Microsoft Word handles Urdu well once three things are set up: a way to type Urdu, right-to-left paragraph direction, and a good Urdu font. Here is how to do each.
Step 1: Get Urdu text into Word
Method A: Add the Urdu keyboard in Windows
- Open Settings and go to Time & language, then Language & region.
- Click Add a language, search for Urdu, and install it.
- Switch between English and Urdu typing with Windows key + Space.
The Windows Urdu keyboard uses its own layout, so it takes practice. Printing a keyboard map or using the on-screen keyboard helps at the start.
Method B: No keyboard needed
Type your text in Roman Urdu, convert it with our Roman Urdu to Urdu converter, and paste it into Word. For old documents, use the InPage to Unicode converter, and for printed pages, Urdu image to text.
Step 2: Set right-to-left direction
Urdu is read from right to left. If Word treats it as left-to-right, punctuation jumps to the wrong end of the line.
- Select your Urdu paragraphs.
- On the Home tab, click the Right-to-Left Text Direction button in the Paragraph group. If you don’t see it, the keyboard shortcut is Ctrl + Right Shift.
- Align the text to the right if it isn’t already.
Step 3: Choose an Urdu font
Word’s default fonts can draw Urdu letters, but they look plain and disconnected. For proper Urdu, choose a Nastaliq or Naskh font:
- Noto Nastaliq Urdu: a free, well-made Nastaliq font from Google, suitable for documents and printing.
- Urdu Typesetting: included with recent versions of Windows.
- Jameel Noori Nastaleeq: very popular in Pakistan. Check its terms before using it commercially.
See our guide to free Urdu fonts for more options.
Step 4: Increase the line spacing
Nastaliq letters are tall and slanted, so lines can overlap at normal spacing. Set line spacing to 1.5 or more, or use a font size about 2 points larger than you would for English.
Common problems
The full stop appears at the start of the line
The paragraph is set to left-to-right. Apply right-to-left direction (Step 2).
Letters appear separated instead of joined
The font does not support Urdu properly. Choose one of the Urdu fonts above.
English words inside Urdu sentences jump around
This is normal behaviour for mixed-direction text. Keep English words short, or put them at the start or end of a sentence.