Input Method Editor for Windows 8.1

With an Input Method editor (also called an IME), you can easily type in a language consisting of thousands of characters that are not suitable for a standard keyboard (usually East Asian languages, but not limited to East Asian languages). When you purchase a new Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 computer, or when you install Windows 8.1 on an old computer and add a language, Windows automatically assigns a default keyboard or IME to each language on your computer. You can also add additional IMEs, if you want.

Add additional IME

Swipe from the right edge of the screen to the middle and click "Search". (If you use the mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.) )

Enter language in the search box, and then click or click Regional and language Settings.

In your list of languages, click or click the language you want to add an IME to, and then click or click Options.

Click or click "Add Keyboard".

Browse through the list of available IMEs, and then click or click the IME you want to add.

Switch between different IMEs

If you have added multiple languages to your computer or added multiple input methods to a language, you can enter text in the way you want by switching between the IME or the keyboard layout.

If you are using a standard keyboard, please press the Windows logo key, and then repeatedly press the SPACEBAR to switch between the input method.

If you are using a tablet or touch computer, you can switch the input method on the touch pad. Click the Touch Keyboard button in the lower right corner of the touch keyboard, and then click the input method you want to switch to.

Touch keyboard buttons on the keyboard

If you are using the desktop, click or click the language abbreviation button in the taskbar, and then click or click the input method you want to switch to.

Language abbreviation button in the desktop taskbar

You can also do this by using the Settings Super button:

Swipe from the right edge of the screen to the middle, and click Set. (If you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings.) )

Click or click the abbreviation for the selected language.

In the list below, click or click the language you want to switch to.

Display the "Settings" super button for the abbreviation of the selected input method

View and change IME settings and options

To view the settings and options for any IME that you have added, perform the following steps:

Swipe from the right edge of the screen to the middle and click "Search". (If you use the mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, then move the pointer down, and then click Search.) )

Enter language in the search box, and then click or click Regional and language Settings.

In your list of languages, click or click a language to view the relevant input methods.

Click or click an IME, and then click or click Options.

Change the settings you want.

Some IMEs have other settings in Control Panel. To view these settings, follow these steps:

Swipe from the right edge of the screen to the middle and click "Search". (If you use the mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, then move the pointer down, and then click Search.) )

Type "Language" in the search box, and then click or click Add Language.

Click or click Options next to the language.

Tap or click Options next to the IME.

Change the settings you want.

Use different input mode settings for the application

In Windows 8.1, the default setting is to have the IME use shared input mode settings in all applications. To use a different input mode setting for each application, follow these steps:

Swipe from the right edge of the screen to the middle, and click Set. (If you use the mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then move the pointer down, and then click Settings.) )

Under Settings, click or click Control Panel and select Add Language in Control Panel.

Click or click Advanced Settings.

Select the Allow me to set different input methods for each application window check box, and then click or click Save.

Switching between IME modes

Use the IME mode icon to toggle between alphanumeric characters and native language characters.

To display the IME mode icon in the newer Windows user interface, click or click in the new Text field. Then, click or click the icon to toggle mode.

On the desktop, click or click on the touch keyboard or the IME mode icon in the taskbar to toggle mode. To see more IME options, either press or right-click the icon in the taskbar.