Installing an input method on Windows

The Windows operating system supports special input methods for languages with complex writing systems. If you want to type Japanese with this program on Windows, you must be sure that the appropriate input method is installed on your system. You also have the option of installing and using the Windows input methods for Chinese and Korean, if you prefer them to the input methods built into this program.

Instructions for installing input methods on Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP are included below. (See Enabling an input method on Mac for instructions relating to that platform.)

Note: You must be logged in to the system as an administrator to perform this installation. Most individual users automatically have administrator privileges on their own computers, but if you do not, you may need to ask an administrator to perform the installation. If the instructions below do not work on your system, consult your operating system's documentation for instructions. Also, remember that most activities that allow typing have an Easy Typing switch that can be set to On or Off. If you prefer to enter answers by selecting characters instead of typing them, set the switch to On.

Windows 8

In most cases, Windows 8 comes with the necessary input methods already installed and enabled, so no action is required. However, you can follow the instructions below to manually install and enable an input method if necessary.

To install and enable an input method in Windows 8:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right part of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.)
Enter the Language section, choose Settings, and then tap or click Add a language.
Select the language for which you want to add a keyboard layout.
Tap or click Options next to the language name, then tap or click Add an input method.
Tap or click Add, choose an input method, and tap or click Save.
Restart your computer. At this point, the input method is installed and enabled.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

In most cases, Windows 7 and Windows Vista come with the necessary input methods already installed and enabled, so no action is required. However, you can follow the instructions below to manually install and enable an input method if necessary.

To install and enable an input method in Windows 7 and Windows Vista:

If you have a Windows disc, put it in the drive. (The files for the input method will most likely be on your Windows discs. However, if your computer came with Windows installed and you do not have a Windows disc, the files may be included on your hard drive.)
Choose Start / Control Panel, then select Clock, Language, and Region.
Click Change keyboards or other input methods to open the Regional and Language Options screen.
Click Change keyboards to open the Text Services and Input Languages screen.
Click Add to open the Add Input Language screen.
Click on each language you want to add, then select keyboard options for it. You can add as many languages as you need.

To enable the simplified Chinese input method, click on Chinese PRC, then mark the Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin IME option. To enable the traditional Chinese input method, click on Chinese (Taiwan), then mark the Chinese (Traditional) New Phonetic option.
To enable the Japanese input method, click on Japanese, then mark the Japanese and Microsoft IME options.
To enable the Korean input method, click on Korean, then mark the Korean and Microsoft IME options.

Click OK to close the Add Languages screen.
Click Apply, then click OK to close the Text Services and Input Languages screen.
Click OK to close the control panel.
Restart your computer. At this point, the input method is installed and enabled.

Windows XP

To install an input method on Windows XP:

If you have a Windows XP disc, put it in the drive. (The files for the input method will most likely be on your Windows discs. However, if your computer came with Windows installed and you do not have a Windows disc, the files may be included on your hard drive.)
Choose Start / Control Panel or Start / Settings / Control Panel (depending on how you have your Start menu configured).
Double-click on Regional and Language Options, then click on the Languages tab if it is not already selected.
In the Supplemental Language Support section, mark the Install files for East Asian Languages checkbox.
Click OK. Windows will complete the installation, then ask you to restart your computer. You must restart the computer for the input method to work properly. After the computer has restarted, the input methods will be installed, but you should continue with these instructions to enable them.
After you have restarted the computer, choose Start / Control Panel or Start / Settings / Control Panel and double-click on Regional and Language Options again.
On the Languages tab, click Details to open the Text Services and Input Languages screen.
Click Add to open the Add Input Language screen. On that screen, select an Input Language and a Keyboard Layout/IME, then click OK. Repeat this step as many times as needed to enable all the input method you plan to use.

To enable the simplified Chinese input method, select Chinese PRC in the Input Language field, then choose Chinese (Simplified) Microsoft Pinyin IME 3.0 in the Keyboard layout/IME field. To enable the traditional Chinese input method, select Chinese (Taiwan) in the Input Language field, then select the select the New Phonetic option in the Keyboard layout/IME field. (It may show up as Microsoft New Phonetic IME 2002a or Chinese (Traditional) New Phonetic.)
To enable the Japanese input method, select Japanese in the Input Language field, then choose Microsoft IME Standard 2002 in the Keyboard layout/IME field.
To enable the Korean input method, select Korean in the Input Language field, then choose Korean Input System (IME 2002) in the Keyboard layout/IME field.

Click Apply, then click OK to close the Text Services and Input Languages screen.
Click OK to close the control panel. At this point, the input method is installed and enabled.