Windows 8.1 input method editor

With the Input Method Editor (also known as IME), you can type things more easily with a language consisting of thousands of characters that are not suitable for standard keyboard input (usually East Asian, 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 older computer and add a language, Windows automatically assigns a default keyboard or IME to each language on your computer. Other IMEs can also be added if needed.

Add another IME

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click "Search”. (If using a mouse, point to the top right corner of the screen, then move the mouse pointer down, then click “search”.)

Enter “language" in the search box, then click or single Click on "Regional and Language Settings".

In your language list, tap or click the language in which you want to add the IME, then click or click “options”.

Click or click “Add Keyboard”.

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

Switching between different IMEs

If you have added multiple languages ​​to your computer or added multiple input methods to a language, you can go through the IME or keyboard. Switch between layouts to enter text as you want.

If you are using a standard keyboard, press and hold the Windows logo key and press the space bar repeatedly to switch between input methods.

If you're using a tablet or touch computer, you can switch the input method on the touch keyboard. Click the touch keyboard button in the lower right corner of the touch keyboard, and then tap the input method you want to switch to.

Touch the touch keyboard button on the keyboard

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

The language abbreviation button in the desktop taskbar

You can also do this using the “Settings&#strobe; charms:

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

Click or click the abbreviation of the selected language.

In the list that appears, tap or click the language you want to switch to.

"Settings" for the abbreviations of selected input methods

Viewing and changing IME settings and options

To view the settings of any IMEs you have added And options, perform the following steps:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click “Search”. (If using a mouse, point to the top right corner of the screen, then move the pointer down, then click "Search”.)

Enter “language" in the search box, then click or click “Regional and Language Settings”.

In your language list, tap or click a language to see the relevant input method.

Click or click on an IME, then click or click “Options”.

Change the settings you want.

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

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click “Search”. (If using a mouse, point to the top right corner of the screen, then move the pointer down, then click "Search”.)

Enter “language" in the search box, then click or click “Add language”.

Click or click the "options" next to the language.

Click or click the "options" next to IME.

Change the settings you want.

Using different input mode settings for applications

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

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click “Settings”. (If you use the mouse, point to the top right corner of the screen, then move the pointer down, then click “Set”.)

Click on the “Set“ click or click“Control Panel&rdquo ;, select “Add Language" in the Control Panel.

Click or click “Advanced Settings”.

Check "Allow me to set a different input method for each application window" checkbox, then click or click “Save”.

Switching between IME modes

Use the IME mode icon to switch between alphanumeric and local language characters.

To display the IME mode icon in the new Windows user interface, click or click in the new text field. Then, tap or click the icon to switch modes.

On the desktop, tap or click the IME mode icon on the touchpad or taskbar to switch modes. To see more IME options, long press or right click on the icon in the taskbar.