1. Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards.
2. Tap Add New Keyboard.
3. Select Chinese, Simplified or Chinese, Traditional.
4. Choose Handwriting and add the keyboard.
5. Open any app where you can type, then tap or hold the globe key and switch to the Chinese Handwriting keyboard.
6. Draw the character in the handwriting area. Possible matches appear above the writing area as you draw.
7. Tap the correct character to insert it.

Simplified or Traditional? Choose the version that matches the character you are trying to enter.

1. If Gboard is not already installed, download it free from Google Play . Open Gboard and follow any setup prompts to enable it and select it as your keyboard. Then open an app such as Notes or Gmail and tap a text field to display Gboard.
2. Tap the Settings icon on Gboard, then choose Languages → Add keyboard.
3. Select Chinese (Simplified) or Chinese (Traditional). Swipe through the available layouts until you see Handwriting, turn it on, then tap Done.
4. Return to a text field. Touch and hold the globe icon, then select the Chinese Handwriting keyboard.
5. Draw the Chinese character with your finger or stylus.
6. Tap the matching character from Gboard’s suggestions.

Already use another Android keyboard? You can keep Gboard installed and switch to it only when you need Chinese handwriting input.

1. Open Apple menu → System Settings → Keyboard.
2. Under Text Input, click Edit.
3. Click the + button and select Chinese, Simplified or Chinese, Traditional.
4. Add the Handwriting input source.
5. Place the cursor where you want the character to appear.
6. Open the Input menu and choose the Handwriting input source. You can also press Control + Shift + Space.
7. Draw the character with your finger on the trackpad.
8. To choose a suggested character, tap the trackpad in the position that corresponds to the character’s location in the suggestion row at the top of the handwriting window.
9. When finished, press Control + Shift + Space again to close the handwriting window.

Good to know: A built-in or connected trackpad is required. The pointer temporarily disappears during handwriting. Press Esc once to pause handwriting and use the pointer again.

1. Open Settings → Time & language → Language & region.
2. If Chinese is not installed, click Add a language, search for Chinese, select the Simplified or Traditional Chinese option you need, then click Next. Select Handwriting if offered, then click Install. Leave Set as my Windows display language unchecked to keep your Windows menus in their current language.
3. To check handwriting support after installation, click the three dots beside the Chinese language and choose Language options. Under language features, look for Handwriting and click Download if it is not yet installed.
4. Switch to the Chinese keyboard from the input language icon in the taskbar, or hold the Windows key and press Spacebar until Chinese is selected.
5. Click or tap where you want to enter the character, then select the touch keyboard icon in the taskbar. If the icon is missing, right-click the taskbar, open Taskbar settings, and set Touch keyboard to Always under System tray icons.
6. On the touch keyboard, select the keyboard settings icon in the upper-left corner, then choose the Handwriting panel layout.
7. Write the character in the panel with a compatible pen. To use your finger on a touchscreen, open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Pen & Windows Ink, expand Handwriting, and enable Write with your fingertip. Then return to the handwriting panel and draw the character.
8. Select the recognized character.

No touchscreen? Microsoft Pinyin’s U-mode can enter Simplified Chinese characters using strokes or components instead of pronunciation.