Punjabi IME

If you need to enter some text in Punjabi, Windows includes an Input Method Editor and keyboard layouts that let you enter text using the Gurmukhi script while using a typical keyboard with 101-105 keys. Using the IME doesn't require changing your current Windows display language.

Add support for Punjabi input

To add support for Punjabi input to Windows:

1. Open Settings and select Time & language > Language & region.
2. Select Add a language. Select Punjabi (Gurmukhi) from the list and select Next.
3. Consider if you need any of the Optional language features. If you want to enter Punjabi text while keeping your current Windows display language, none of them are necessary. When you're happy with your choices, select Install.

By default, Punjabi is installed with the Punjabi INSCRIPT keyboard. To install the Microsoft Punjabi Phonetic IME:

1. On the Language & region page, select the Options (…) icon next to Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and select Language options.
2. Select Add a keyboard and select Punjabi Phonetic.

Type Punjabi text

The Windows system tray shows which keyboard layout is currently active, for example, ENG. You can switch between installed layouts (layouts in the Preferred languages list in Settings) by selecting the Windows logo key + Spacebar.

If you prefer, you can also change the layout by selecting the system tray icon and selecting the layout from the list. This method can be faster if you have more than two languages installed.

If multiple IME/keyboards are installed for a given language, the list and the tray icon will show a combination of language and layout.

Use the Punjabi Phonetic IME

To type text in the Gurmukhi script using the Punjabi Phonetic IME:

1. Select Punjabi Phonetic. The system tray now shows ਪੰ instead of ENG indicating that you can now type in Punjabi.
2. Type the transliteration of the word you want with the English keys. As you type, notice that the Punjabi Phonetic IME automatically converts the English letters into Gurmukhi script suggestions. When you're finished typing, select Enter to convert your text into the first suggested Punjabi word. You can also use the cursor keys to select a different suggestion.

Use the Punjabi INSCRIPT keyboard

To type text using the Punjabi INSCRIPT keyboard:

1. Select Punjabi INSCRIPT. The system tray now shows ਪੰ instead of ENG indicating that you can now type using the Gurmukhi script.
2. Using the Punjabi INSCRIPT keyboard layout, type the Punjabi word you want.

Example

The Punjabi word for garden is ਬਾਗ, which can be transliterated as baaga.

Type with the Punjabi Phonetic IME

To type ਬਾਗ, select the Punjabi Phonetic IME from the system tray. Then type baaga with the English keys. As you type, you can see how the IME turns the text into word suggestions. When you're finished typing, the top suggestion is the correct Punjabi word. Select Enter to convert the English letters into Gurmukhi script.

Type with the Punjabi INSCRIPT keyboard

To type ਬਾਗ, select the Punjabi INSCRIPT keyboard layout from the system tray. Use the following keystrokes to type the Punjabi word for garden:

Gurmukhi letter	Keystroke on the English US keyboard	Phonetic equivalent
ਬ	y	ba
◌ਾ	e	{vowel sign aa}
ਗ	i	ga

When you're finished typing, the word ਬਾਗ appears on the screen.