How to Stop Microsoft Access from Switching to Japanese IME
Question details
The user needs a way to prevent Microsoft Access from automatically changing the active keyboard input method to Japanese.
- Product
- Microsoft Access 365
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Entering data and working within Microsoft Access databases on a system that has multiple keyboard languages installed.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Access repeatedly and automatically switches the active keyboard to the Japanese IME, despite English being the preferred Windows input language. Other Office apps do not exhibit this behavior.
Ensure you have saved your work and closed any active tables or queries in Microsoft Access before modifying client settings. Verify that English is properly set as your default Windows display and input language.
Configure IME Control in Access Client Settings
Use the built-in Client Settings within Microsoft Access to explicitly control the IME (Input Method Editor) behavior and lock it to the English keyboard.
Microsoft Access has a specific setting for Input Method Editor (IME) control that operates independently of your main Windows keyboard preferences. By disabling the automatic switching feature here, you can prevent Access from defaulting to Japanese while still keeping the Japanese language pack installed on your computer for other applications.
Launch Microsoft Access 365. Click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, then select 'Options' located at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
In the Access Options dialog box, click on 'Client Settings' from the left navigation pane to view advanced database and editing configurations.
Scroll down to the 'Editing' section. Find the 'IME Control' setting and enable it, then explicitly select the English keyboard from the available options.
Click 'OK' at the bottom of the dialog box to save your changes. Restart Microsoft Access to ensure the new keyboard configurations are fully applied.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Access switch to the Japanese IME automatically?
Office applications sometimes attempt to match the active keyboard to the language settings of the specific field, database locale, or text being edited. If IME Control isn't properly configured in Access, it may default to a secondary installed language like Japanese.
Will changing the IME setting in Access affect Word or Excel?
No. Modifying the Client Settings specifically within the Access Options menu only applies to Microsoft Access. Your IME and language preferences for Word, Excel, and your overall Windows system will remain unaffected.
How do I completely remove the Japanese IME from Windows?
If you no longer need Japanese input capabilities, go to Windows Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region. Click on the Japanese language pack, select the options menu (three dots), and click 'Remove' to delete it from your system.
