Many users need to use a foreign language on their computer. If you are one of those, who want to install the Japanese keyboard on Windows 11/10, here is our guide. The process is straightforward, and there is no need to install through external sources. Once installed you will be able to switch between your native, language and the Japanese keyboard.
Install Japanese Keyboard on Windows 11
Windows has always been an easy-to-use OS, hence to install a Japanese Keyboard on Windows 11, you don’t have to be a technical expert. You will be able to write Japanese from your computer with the help of this article.
Windows 11に日本語キーボードをインストールする方法
To install Japanese Keyboard on Windows 11, follow the given steps.
- Open Settings from the Start Menu.
- Click Type & language > Language & region and then Add a language from Prefered languages.
- Now, type “Japanese” in the Search Bar.
- Select the Japanese Keyboard and click Next.
- Then you will be greeted with an Install language and features window.
- Now, untick the Install language pack and set as my Windows display language (you can enable it, but since we are just installing the keyboard, we are not doing that).
- Finally, click Install and wait for a few minutes for the process to complete.
Change Keyboard Layout in Windows 11
If you have an English keyboard, then it is recommended to change the Keyboard Layout.
- So, open Settings.
- Click Time and Language > Language and Region.
- Go to the language that you want to change the layout of, click on the three horizontal dots, select Language options.
- Now, click Add a keyboard from the Keyboard section.
- Finally, you can select the one you want to use.
How to enable Japanese On-screen Keyboard in Windows 11
If you want to have a touch keyboard to write in Japanese, you can do that in Windows 11.
- Open Settings by Win + I.
- Go to Time & Language and then Language and region.
- Go to Region Format settings.
- Search and choose Japanese from there.
Install Japanese Keyboard on Windows 10
there are three ways you can do this:
- Install Japanese Keyboard using Time and Language
- Type in Japanese using native Keyboard
- Use Physical Japanese Keyboard in Windows 10
It is possible that you have an English or a native keyboard. If you are planning to use this with Japanese keyboard on your computer, make sure you know how to use it properly. Follow the steps to install Windows 10 Japanese keyboard.
- Open Settings > Language > Add a Language
- In the popup window, type Japanese and the keyboard listing will show up.
- Select it, and click Next. Be careful of the options in the next windows.
- In the Install language and features window
- Uncheck the option which says “Install Language Pack and set as my Windows Display.”
- If you plan to use Voice and handwriting for Japanese work, make sure to keep the options selected.
- Click on the install button.
Post this; it will download the packages, and install it. In the options, you will have the opportunity to download and install language packs, but we are not doing it. If you do, it will change the system-wide language to Japanese. Lastly, if you click on the language icon on the system tray, or use the Windows button + spacebar, you can switch between keyboards.
How to Type in Japanese using English Keyboard
Microsoft offers “Microsoft IME” which allows you to type in Japanese. When you click on the language option on the system tray and select Japanese, you should see the alphabet A as well. It means you are still typing in English. Click on it, and it will change to Japanese.
Right-click on the icon, and you can change the keyboard to different variants. You can choose between Katakana or Hiragana to what fits best. These are Japanese syllabi for those who don’t know. The input tool also offers IME pad. On this, you can draw characters you remember, and it will recognize them for you.
Post that anywhere you type on the keyboard, it will predict and type in Japanese font. If you switch to anything else which is not text, it will change the language back to English. To configure IME, you can go to Settings > Time and Language > Select the Japanese language > Options > Microsoft IME > Options.
The options allow you to add words, configure touch keyboard, turn on cloud suggestions and so on. If you are configuring this on a touch keyboard, it’s a good idea to configure Kana 10 key input method. Usually used on smartphones, this method allows users to swipe from the key in a certain direction to produce the desired character.
You can choose between Flik and Multi-tap input or Flick input. They will help you type faster. Also, make sure to turn off Kana input. When its toggled on, the letters show as an individual letter, and it will be difficult to type long sentences.
How to use Japanese Physical Keyboard in Windows
If you have a Japanese physical keyboard, you can connect it to existing Windows Installation. Go to Settings > Time and Language > Select the Japanese language > Options > Change hardware keyboard layout.
You will have the option to switch between Japanese (106/109 keys) and English (101/12 keys) in my case. Once you are sure of your selection, click on the restart button for the keyboard to be recognized by the system.
That said, there are multiple combinations to get how you exactly want to type in Japanese.
This post showed you how to install the language and use it either with an actual Japanese keyboard or use your native keyboard to type in Japanese. Let us know if it helped.
Also read: How to type in Korean in Windows?
