How to change regional keyboard language and time zone settings

Raspberry Pi users exist all over the world so it's useful to know how to change the keyboard layout, to use symbols and characters from your own country, and how to change the time zone settings.

Changing keyboard layout for your country:

Start by entering the following command in the Terminal:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

A configuration menu like the one above will appear and when prompted select your keyboard type. If you don't know your model of keyboard simply select 'Generic 101-key PC' and press Enter.

Next select your keyboard layout, for example English(UK). You may have to select 'other' to find a larger list of keyboard layouts for more countries.

In the next screen, you can select special options for the AltGr key on your keyboard. I selected “Default for this keyboard layout”. Press Enter.

In the next menu, you can set-up a “Compose Key”, if you would like one of these, you can configure it here. 

The next pop-up gives you the option to end the X Session with the Ctrl+alt+backspace key combo. Choose whether you want this or not.

You should now be taken back to raspi-config main menu. Navigate to 'finish' using the tab key and hit enter. Reboot your raspberry pi and your done!

Changing Time zone settings:

Simple enough again. Enter the following command in the terminal:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata

You'll should be presented with a screen like this. Select your geographic area and press enter

Now select the city or region corresponding to your time zone

You should now be taken back to raspi-config main menu. Navigate to 'finish' using the tab key and hit enter. Reboot your raspberry pi and your done!

Alternative Method

Alternatively you can enter the following command in terminal to open the raspberry pi reconfiguration menu:

sudo raspi-config 

Next select the 'Internationalisation Options' tab.

From here you can also change your keyboard configuration as well your time zone  settings in the same way by as before.