Unable to write >,<, and | symbol on swedish keyboard.

[ozze22]

As the title says, I am unable to write the <,> and | symbols without using alt-codes. Seeing as the symbols are listed on the L-key, but do not write when L is pressed with any combination of alt, alt gr, shift, and ctrl. Anyone know how to write these symbols on the swedish keyboard? I've had no luck and recently updated every available driver. 

[NonSequitur777]

@ozze22,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

On a Swedish keyboard layout, the <, >, and | symbols are not typed from the L key. They’re actually located on a separate key. Here’s how it works:

Keys for <, >, and |

• Key to the left of Z (between Left Shift and Z):

  • Press once → <

  • Press Shift + key → >

• AltGr (Right Alt) + the same key → |

So:

• < = < key

• > = Shift + < key

• | = AltGr + < key

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Swedish Keyboard Layout vs. US:

To visualize, here are the two layouts:

Swedish QWERTY:

… | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 + ´
Q W E R T Y U I O P Å ¨
A S D F G H J K L Ö Ä '
< Z X C V B N M , . -

US QWERTY:

… | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - =
Q W E R T Y U I O P [ ]
A S D F G H J K L ; ' \
Z X C V B N M , . /

Please notice the extra key on the Swedish layout (< > |) to the left of Z, which the US layout does not have.

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Steps to Check in Windows:

It sounds like Windows may be set to US/UK layout even though your Victus has a Swedish keyboard.

1. Go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region.

2. Under Preferred languages → Swedish (Sverige), expand and check Keyboard. It must say Swedish.

3. If only US/UK are listed, add Swedish and set it as default.

4. Use Win + Spacebar to toggle between installed layouts and confirm it’s active.

---

Troubleshooting Tip:

• Plug in a USB Swedish keyboard. If it types <, >, and | correctly, the issue is with the laptop keyboard firmware or driver. In that case, contact HP Sweden Support.

---

In short: The <, >, and | symbols are not on the L key. They’re on the extra key next to Left Shift (Swedish layout), and you need to make sure Windows is set to Swedish keyboard.

Hope this was helpful.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[ozze22]

Hi, thank you for your quick reply. I am aware that on a standard Swedish keyboard, these symbols have a dedicated key. This key is not present on my Victus, which is what caused the initial confusion. It appears the left shift key has been extended on the nordic version, and the key is absent. <, > and | are written on the L-key in the same way an alternate symbol would be on a US or other layout. I have double-checked the windows language settings and Swedish is set as the keyboard format. I will give HP Support Sweden a shout, pressing alt-60 on the numpad yeilds the correct symbol. 

[NonSequitur777]

@ozze22,

If you need any other assistance, please let me know!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777]

@ozze22,

Thank you for clarifying -now it makes sense to me why you couldn’t find <, >, and | !

On a standard Swedish/Nordic keyboard, those symbols "live" on a small extra key between Left Shift and Z. On your Victus Nordic keyboard, however, HP instead extended the Left Shift and printed < > | on the L key -which I would consider to be non-standard.

Windows still expects the normal Swedish layout, so pressing L (with Shift/AltGr) won’t produce those characters.

So, That's why:

• Alt codes (Alt+60 <, Alt+62 >, Alt+124 |) work -they bypass the keyboard layout.

• The symbols printed on your L key don't work -because Windows has no idea HP moved them there.

---

Two Easy Fixes:

Option 1: Remap with Microsoft PowerToys:

You can remap the unused AltGr+L or Shift+L combos to output <, >, and |.

Steps:

1. Install: PowerToys from Microsoft.

2. Open Keyboard Manager → Remap a key.

3. Add new mappings:

   • AltGr + L → |

   • Shift + L → >

   • L → < (only if you want lowercase L replaced when combined with modifiers).

This way, your keyboard will match the printed legends without changing Windows’ overall language settings.

Option 2 — Create a Custom Layout:

If you prefer a permanent fix, you can use Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) to design a layout where <, >, and | sit on the L key as printed. Then install that layout in Windows and switch to it with Win+Space.

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Why HP Support Matters:

Since HP printed these symbols on the L key, this looks like a factory keyboard design for the Nordic SKU. Support Sweden can confirm whether it's intentional or an error.  If you can, provide this post/discussion link to a Swedish HP Support technician.

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Summary:

Your Victus Nordic keyboard is not a standard Swedish layout -the < > | key is missing. Until HP confirms, the quickest solution is to remap AltGr/Shift+L in PowerToys so those keys behave as printed.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[ozze22]

Thank you for the suggestions, adding shortcuts with powertoys works great!

Another fun thing to play with that will surely come in handy down the line.

I will update the thread when I have reached out to HP support, in case someone down the line stumbles on the same issue, thank you for the workaround!

[NonSequitur777]

@ozze22,

You're welcome -glad that I could contribute resolving your issue to some degree!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777