Japanese language for windows

Video Tutorial:

Introduction

Are you struggling to understand and communicate in Japanese on your Windows 10 computer? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we will guide you step-by-step on how to download and install the Japanese Language Pack for Windows 10. Whether you want to learn the language, communicate with Japanese friends or colleagues, or simply explore the rich culture of Japan, having the Japanese Language Pack installed on your computer is essential. So let’s dive in and get started!

There are several reasons why you might want to download and install the Japanese Language Pack for Windows 10:

  1. You are learning the Japanese language and want to practice reading and writing in Japanese on your computer.
  2. You frequently communicate with Japanese friends, colleagues, or clients and want to be able to type in Japanese and understand Japanese content.
  3. You are interested in Japanese culture, entertainment, or media and want to be able to access Japanese websites, read Japanese books or manga, or watch Japanese videos or anime.
  4. You plan to visit Japan and want to familiarize yourself with the language and characters before your trip.

Method 1: Downloading the Japanese Language Pack via Windows Settings

Follow these steps to download and install the Japanese Language Pack using the Windows Settings:

  1. Open the Windows Settings by clicking on the Start Menu and selecting the “Settings” gear icon.
  2. In the Settings window, click on “Time & Language.”
  3. Select “Language” from the left sidebar.
  4. Under “Preferred languages,” click on “Add a language.”
  5. Scroll down and find “Japanese (Japan)” in the list of languages. Click on it to select it.
  6. Click on “Next” to start the installation process.
  7. Windows will download and install the Japanese Language Pack. This may take some time depending on your internet connection speed.
  8. Once the installation is complete, Japanese will be added as one of the preferred languages on your computer.
  9. You can now switch between languages by clicking on the language icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar and selecting “Japanese.”

Pros:
– Easy and convenient method.
– No additional software required.

Cons:
– Requires an active internet connection.
– The installation process may take some time.

Method 2: Downloading the Japanese Language Pack via Microsoft Store

Follow these steps to download and install the Japanese Language Pack using the Microsoft Store:

  1. Click on the Start Menu and open the Microsoft Store.
  2. In the Microsoft Store, search for “Japanese Language Pack” in the search bar.
  3. Click on the Japanese Language Pack from the search results.
  4. Click on the “Get” or “Install” button to start the installation process.
  5. Windows will download and install the Japanese Language Pack. This may take some time depending on your internet connection speed.
  6. Once the installation is complete, Japanese will be added as one of the preferred languages on your computer.
  7. You can now switch between languages by clicking on the language icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar and selecting “Japanese.”

Pros:
– Easy access through the Microsoft Store.
– No additional software required.

Cons:
– Requires an active internet connection.
– The installation process may take some time.

Method 3: Downloading the Japanese Language Pack via Language Pack ISO

Follow these steps to download and install the Japanese Language Pack using a language pack ISO:

  1. Visit the Microsoft Language Pack ISO page on the official Microsoft website.
  2. Scroll down and find the “Japanese Language Pack” from the list of available language packs.
  3. Click on the “Download” button to start downloading the language pack ISO file.
  4. Once the download is complete, mount the ISO file by double-clicking on it.
  5. Open the mounted ISO file and run the setup program.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Japanese Language Pack.
  7. Once the installation is complete, Japanese will be added as one of the preferred languages on your computer.
  8. You can now switch between languages by clicking on the language icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar and selecting “Japanese.”

Pros:
– Can be downloaded offline.
– No active internet connection required during installation.

Cons:
– Requires additional steps to mount and run the ISO file.
– The installation process may take some time.

Method 4: Using Windows Update to Download the Japanese Language Pack

To download and install the Japanese Language Pack using Windows Update, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Windows Settings by clicking on the Start Menu and selecting the “Settings” gear icon.
  2. In the Settings window, click on “Update & Security.”
  3. Select “Windows Update” from the left sidebar.
  4. Click on the “Check for updates” button.
  5. If there are updates available, Windows will automatically download and install them, including the Japanese Language Pack if it is available.
  6. Once the installation is complete, Japanese will be added as one of the preferred languages on your computer.
  7. You can now switch between languages by clicking on the language icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar and selecting “Japanese.”

Pros:
– Automatically checks for updates and installs the language pack if available.
– No additional steps required.

Cons:
– Requires an active internet connection.
– The installation process may take some time.

What to Do If You Can’t Download the Japanese Language Pack for Windows 10

If you encounter any issues or are unable to download and install the Japanese Language Pack using the methods mentioned above, here are some possible solutions:

  • Check your internet connection: Ensure that you have a stable and reliable internet connection. A slow or intermittent connection may cause the download to fail or take longer than expected.
  • Restart your computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary issues and glitches. Restart your computer and try downloading the language pack again.
  • Check for updates: Make sure that your Windows 10 operating system is up to date. Go to Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on “Check for updates.”
  • Try a different method: If one method doesn’t work, try using an alternative method mentioned above to download and install the Japanese Language Pack.
  • Contact Microsoft Support: If none of the above solutions work, reach out to Microsoft Support for further assistance. They can help troubleshoot the issue and provide personalized solutions.

Bonus Tips

Here are some bonus tips to enhance your Japanese language experience on Windows 10:

  • Install a Japanese input method: In addition to installing the Japanese Language Pack, consider installing a Japanese input method for typing in Japanese. This will enable you to easily switch between English and Japanese keyboards.
  • Use Japanese language resources: Explore Japanese language learning resources, websites, and applications to practice reading, writing, and speaking in Japanese. There are many online resources available for free or at a nominal cost.
  • Immerse yourself in Japanese media: Watch Japanese movies, dramas, anime, and listen to Japanese music to familiarize yourself with the language, pronunciation, and cultural nuances. This can greatly enhance your language learning journey.

5 FAQs About Downloading the Japanese Language Pack for Windows 10

Q1: How much disk space is required to install the Japanese Language Pack?

A: The disk space required for the Japanese Language Pack installation may vary depending on the version of Windows 10 and the specific language pack version. However, it is generally recommended to have at least 4-6 GB of free disk space available.

Q2: Can I uninstall the Japanese Language Pack if I no longer need it?

A: Yes, you can uninstall the Japanese Language Pack if you no longer need it. To uninstall the language pack, go to Windows Settings > Time & Language > Language, select “Japanese (Japan)” from the list of preferred languages, and click on the “Remove” button.

Q3: Can I switch between multiple languages on my computer?

A: Yes, Windows 10 allows you to switch between multiple languages. Once you have installed the Japanese Language Pack, you can easily switch between languages by clicking on the language icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar and selecting the desired language.

Q4: Will installing the Japanese Language Pack change the language of my operating system?

A: Installing the Japanese Language Pack will not change the language of your operating system. It will simply add Japanese as one of the preferred languages on your computer, allowing you to type and view content in Japanese.

Q5: Can I use the Japanese Language Pack on all versions of Windows 10?

A: The availability of the Japanese Language Pack may vary depending on the version of Windows 10. However, the language pack is generally available for most versions of Windows 10, including Home, Pro, and Enterprise editions.

Final Thoughts

Downloading and installing the Japanese Language Pack for Windows 10 is a valuable step towards improving your Japanese language skills, communication, and understanding of Japanese culture. Whether you are learning the language or simply want to explore the world of Japan, having the ability to type and interact in Japanese on your computer can open up a whole new world of opportunities. Follow the methods mentioned in this blog post and explore the bonus tips to enhance your Japanese language experience on Windows 10. Happy learning and exploring!

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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.

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.

  1. Open Settings from the Start Menu.
  2. Click Type & language > Language & region and then Add a language from Prefered languages.
  3. Now, type “Japanese” in the Search Bar.
  4. Select the Japanese Keyboard and click Next.
  5. Then you will be greeted with an Install language and features window.
  6. 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).
  7. 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.

  1. So, open Settings.
  2. Click Time and Language > Language and Region.
  3. Go to the language that you want to change the layout of, click on the three horizontal dots, select Language options.
  4. Now, click Add a keyboard from the Keyboard section.
  5. 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.

  1. Open Settings by Win + I.
  2. Go to Time & Language and then Language and region.
  3. Go to Region Format settings.
  4. Search and choose Japanese from there.

Install Japanese Keyboard on Windows 10

there are three ways you can do this:

  1. Install Japanese Keyboard using Time and Language
  2. Type in Japanese using native Keyboard
  3. 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.

Install Japanese Keyboard on Windows 10

  • 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

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.

IME Pad configuration

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.

Touch keyboard with Flick options

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

Change hardware keyboard in Windows 10

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?

Applies ToWindows 11 Windows 10

This article helps with using Microsoft Japanese Input Method Editor (IME) including IME settings, features, and keyboard shortcuts.

Tip: This article uses links that open IME settings in the Settings app directly. To manually access IME settings in the Settings app, see Microsoft IME settings in this article.

User interface

The Prediction candidate window offers typeahead candidates.

General operations

At this state

Press this key

To do this

Before focus enters the candidate window

Tab

Enter the prediction candidate window.

Shift + Tab

Enter the prediction candidate window.

Down arrow

Enter the prediction candidate window.

Up arrow

Enter the prediction candidate window.

With focus inside the candidate window

Tab

Move the selection down.

Shift + Tab

Move the selection up.

Down arrow

Move the selection down.

Up arrow

Move the selection up.

Number

Select the corresponding candidate.

Enter

Select the focused candidate.

Other features

  • Suggested candidates can be customized under Microsoft IME settings > General > Predictive Input.

    • Use input history.

    • Use system dictionary.

    • Use suggestion services — when this option is enabled, anything that is written is encrypted and sent to Microsoft to get text suggestions from Bing.

  • Select the cross icon or press Ctrl + Delete to remove the selected candidate.

    Note: Some candidates can’t be removed, for example, dates.

  • To search the selected candidate on the internet, select the magnifier icon or press Ctrl + B.

The Conversion candidate window offers candidates whose reading matches what is typed.

General operations

At this state

Press this key

To do this

Before focus enters the candidate window

Space

1st press: Convert what you type.

2nd press: Open the conversion candidate window.

Shift + Space

1st press: Convert what you type.

2nd press: Open the conversion candidate window.

With focus inside the candidate window

Space

Move the selection down.

Shift + Space

Move the selection up (Microsoft IME template) / down (ATOK template).

Down arrow

Move the selection down (Microsoft IME template) / Select the focused candidate (ATOK template).

Up arrow

Move the selection up.

Tab

Expand to table view.

Number

Select the corresponding candidate.

Enter

Select the focused candidate.

Other features

  • IME can improve input accuracy based on what is typed. This feature can be switched On and Off with the Improve input accuracy based on what I type on this PC setting in Microsoft IME settings > Learning and Dictionary.

  • A new word can be manually added to the IME dictionary using one of the following methods:

    • Open the user dictionary tool in Microsoft IME settings > Learning and Dictionary.

    • Right-click on the IME options icon in the system tray area of the taskbar and then select Add Word.

  • System dictionaries can be switched On and Off at System dictionaries in Microsoft IME settings > Learning and Dictionary.

Keyboard shortcuts

IME offers keys or combinations of keys to use IME functions.

Press this key

To do this

Hankaku/Zenkaku

Turn on / off Japanese input.

Eisu (Caps lock)

Toggle between Hiragana and Alphanumeric mode.

Hiragana

Enter Hiragana mode.

Alt + Hiragana

Switch between Kana input and Romaji input.

Prerequisite: Turn on the Switch Kana/Romaji input with Alt + Katakana Hiragana Romaji key setting in Microsoft IME settings > General.

Shift + Hiragana

Enter Katakana mode.

Convert

Reconversion.

Ctrl + Convert

Open IME context menu (right-click menu).

NonConvert

Toggle among Hiragana, Full-width Katakana, and Half-width Katakana.

Shift + NonConvert

Toggle between Half-width Alphanumeric and Full-width Alphanumeric mode.

ImeOn ( key) *1

Enter Hiragana mode.

Alt + ImeOn ( key) *1

Switch between Kana input and Romaji input.

Prerequisite: Turn on the Switch Kana/Romaji input with Alt + Katakana Hiragana Romaji key setting in Microsoft IME settings > General.

Ctrl + ImeOn ( key) *1

Reconversion.

Shift + ImeOn ( key) *1

Enter Full-width Katakana mode.

ImeOff (A key) *1

Enter Half-width Alphanumeric mode.

Ctrl + ImeOff (A key) *1

Toggle among Hiragana, Full-width Katakana, and Half-width Katakana.

Shift + ImeOff (A key) *1

Toggle among un-capitalized, all-capitalized, and first-character-capitalized full-width alphanumeric characters.

*1: The ImeOn () key and ImeOff (A) key are available on specific Japanese hardware keyboards.

For more information for developers, refer to the article Keyboard Japan — ImeOn / ImeOff Implementation.

Press this key

To do this

Hankaku/Zenkaku

Turn on / off Japanese input.

Eisu (Caps lock)

Toggle between Hiragana and Alphanumeric mode.

Hiragana

Toggle between Hiragana and Alphanumeric mode.

Alt + Hiragana

Toggle between Kana input and Romaji input.

Prerequisite: Turn on the Switch Kana/Romaji input with Alt + Katakana Hiragana Romaji key setting in Microsoft IME settings > General.

Shift + Hiragana

Enter Katakana mode.

Convert

Turn on / off Japanese input.

Shift + Convert

Reconversion.

NonConvert

Toggle between Hiragana and Half-width Alphanumeric mode.

Ctrl + NonConvert

Toggle among Hiragana, Full-width Katakana, and Half-width Katakana.

Shift + NonConvert

Toggle between Hiragana, Full-width Alphanumeric, and Half-width Alphanumeric mode.

ImeOn ( key) *1

Enter Hiragana mode.

Alt + ImeOn ( key) *1

Switch between Kana input and Romaji input.

Prerequisite: Turn on the Switch Kana/Romaji input with Alt + Katakana Hiragana Romaji key setting in Microsoft IME settings > General.

Ctrl + ImeOn ( key) *1

Reconversion.

Shift + ImeOn ( key) *1

Enter Full-width Katakana mode.

ImeOff (A key) *1

Enter Half-width Alphanumeric mode.

Ctrl + ImeOff (A key) *1

Toggle among Hiragana, Full-width Katakana, and Half-width Katakana.

Shift + ImeOff (A key) *1

Toggle among un-capitalized, all-capitalized, and first-character-capitalized full-width alphanumeric characters.

*1: The ImeOn () key and the ImeOff (A) key are available on specific Japanese hardware keyboards.

For more information for developers, refer to the article Keyboard Japan — ImeOn / ImeOff Implementation.

Press this key

To do this

Ctrl + Delete

Remove the selected candidate from the prediction candidate window.

Ctrl + B

Search the selected candidate in the prediction candidate window.

Tab

Expand / collapse the table view in the conversion candidate window.

Windows logo key + period (.)

Open Emoji picker.

Ctrl + Shift + F10

Turn on / off IME private mode.

F6

Convert input string to Hiragana.

F7

Convert input string to Full-width Katakana.

F8

Convert input string to Half-width Katakana.

F9

Convert input string to Full-width Alphanumeric.

F10

Convert input string to Half-width Alphanumeric.

Key customization

With IME, a specific key function can be changed in Microsoft IME settings > Key and touch customization.

  • Key template: Key template is a set of key configurations. IME offers the following templates: 

    • Microsoft IME.

    • ATOK.

    For more information, see the keyboard shortcuts section in this article.

  • Key assignment: If you want to customize a specific key function within the selected template, you can customize several keys at Key assignment.

Microsoft IME settings

The following methods can be used to open Microsoft IME settings:

Right-click on the IME options icon in the system tray area of the taskbar and then select Settings.

Navigate to Microsoft IME settings in the Settings app:

  1. In the Time & language > Language & region window, under the Language section, select the ellipses next to Japanese and then select Language options.

  2. In the Time & language > Language & region > Options window, under the Keyboards section, select the ellipses next to Microsoft IME and then select Keyboard options.

Use the following Microsoft IME shortcut to directly open the Microsoft IME settings in the Settings app:

Open Microsoft IME

Compatibility

Microsoft Japanese IME is available in currently supported versions of Windows. If any issues are encountered with the current version of IME, IME supports a compatibility setting that allows using the previous version of IME instead. The previous version of IME can be enabled by turning on in Microsoft IME settings > General > Use previous version of Microsoft IME. IME continues to be improved, so consider filing feedback to help us deliver a great input experience to you.

How can I give feedback?

If you encounter any problems or have suggestions regarding Microsoft IME, give us feedback through the Feedback Hub. Select one of the following options to open the Feedback Hub:

  • Right-click the IME options icon in the system tray area of the taskbar and then select  Send Feedback.

Your feedback goes directly to our engineers working to improve IME. For more on steps for providing feedback, refer to the article Send feedback with the feedback hub app.

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  • How to Install and Use Japanese Keyboard on Windows 11/10

By Sherry |
Last Updated

Have you upgraded your Windows 10 to Windows 11? Are you wondering how to install Japanese keyboard on Windows 11 or Windows 10? Don’t worry if you have no idea. You can find a detailed guide in this post from the MiniTool Partition Wizard.

Windows 11 is a new operating system provided by Microsoft. As the successor of Windows 10, Windows 11 comes with many new features and a fresh outlook. The good news is that Windows 11 is free to upgrade.

Whether you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11, if you want to use Japanese keyboard, this post can help.

How to Install Japanese Keyboard on Windows 11

Windows 11 supports a huge number of languages. If you need to type with a second language, you just need to go to Windows Settings to install it. Now, let’s see how to install Japanese keyboard on Windows 11.

Step 1: Press Win + I to open Windows Settings quickly.

Step 2: In the left pane, select Time & language.

Step 3: In the right pane, choose Language & region.

Step 4: Click the Add a language button for the Preferred languages setting.

Step 5: In the pop-up window, search for Japanese and select it. Then click Next. On the next page, configure the optional language features and click Install.

Tip: If you want to set Japanese as the system language, you should check Set as my Windows display language here. For more details, you can refer to this post: How to Change the Default System Language in Windows 11?

click Add a preferred language

The installation might take a few minutes. Please wait patiently. Once it the Japanese is installed, you can use the Japanese keyboard.

How to Get Japanese Keyboard on Windows 10

As for how to install Japanese keyboard on Windows 10, you can follow the steps below.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language.

Step 2: Click the Add a preferred language.

click Install

Step 3: Select Japanese and click Next, then configure the optional language features and click Install.

When Japanese is installed successfully, you can move to the next part to see how to use Japanese keyboard.

How to Use Japanese Keyboard

On Windows 10 and 11, you can switch the installed keyboard languages by pressing Win + Space. Just press the keyboard shortcut and select Japanese. Then you can start to use it.

Alternatively, you can click the language icon on the taskbar to change the keyboard language to Japanese.

Now, you might see the alphabet A next to the Japanese input icon, which indicates you are still typing in English. Click the A icon and it will change to Japanese.

If you want to change the Japanese keyboard to different variants, you can right-click the A icon and choose the one you prefer. To use the Japanese keyboard, you can choose the Hiragana option.

Now, you can type Japanese with the English keyboard.

Further Tip: Use a Physical Japanese Keyboard

In addition to installing Japanese keyboard on Windows 10/11, you can also use a physical Japanese keyboard to meet your demands. Just connect the keyboard to your computer and go to Settings > Time & Language. Then select Japanese and click Options > Change hardware keyboard layout to add your keyboard.

About The Author

Position: Columnist

Sherry has been a staff editor of MiniTool for a year. She has received rigorous training about computer and digital data in company. Her articles focus on solutions to various problems that many Windows users might encounter and she is excellent at disk partitioning. She has a wide range of hobbies, including listening to music, playing video games, roller skating, reading, and so on. By the way, she is patient and serious.


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Windows 10 is the most popular and the latest OS you can install from Microsoft. Upon installation, it allows you to bring some personal customizations and take advantage of a variety of features.

One such feature is the keyboard language. You can add multiple languages so you don’t have to change the keyboard itself whenever you want to type in a language like Japanese.

Can I use the Japanese keyboard on my PC?

Because the Japanese language uses different characters than English, Windows also integrates a feature called Japanese IME.

This is typing software that is already built into your system. You can type Japanese words in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji using an English keyboard.

There are basically two methods to type the characters, Romaji Input, and Kana Input. Currently, for the Japanese people, Romaji Input is the preferred method.

The Romanji input is a Romanized version of Japanese, literally meaning the Roman character that the other languages have. The other is via keyboard keys corresponding to the Japanese Kana. 

In this article, we will guide you on how to easily add the Japanese language pack and start using it as soon as possible.


How do I use the Japanese keyboard on Windows 10?

1. Add the Japanese keyboard on Windows 10

  1. 1. Click on the Start icon and select Settings.

  2. 2. Go to Time & Language.

  3. 3. From the left menu, choose Language.

  4. 4. Under Preferred Languages, click on Add a language.

    preferred languages windows 10

  5. 5. Type Japanese in the search bar and once it is found, select it and click on the Next button.

    add a japanese keyboard to windows 10 confirm

  6. 6. Select the optional features you want then click Install.

    How to add a japanese keyboard windows 10 choose features

  7. 7. Windows will download and install the language pack and the keyboard layout.

  8. 8. After installing, you will see it on the Language Bar Icon on the taskbar. From here, you can choose to use the Japanese keyboard.

  9. 9. To change the keyboard layout, click on the A icon that appeared.

  10. 10. The icon will change to Hiragana  character.

  11. 11. Now you can type in Japanese with your keyboard.

  12. In order to use the Japanese keyboard on your device, you must first add it manually via Time & Language settings.

    After you confirm your selection for Japanese in the Add a language section, you can choose whether you want to add optional features as well, such as handwriting and TTS.


2. Manually enable the Japanese keyboard

In order to switch to Japanese, you have to see the language icon on the right side of your taskbar, as described in the method above.

However, if you don’t have it, follow the steps below to activate it.

  1. Go to the Start icon and select Settings.
  2. Click on Personalization.
  3. From the left menu, choose Taskbar.
  4. Scroll down to Notification Area and select Turn system icons on or off.

  5. Locate the Input Indicator option and turn it ON.

  6. Now you should see it in the right corner of your taskbar.

From the small A icon, you can switch to different IME options. By default, it will be selected as half-width alphanumeric.

If your Japanese keyboard IME is not working, check out our dedicated article to find out how to fix it.

Read more about this topic

  • How to watch Netflix Japan & Best Netflix VPN for Japan
  • 4 best VPNs to use while in Japan for security & speed
  • How to Change the Keyboard Layout on Windows 10
  • How to Type Accents on Windows 10 Keyboards

3. Change the Japanese keyboard’s mode

With a right-click on the A icon, you can choose the keyboard mode you want, Hiragana or Katakana.

To use Kanji, instead of pressing Enter after writing the word, you need to hit the space key.

A list will pop up and you can use the arrow keys and space bar to go through the available options.

Now you are all set and can practice Japanese typing without needing a special keyboard.

Let us know whether you found our article useful and learned everything you wanted to know about adding and using the Japanese keyboard on your device.

If you’re learning Japanese, you might be interested in the Rikaikun Firefox extension that will help you read Japanese online.


Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.


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