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Windows Vista Chinese Pinyin Setup

A Quick Start Guide to Using Pinyin Input for
Simplified AND Traditional Chinese Characters
in Western Versions of Microsoft Windows Vista

This page is for anyone who needs the Pinyin input method to type Chinese characters into Western versions of Windows Vista.

Vista Chinese character input example

If you only want Pinyin with tone marks, you may be interested in my Pinyin macro for Microsoft Word, or you may want to look at my survey of third-party fonts, input methods and tools.

Windows Vista comes with Pinyin input methods for both traditional and simplified Chinese characters, and a basic set of fonts for each. Use the following simple steps to set up Pinyin input:

1. Adding Simplified Chinese Pinyin Input (this page)

2. Adding Traditional Chinese Pinyin Input

3. Adjusting the Language Bar and shortcuts

4. English User Guide for the Microsoft Pinyin IMEs


1. Adding Simplified Chinese Pinyin Input

For simplified characters, set up the "Chinese (Simplified) Microsoft Pinyin IME", also known as "MSPY", as follows:

Start menuOpen the "Regional and Language Options" control panel:
  • Click on the Windows Start menu.
  • Click on "Control Panel".
    In Control Panels, do one of the following:
  • In Control Panels Home, find "Clock, Language and Region" and click on "Change keyboards or other input methods." (See screen shot #1 below.)
  • or, if you are in Control Panels Classic View, Find and double-click on the "Regional and Language Options" icon. (See screen shot #2 below.)

1. Click here in Control Panels Home:

Vista Control Panels Home

2. Or double-click here in if you are in Control Panels "Classic View":

Control Panels Classic

    When the "Regional and Language Options" control panel appears:

  • Click the "Change keyboards..." button. (Don't worry, despite the name of this button your English keyboard will remain available at all times after we're done.)
Vista Regional & Language Options Control Panel

     When "Text Services and Input Languages" appears:

  • Click on the "Add..." button:
Text Services and Input Languages window: add button

     When "Add Input Language" appears:
  • Scroll down to "Chinese (PRC)".
  • Click on the plus signs next to "Chinese (PRC)" and "Keyboard".
  • Click the checkbox to select "Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin IME".
    (Note: "IME" stands for "Input Method Editor", if you really need to know.)
  • Click the "OK" button.
Windows Vista - Add Input Language - Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin IME

You can click the Add button again to select more input methods, but most of the others are more appropriate for professional speed typists. Waiguoren - and the average Chinese user - usually don't want to go there. And we'll come back to the "Chinese (Taiwan)" keyboard later under installing Hanyu Pinyin for Traditional Chinese.

For now we'll leave the properties of your Simplified Chinese IME alone, but you may find it useful to remember the location of the following controls:

  • Click once on the name of the input method, "Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin IME" to select it, then click on the "Properties" button. (Note: These settings can also be accessed later via the Options menu in the Language Bar.)
Text Services - Keyboard Properties
  • Here you will find many options for each of the three Pinyin input method versions included with this IME:
Simplified IME properties
I recommend you leave these options as they are for now, unless you are very accustomed to the older "Classic" style or the "ABC" style. These settings can also be accessed later via the Options menu in the Language Bar when this input method is selected. The Getting Started guide in the Help menu has more information on all of this.

You will now find the Language Bar at the lower-right of your screen, in the Taskbar:

Vista Language Bar - English and Chinese (PRC)

When "Chinese (PRC)" is selected, if you click the Options icon at the far right, you can click "Options..." in the menu to adjust this IME's settings:

Chinese (PRC) Options menu

To install more features, make adjustments to the Language Bar and learn how to use this input method, please read on...

Next steps:
2. Adding Traditional Chinese Pinyin input
3. Adjusting the Language Bar and shortcuts
4. English User Guide: the Microsoft Pinyin IMEs Help Files

MSPY 2010 download buttonUPDATE: MSPY 2010 has been released! Please see my MSPY 2010 Chinese Pinyin IME Update FAQ for more information.

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