How can I install Japanese handwriting?

In this quick and simple post, let me show you the steps to install or add Japanese keyboard layout and type Japanese in Windows 10.

If you are learning Japanese or someone who already knows how to read and write Japanese, it might be a necessary action to type Japanese in Windows 10. For example, I started learning Japanese a few months back. As part of the learning process, I started online chat sessions with natives and fellow learners to cement my understanding of Japanese vocabulary and grammar. To type Japanese in Windows, you need to install the Japanese language pack. After that, you can select the Japanese keyboard layout to type in the Japanese language.

Though sounds simple, installing the Japanese language pack and setting up the keyboard layout can be confusing for beginners. This is especially true if you’ve never dealt with language packs. So, in this quick guide, let me show you the steps to install the Japanese keyboard layout and enable Japanese typing in Windows 10.

Steps to Type in Japanese in Windows 10 – Install Language Pack

Follow the steps below to install the Japanese language and start typing in Japanese in Windows 10.

1. Open Settings with “Windows Key + I” keyboard shortcut.
2. Go to “Time & Language“.
   
3. Go to the “Language” tab.
4. On the right page, click the “Add a language” button under the “Preferred Languages” section.
   
5. Type “Japanese” in the search bar.
6. Select the language and click “Next“.
   
7. Select the optional features you want to install and click “Install“.
   
8. Windows will now download and install the Japanese language pack and the keyboard layout.
   
9. After installing the language pack, you will see Language Bar Icon on the taskbar. It lets you change the keyboard layout with just two clicks.
   
10. Click on the Language icon and select the “Japanese Microsoft IME” keyboard layout.
    
11. By default, the Japanese keyboard layout is set to type in English. To change that, click on the little “A” icon appearing before to the “Language” icon.
    
12. As soon as you click on the icon, it will change to Hiragana “あ” character signifying the ability to type in Japanese.
    
13. You can now start typing in Japanese.
    

In case you are wondering, as you type in Japanese, Windows will show suggestions and relevant Kanji characters and vocabs. By selecting the suggestions, you can type Kanji characters.

If you want to keep the Japanese keyboard layout but want to type in English, click on the “あ” icon. This action will change it to English mode.

To change the keyboard layout, click on the language icon, and select the “English” keyboard layout.

Troubleshooting – No Language Bar Icon on Taskbar

If you are not seeing the Language Bar icon on the taskbar, it might be hidden. To unhide it, follow these steps.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to “Personalization → Taskbar“.
3. Click on “Turn system icons on or off“.
4. Turn on the “Input Indicator” option.
   

That is it. As soon as you turn on the option, you will see the Language icon appear on the taskbar.

Uninstall the Japanese Language from Windows 10

If you no are longer using the Japanese keyboard layout and other features or if the language pack is causing problems, you can simply uninstall it from the system. Here’s how.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to “Time & Language → Language“.
3. On the right page, click on the “Japanese” language option.
4. Click “Remove“.
   

That is it. As soon as you click the button, Windows will uninstall the language pack and its associated features.

That is it. I hope that helps. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible.

Another related article: how to change the display language from Chinese to English.