Show or hide the Language bar

The Language bar appears in the upper-right corner of the screen in Microsoft Office programs. It is used for speech recognition, handwriting recognition, and Input Method Editors (IME).

Speech recognition is available in the Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (U.S.), and Japanese language versions of Microsoft Office.

Handwriting recognition is available in the Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean language versions of Microsoft Office.

You can move the Language bar out of the way by temporarily hiding it.

You can also close the Language bar so that it no longer appears. If you close the Language bar, you cannot use the features on the Language bar.

Note You cannot close the Language bar if you have installed an IME.

Show Hide the Language bar

On the Language bar, click Minimize . The Language bar is shown as a language indicator button in the status area on the Microsoft Windows taskbar. For example, if you're working in English, you'll see in the status area.

Show Restore the Language bar

Click the language indicator button in the status area on the Microsoft Windows taskbar, and then click Show the Language bar. For example, if you're working in English, you'll see in the status area.

Show Close the Language bar

Note You cannot close the Language bar if you have installed an IME.

Makes the Language bar unavailable until you reopen it.

Right-click the Language bar, and then select Close the Language bar.
You'll see a message telling you that you can restore the Language bar at a later time.
Click OK.
The Language bar closes and is no longer available for use until you reopen it.

Show Show the Language bar

On the Microsoft Windows Start menu, and then click Control Panel.
Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.
Click Regional and Language Options, and then click the Languages tab.
Under Text services and input languages, click Details.
On the Settings tab, click Language Bar, and then select the Show the Language bar on the desktop check box.

Notes

You can move the Language bar to another area on the screen by dragging it.
To select Language bar settings, right-click the Language bar, click Settings, and then click Language Bar.