Microsoft Japanese IME - Microsoft Support (2024)

Windows 11 Windows 10 More...Less

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 IME settings> General> Predictive Input.
- Use input history
- Use system dictionary
- Use suggestion services(by turning this on, what you write will be encrypted and sent to Microsoft to gettext suggestions from Bing.)
You can click the cross icon or press Ctrl + Delete to remove the selected candidate.

Note:Some candidates can't be removed (e.g., dates).
You can click the magnifier icon or press Ctrl + B to search the selected candidate on the internet.

The Conversion candidate window offers candidates whose reading matches what you type.

General operations

At this state	Press this key	To do this
Before focus enters the candidate window	Space	1^st press: Convert what you type. 2^nd press: Open the conversion candidate window.
Before focus enters the candidate window	Shift + Space	1^st press: Convert what you type. 2^nd 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 you type. This can be turned off / on with theImprove input accuracy based on what I type on this PCsetting in IME settings > Learning and Dictionary.
You can manually add a new word to the IME dictionary from below.
- Open the user dictionary toolin IME settings >Learning and Dictionary.
- Add Wordin the context menu (right-click menu) of the IME mode icon in the notification area.
You can turn on / off system dictionaries at System dictionaries in IME settings >Learning and Dictionary.

IME supports a UI called IME toolbar which offers an alternate way to quickly invoke specific IME functions. The IME toolbar is the UI renewed from the language bar.

To open the IME toolbar, right-click the IME mode icon in the notification area, then select Show/hide IME toolbar.

Keyboard shortcuts

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

Japanese keyboard (106/109 key)English keyboard (101/102 key)



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 theSwitch Kana/Romaji input with Alt + Katakana Hiragana Romaji key setting in 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 (あkey) *1	Enter Hiragana mode.
Alt + ImeOn (あkey) *1	Switch between Kana input and Romaji input. Prerequisite: Turn on the Switch Kana/Romaji input with Alt + Katakana Hiragana Romaji keysetting in IME settings > General.
Ctrl + ImeOn (あkey) *1	Reconversion
Shift + ImeOn (あkey) *1	Enter Full-width Katakana mode.
ImeOff (Akey) *1	Enter Half-width Alphanumeric mode.
Ctrl + ImeOff (Akey) *1	Toggle among Hiragana, Full-width Katakana, and Half-width Katakana.
Shift + ImeOff (Akey) *1	Toggle among un-capitalized, all-capitalized, and first-character-capitalized full-width alphanumeric characters.

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

Windows 10 Version 1903 (OS build 18362.1049 or later)
1909 (OS build 18363.1049 or later)
2004 (OS build 19041.388 or later)
Versions of Windows 10 later than 2004
Windows 11

For developers, please refer to Keyboard Japan - ImeOn / ImeOff Implementation | Microsoft Docs for more details.

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 keysetting in 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 (あkey) *1	Enter Hiragana mode.
Alt + ImeOn (あkey) *1	Switch between Kana input and Romaji input. Prerequisite: Turn on theSwitch Kana/Romaji input with Alt + Katakana Hiragana Romaji key setting in IME settings > General.
Ctrl + ImeOn (あkey) *1	Reconversion
Shift + ImeOn (あkey) *1	Enter Full-width Katakana mode.
ImeOff (Akey) *1	Enter Half-width Alphanumeric mode.
Ctrl + ImeOff (Akey) *1	Toggle among Hiragana, Full-width Katakana, and Half-width Katakana.
Shift + ImeOff (Akey) *1	Toggle among un-capitalized, all-capitalized, and first-character-capitalized full-width alphanumeric characters.

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

Windows 10 Version 1903 (OS build 18362.1049 or later)
1909 (OS build 18363.1049 or later)
2004 (OS build 19041.388 or later)
Versions of Windows 10 later than 2004
Windows 11

For developers, please refer to Keyboard Japan - ImeOn / ImeOff Implementation | Microsoft Docs for more details.

Press this key	To do this
Ctrl + Delete	Remove the selected candidate from theprediction candidate window.
Ctrl + B	Search the selected candidate in theprediction candidate window.
Tab	Expand / collapse the table view in theconversion 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.

Press this key	To do this
Alt + Backquote (`)	Turn on / off Japanese input.
Ctrl + Caps lock	Equivalent to Hiragana key on a Japanese keyboard (106/109 key).
Alt + Caps lock	Equivalent to Shift + Hiragana key on a Japanese keyboard (106/109 key).
Shift + Caps lock	Equivalent to Eisu key on a Japanese keyboard (106/109 key).

Press this key	To do this
Ctrl + Delete	Remove the selected candidate from theprediction candidate window.
Ctrl + B	Search the selected candidate in theprediction candidate window.
Tab	Expand / collapse the table view in theconversion 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.

IME settings

Find IME settings in Windows 11

Select Start, then selectSettings > Time& language> Language & region.
In the Japanese row, select> Language options.
In theMicrosoft IME. row, select> Keyboard options.

Note:You can also search “Japanese IME settings” in the Search on the taskbar.

Find IME settings in Windows 10

Select Start, then selectSettings > Time& language> Language.
Scroll down and selectJapanese >Options.
Scroll down and selectMicrosoft IME, then select Options.

Note:You can also search “Japanese IME settings” in the Search on the taskbar, or press Settingsin the context menu (right-click menu) of the IME mode icon in the notification area.

Key customization

With IME, you canchange a specific key function in IME settings > Key and touch customization.

Key template: Key template is a set of key configurations. For Windows 11 and Windows 10as of the October 2020 Update,IME offers the following templates. See keyboard shortcuts for more details.
- Microsoft IME
- ATOK
Key assignment: If you want to customize a specific key function within the selected template, you can customize several keys at Key assignment.

How can I give feedback?

If you encounter any problems or have suggestions regarding Microsoft IME, please give us feedback through the Feedback Hub. You can open the Feedback Hub from Send feedbackin the context menu (right-click menu) of the IME mode icon in the notification areaor click here. Your feedback goes directly to our engineers working to improve IME. For more on steps for providing feedback, please refer to Send feedback with the feedback hub app.

Compatibility

Microsoft Japanese IME was renewed as of Windows 10 October 2020 Update (Version 2004)and is also available with Windows 11. IME supports a compatibility setting in IME settings > General. If you encounter issues with the new IME, you can enable the previous version of IME by turning on Use previous version of Microsoft IME. We'll continue to improve the new IME, so please consider filing feedback to help us deliver a great input experience to you.

SUBSCRIBE RSS FEEDS

Need more help?

Want more options?

Discover Community Contact Us



Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

Online support

Microsoft Japanese IME - Microsoft Support (2024)

FAQs

Why is my Japanese keyboard not working on Microsoft IME? ›

Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language > and double-check your preferred language under "Windows display language" > click on it and go to Options > ensure that you keyboard is also set to your preferred language. You may remove the other keyboards to isolate the issue as well.

Discover More ›

How do I change my Microsoft IME to English? ›

Find IME settings in Windows 10

Select Start , then select Settings > Time & language > Language.

How to switch between English and Japanese on Japanese keyboard? ›

Press the Alt and “~” keys (the tilde key left of the “1” key) to quickly switch between English and Japanese input. If you have a Japanese keyboard, you can simply press the 半角／全角 key, also located left of the “1” key.

How do you type Japanese with IME? ›

First, click on the start button in the bottom left-hand corner and open “Settings”. Second, navigate to “Time & language” and click to go into that. Next, open “Region & language” and select the “Add a language” button listed under Languages. Select “日本語 – Japanese” and voila!

Why can't I type in Japanese? ›

Go to Settings > Time and Language > Region and language > Add a language > 日本語 Japanese > Next > unselect “Set as my Windows display language and Speech”, select Handwriting > Install. You will now be able to change from your default language to Japanese by clicking the language icon (next to the time).

Show Me More ›

Why can't i type in Japanese on Windows 10? ›

Make sure that you set the Japanese IME as the default language, reinstall the Japanese language pack and run the keyboard troubleshooter if necessary. The Japanese keyboard IME not working on Windows 10 & 11 issue can occur if the language pack is corrupted or due to incorrect input method configuration.

Learn More Now ›