shortcut: setting up
- Press Win + I, go to the language settings and add Hindi if it is not there.
- Under Hindi, add the keyboard named Hindi Traditional. This is the Inscript layout.
- Press Win + Space to switch to it; the taskbar shows HIN.
- In Word, choose Mangal as the font and start typing.
The same steps, plus phonetic typing, are covered in Hindi typing shortcut keys.
Inscript key chart for common letters
| Key | Letter | Key | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | क | Shift + K | ख |
| I | ग | ; | च |
| P | ज | L | त |
| O | द | V | न |
| H | प | Y | ब |
| C | म | / | य |
| J | र | N | ल |
| B | व | M | स |
| U | ह | D | ् (halant) |
Consonants sit on the right half of the keyboard and vowel signs on the left, which is why Inscript feels fast once learned. Shift with a key usually gives the related letter, such as the aspirated sound, so the layout is easier to remember than it looks. Full vowels at the start of a word are typed with Shift on the matra keys.
Matra keys in Inscript
| Key | Matra | Example |
|---|---|---|
| E | ा | k, e gives का |
| F | ि | k, f gives कि (typed after the consonant) |
| R | ी | k, r gives की |
| G | ु | k, g gives कु |
| T | ू | k, t gives कू |
| S | े | k, s gives के |
Mangal versus Kruti Dev
Kruti Dev is an older non Unicode font that maps Hindi shapes onto English letters, so it only looks right where the font is installed. Mangal text is real Hindi text: searchable, copyable into email and web forms, and readable everywhere. If you learned Kruti Dev, see Kruti Dev shortcut keys; switching to Inscript takes practice but pays off for online work. Expect two or three weeks of daily practice to reach your old speed, and use a printed Inscript chart until then. Converter tools can change old Kruti Dev files to Unicode, but always proofread the result.
When Mangal typing does not work
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| English letters appear | The keyboard is still English; press Win + Space |
| Boxes instead of Hindi | Choose Mangal or Nirmala UI as the font |
| Letters in wrong order | You are typing Kruti Dev style; use Inscript order |
| Excel shortcuts stop working | Ctrl + Shift may switch language; change the hot key |
More typing guides
Switching languages is covered in change language shortcut, and Indian currency in rupee symbol shortcut. Other characters are collected on symbol shortcut keys.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mangal font keyboard shortcut?
Switch to the Hindi Inscript keyboard with Win + Space and type with Mangal selected.
Is Mangal a Unicode font?
Yes. Text typed in Mangal works on any computer and website.
Which keyboard layout is used for Mangal typing?
Hindi Traditional, also called Inscript.
How do I type ka in Mangal?
Press K on the Inscript keyboard.
What is the halant key in Inscript?
Is Mangal better than Kruti Dev?
For online and shared documents, yes, because it is Unicode.