Windows 11 Cannot change keyboard input to Japanese IME

Question

Windows 11 Cannot change keyboard input to Japanese IME

Anonymous

I installed the Japanese language pack a few weeks ago but hadn't tried using it until today.

I click the language button on the taskbar or try the Windows key + spacebar. Nothing happens. No matter how many times I click Japanese, it just stays on English.

There have been a couple of times while I messed around with settings that it did turn to Japanese. But then it would only type in romaji. I would click around some settings and suddenly it would switch to kana input. I would try switching back to English and then back to Japanese and it's back to square one. It once again is stuck on English and won't switch to Japanese.

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the language pack. Same issue, no difference. Can't find anything online about this issue.

It also shows a white circle with an X in it that when I hover over it it says "IME is disabled". It will show it regardless if it's in English or Japanese language.

Annnd I just clicked some things again, got it to turn to Japanese, only romaji input I couldn't get kana input at all and then the white circle with the x disappeared and I tried switching and again, back to square one where it's in English and will not switch back to Japanese no matter how many times I click it.

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9 answers

Answer 1

First link - Option 1: I click Windows+I. It tells me to go to update and security, there is no option for "update and security" in Windows 11. I click "privacy and security", there is no "troubleshoot" option. I click "windows update", there is no "troubleshoot" option.

Option 2: I click alt+shift. Nothing happens.

Option 3: Can't do because it doesn't let me switch to Japanese language.

Option 4: I tried uninstalling/reinstalling. Nothing happens.

Second link - This person says they can switch to Japanese but they can't write in kana so it's not the same issue I'm having where I just cannot switch to Japanese.

Third link - Option 1a: This is for changing the default keyboard which I'm not trying to do. I want to keep English as the default and switch to Japanese as needed.

Option 1b: This is only if the user is having trouble typing characters in Japanese which is not the issue I'm having.

Option 2: It's the same as First Link, option 1 which I don't have those options on Windows 11 so I don't know where to find this option.

Option 3: Again, uninstalling/reinstalling doesn't fix the issue.

Fourth link - This person says they can switch to Japanese but they can't write in kana so it's not the same issue I'm having where I just cannot switch to Japanese.

Fifth link - This just goes over how to install the language pack and various options which I've already done.

Sixth link - There is no option to change language through the control panel. Only date and time.

Seventh link - I already have it installed/options don't exist in Windows 11.

Eight link - Same as another link.

Ninth link - The Microsoft Fixit link is broken and the following steps don't correspond to the options in Windows 11 and I already have it installed anyway.

Tenth link - It just goes over how to install.

Youtube video - I tried this and it lets me switch to Japanese... once. And then when I switch to English and then try to go back to Japanese, it doesn't let me switch back.

Thank you for helping me with this issue.

Answer 2

I tried the troubleshoot option. No changes. Still can't switch.

I tried changing the default keyboard. No changes. Still can't switch.

I don't know what that third link is but I do not recommend that anyone follow the steps in it. I have no idea what that did but the ctfmon.exe program it mentioned - DO NOT TOUCH IT. After I tried clicking it and making the shortcut as it explained, I restarted my computer and my computer started having a meltdown. The screen suddenly became very glitched. The screen suddenly started shaking and and when I would try and hover over like the maximize/minimize options for the Chrome window, the screen would suddenly be filled with black except for a tiny bit of desktop visible at the top. I was able to retrace my steps to remove the shortcut I made, restart, it did the glitchiness a bit again but now it has stopped. I'm not following any steps with that link after going through that since I don't want to destroy my brand new computer.

Yes, I tried to remove/add the keyboard back.

I've attached a couple of screenshots of what I'm seeing here:

Sometimes it shows with the white circle with x next to it.

No matter how many times I click "Japanese", it doesn't switch.

Thank you again for the help.

Answer 3

Um thanks? But all of those links are for Windows 10... one of them is even for Windows 7. Several them I have tried already and nothing works.

What is happening is I have the Japanese language pack installed. The language options on the taskbar give me the option for English and Japanese. I click "Japanese". Nothing happens. It still says "English" and doesn't switch.

Answer 4

Anonymous

Did you remove the English language as I suggested?

If not please go back to my last post to follow the steps I gave and let me know what happens.

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Answer 5

Hi Cavechan. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

Try these fixes for Japanese IME keyboard not working:

https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/japa...

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

https://windowsreport.com/japanese-keyboard-ime...

(Avoid ad links which intrude into editorial copy, especially avoid Restoro, PC Repair Tool and Reimage ads)

https://superuser.com/questions/1151635/unable-...

https://makmodo.com/install-japanese-keyboard-o...

https://jlptbootcamp.com/2012/02/how-to-type-in...

https://frameboxxindore.com/windows/how-do-i-fi...

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

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Windows 11 Cannot change keyboard input to Japanese IME

9 answers