Japanese IME in Dvorak not working

Question

I modified my registry entry for the Japanese keyboard layout to use Dvorak as follows:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layouts\00000411]

"Layout File"="KBDDV.DLL"

and it is not working as I hoped.

At first, every input method was still using QWERTY. I'm not sure what did the trick, but between signing out, restarting, and re-installing the Japanese language it began using Dvorak for Direct Input only. Every kana-based input method still uses QWERTY.

Any ideas on how to have the Japanese IME use the Dvorak keyboard layout for all of its input methods?

OS: Windows 10 Pro 2004 (build 19041.450)

Answer 1

Great news! I found what the 'problem' was!

It turned out that "Microsoft IME has upgraded to a new version, but not all features are compatible with it". It appears that the keyboard layout registry edit is one of those incompatible 'features'. Returning to the previous version of Microsoft IME, restoring default settings and restarting my computer did the trick for me.

To return to the previous version and restore default settings:

1. Open the Windows settings app.
2. Search for and open "Japanese IME settings".
3. Open the "General" category.
4. Scroll down to the "Compatibility" heading (near the bottom).
5. Toggle "Use previous version of Microsoft IME" on.
6. Scroll up to the "Default settings" heading (immediately above).
7. Press the "Restore" button.

And finally, restart your computer.

If you are having trouble with the search bar in step 2, instead:

• Open the "Time & Language" category on the settings home view.
• Open the "Language" tab on the left sidebar.
• Scroll down to the "Preferred languages" heading.
• Select "Japanese" and press the "Options" button.
• Scroll down to the "Keyboards" heading.
• Select "Microsoft IME" and press the "Options" button.

And then return to step 3 above.

OS: Windows 10 Pro 2004 (build 19041.488).