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Freewrite Firmware Update 1.6: 16 New Languages and 48 Keyboard Layout Variants Added

February 22, 2023 | 2 min read

Welcome to Freewrite Firmware 1.6, released today, February 23, 2023.

This firmware introduces a massive update to our supported languages and keyboard layouts. In addition to the 40 variants supported, we have added 16 new languages and 48 new keyboard layouts, bringing the total to 88 layout variants and 60+ unique languages.

Freewrite keyboard layout variants now include: (* = added in 1.6)

  1. Albanian*
  2. Arabic
  3. Armenian*
  4. Azerbaijani*
  5. Bambara*
  6. Belarusian*
  7. Bosnian*
  8. Bulgarian
  9. Bulgarian phonetic*
  10. Canadian Multilingual*
  11. Chinese (Simplified)
  12. Chinese (Traditional)
  13. Croatian*
  14. Czech
  15. Danish
  16. Danish (Dvorak)*
  17. Dutch
  18. English
  19. English (Colemak)
  20. English (Dvorak)
  21. English (International AltGr)*
  22. English International
  23. Esperanto*
  24. Estonian*
  25. Eurkey*
  26. Faroese*
  27. Finnish*
  28. French
  29. French (Belgian)
  30. French (Bepo)
  31. French (Canada)
  32. French (Dvorak)*
  33. French (Swiss)
  34. Georgian*
  35. German
  36. German (Dvorak)*
  37. German (Swiss)*
  38. German Neo
  39. Greek (modern)
  40. Hausa*
  41. Hebrew
  42. Hungarian
  43. Icelandic*
  44. Irish*
  45. Italian
  46. Japanese
  47. Kazakh*
  48. Korean
  49. Kurdish*
  50. Kyrgyz
  51. Lao*
  52. Latvian (AltGr)
  53. Latvian (Apostrophe)
  54. Lingala*
  55. Lithuanian*
  56. Macedonian*
  57. Malay*
  58. Maltese*
  59. Mongolian*
  60. Norwegian
  61. Norwegian (Dvorak)*
  62. Pashto, Pushto*
  63. Persian (Farsi)*
  64. Polish
  65. Polish (Programmers Dvorak)*
  66. Polish (Programmers)*
  67. Polish (QWERTZ)*
  68. Portuguese
  69. Portuguese (Brazil)*
  70. Portuguese (Nativo)*
  71. Romanian*
  72. Russian
  73. Serbian (Cyrillic)*
  74. Serbian (Latin)*
  75. Slovak*
  76. Slovenian
  77. Spanish
  78. Spanish (Dvorak)*
  79. Swahili*
  80. Swedish
  81. Swedish (Dvorak)
  82. Tajik*
  83. Turkish
  84. Turkmen*
  85. Ukrainian*
  86. Uzbek*
  87. Vietnamese
  88. Wolof*

Tip: To see a graphic of the active keyboard layout on your device, hold down the space bar.  We call this the Heads-up Display!

For more help, visit our support topic on how to change the language on your Freewrite device.

 

There are also numerous bug fixes under the hood, including:

  • Improved performance for large documents
  • Fixed status LED not turning off while in sleep mode

For a full list of v1.6.0 new features, improvements, and fixes visit the Release Notes page.

 

To manually check for a firmware update:

  • Option 1: Press right [new] + right [shift] + F
  • Option 2: hold the power button down for 3 seconds (version 1.5.0 or later) and select 'Firmware Update' in the device menu

If an update is available, your device will begin downloading the update immediately. To perform the manual check, your device must be running on firmware version 1.1.6 or higher.
 

For more detailed instructions, visit our support topics:

 

March 16, 2026 2 min read

Picturethis. Imaginetryingtoreadapagethatlookedlikethis,withnospacestoseparateonewordfromthenext. No pauses. No breath. Just an endless procession of letters that your brain must laboriously slice into meaning, one syllable at a time.

March 04, 2026 1 min read

Teachers inspire the next generation of writers — and we want to support that work.

Educators: Enter for a chance to win a classroom set of distraction-free drafting tools designed to help students focus on writing instead of screens.

One selected educator will receive a classroom set of 5 Freewrite Alpha devices to pilot with their students.

LEARN ALL ABOUT USING FREEWRITE IN THE CLASSROOM HERE.

ENTER HERE:

 

Make sure to submit your entry by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 31.

Eligibility

This giveaway is open to U.S. teachers and educators age 18+ currently employed at an accredited K–12 school, college, or educational institution. Read the full terms and conditions here.

Limit one entry per person.

March 04, 2026 3 min read

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF WINNING.

1) Sponsor

The Educator Innovation Challenge Giveaway (“Promotion”) is sponsored by Astrohaus (“Sponsor”), the maker of Freewrite writing devices.

2) Eligibility

The Promotion is open only to legal residents of the United States who:

  • Are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, and
  • Are currently employed as teachers, educators, or administrators at an accredited K–12 school, college, or educational institution in the United States.

Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and immediate family members or those living in the same household are not eligible to participate. Void where prohibited by law.

3.) Promotion Period

The Promotion begins on Wednesday, March 4 at 12:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) and ends on Tuesday, March 13 at 11:59 PM ET (“Promotion Period”). Entries submitted before or after the Promotion Period will not be eligible.

4.) How to Enter

Eligible participants may enter the Promotion by completing the official entry form located at https://getfreewrite.com/blogs/writing-success/educator-innovation-challenge-giveaway during the Promotion Period. Participants may be asked to provide information including:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • School or institution name
  • Grade level or subject taught
  • Classroom use description for the devices

Limit one (1) entry per person during the Promotion Period. Additional entries may be disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility.

5.) Prize

One (1) winner will receive: Five (5) Freewrite Alpha devices.

The prize will be awarded to the winning teacher for classroom use. Sponsor may request confirmation of educational affiliation prior to awarding the prize.

Prize is non-transferable, and no substitution or cash equivalent will be provided except at Sponsor’s discretion.

6.) Winner Selection and Notification

The winner will be selected by random drawing from all eligible entries received during the Promotion Period.

The potential winner will be notified via the email address provided during entry within approximately 5 business days of the drawing.

If the selected winner:

  • cannot be contacted,
  • fails to respond within 7 days,
  • or is found to be ineligible,

Sponsor may select an alternate winner.

7. Prize Delivery

The prize will be shipped to the winner’s provided address within the United States. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, delayed, or damaged shipments once delivered to the carrier.

8. Taxes

The winner is solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes associated with receipt or use of the prize, if applicable.

Sponsor may issue an IRS Form 1099 if required by law.

9. Publicity

By accepting the prize, the winner agrees that Sponsor may use their name, school name, likeness, and statements regarding the Promotion for promotional and marketing purposes in any media without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.

10. General Conditions

Sponsor reserves the right to:

  • Cancel, suspend, or modify the Promotion if fraud, technical failures, or other factors impair the integrity of the Promotion.
  • Disqualify any entrant who violates these Terms & Conditions or tampers with the entry process.

11. Limitation of Liability

By participating in the Promotion, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Astrohaus, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any liability, injury, loss, or damage arising from participation in the Promotion or acceptance, possession, or use of any prize.

12. Privacy

Information submitted by participants will be subject to Sponsor’s privacy policy available at https://getfreewrite.com/pages/privacy-policy.

13. Governing Law

The Promotion and these Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.