Can't add custom keyboard layout in System preferences

Question

I've created the custom keyboard layout using Ukelele and save an obtained bundle to /Library/Keyboard Layouts folder.

Unfortunately, when I try to add any new layout in System Preferences app (having something in "Keyboard Layouts" folder), it just crashes. Has anyone encountered this issue?

P.S. macOS 10.13.6

Answer 1

I have no problem installing and using your .bundle once the .icns file is removed. I think there is something wrong with it.

Here is a new .icns file which I think will fix the problem. Let us know.

Answer 2

I was having related problem.

1. Prepare custom layout
2. Put to /Library or ~/Library
3. Add my custom layout

Actual Result: Custom layout working in VS Code but not in Mail, Reminders, etc. You just can't switch to it.

Expected Result: Custom layout is working in all applications

Solution: I was trying different things (reboot, changes in layout, etc.) Then I installed Karabiner-Elements found it useless and removed it; everything started to work as expected. I'm not sure what actually happened, maybe Karabiner downgraded something in my system.

Answer 3

So, after some investigation, here’s what I’ve found:

1. If you add .bundle file to any of the possible folders, System Preferences will crash. BUT, if you add .keylayout file instead, it will work!

2. If you add a .keylayout file in Home/Library/Keyboard Layouts -> you can add it, it will appear at the layouts list, but you won’t be able to choose your new layout (I read about this bug on this site as well);

3. However, if you add a .keylayout file in Macintosh HD/Library/Keyboard Layouts -> everything works correctly.

Summing it up, custom layouts are BUGGY in macOS, but you can add one. However, the reason I wanted to add a custom layout was to change russian flag to a neutral icon (and it’s possible in Ukelele using .bundle only, because with .keylayout you’ll see default keyboard icon), so I failed here.