# Recommended IMEs for Linux? **URL:** \ **Category:** Resources\ **Created:** [June 1, 2024, 6:22am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126 "2024-06-01T06:22:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NeoArcturus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/neoarcturus/32/732634_2.png) [@NeoArcturus](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NeoArcturus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 6:22am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/1 "2024-06-01T06:22:50Z")
Pretty much what the title says: What IMEs would you recommend for Linux? ---
**Author:** ![trunklayer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/trunklayer/32/742093_2.png) [@trunklayer](https://community.wanikani.com/u/trunklayer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 6:34am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/2 "2024-06-01T06:34:33Z")
I recommend Google IME > **[Google 日本語入力](https://www.google.co.jp/ime/)** > > 思いどおりの日本語入力。Google 日本語入力は、変換の煩わしさを感じさせない思いどおりの日本語入力を提供します。 Granted, right now I’m using Windows, but I used this IME in Linux as well. ---
**Author:** ![NeoArcturus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/neoarcturus/32/732634_2.png) [@NeoArcturus](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NeoArcturus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 6:35am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/3 "2024-06-01T06:35:13Z")
Ok, I’ll try it then 🙂 Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![polv](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/polv/32/572691_2.png) [@polv](https://community.wanikani.com/u/polv)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 7:07am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/4 "2024-06-01T07:07:01Z")
If you want Google IME, probably [mozc](https://github.com/google/mozc) > Mozc is a Japanese Input Method Editor (IME) designed for multi-platform such as Android OS, Apple macOS, Chromium OS, GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows. This OpenSource project originates from [Google Japanese Input](http://www.google.com/intl/ja/ime/). Probably install with fcitx [Input Method Engine](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Input_method), not sure about fcitx5. IBus might be another option. ---
**Author:** ![Gorbit99](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/gorbit99/32/7307_2.png) [@Gorbit99](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Gorbit99)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 7:56am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/5 "2024-06-01T07:56:51Z")
I use arch btw. My preferred choice is fcitx5, which is an ime engine, then you can install mozc-ut into it to get a very good pairing. Both of these are thankfully in the aur if you use that as well, but they are also very well documented on the arch wiki if you need them set up on something else. ---
**Author:** ![Indekkusu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/indekkusu/32/701702_2.png) [@Indekkusu](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Indekkusu)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 10:18am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/6 "2024-06-01T10:18:53Z")
If you’re using a wayland-based window manager, I would recommend wlanthy ([https://github.com/st3r4g/wlanthy](https://github.com/st3r4g/wlanthy)). Obviously I’m still kinda new to the whole language but it definitely works so far. ---
**Author:** ![NeoArcturus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/neoarcturus/32/732634_2.png) [@NeoArcturus](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NeoArcturus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:08am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/7 "2024-06-01T11:08:33Z")
> [@Gorbit99](#): > > I use arch btw. Nice, me too! Would you mind helping me then? 🙂 ~~I installed fcitx5, fcitx5-qt and fcitx5-configtool as well as mozc, but I somehow have no clue how to use it now 😅~~ Ok forget what I said, I figured it out lol, can I make a shortcut to switch between my regular keyboard and the IME, though? > [@Indekkusu](#): > > If you’re using a wayland-based window manager, I would recommend wlanthy ([https://github.com/st3r4g/wlanthy](https://github.com/st3r4g/wlanthy)). I’m using X11, but still thanks 🙂 > [@trunklayer](#): > > I recommend Google IME There doesn’t seem to be official support from Google? Or am I too stupid to find it lol ---
**Author:** ![yukitanuki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/yukitanuki/32/659005_2.png) [@yukitanuki](https://community.wanikani.com/u/yukitanuki)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:08am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/8 "2024-06-01T11:08:35Z")
I am using mozc-ibus on openSUSE. I would recommend to change a setting so you’re automatically in hiragana mode. Otherwise you always have to manually change it. > > > I'm using Mozc 2.17.2240.102 in Arch Linux with the GNOME desktop environment. E…verytime I switch to Mozc it starts in input mode "Direct Input" which doesn't write any hiragana. I have to manually set input mode to hiragana to start writing every time. Is it possible to change the default input mode? Edit: Maybe mention if you’re on GNOME or KDE, depending on that it’s easier to assist you! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NeoArcturus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/neoarcturus/32/732634_2.png) [@NeoArcturus](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NeoArcturus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:17am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/9 "2024-06-01T11:17:38Z")
> [@yukitanuki](#): > > Edit: Maybe mention if you’re on GNOME or KDE, depending on that it’s easier to assist you! 🙂 I’m actually (currently) on XFCE 🙂 I already found out how to use the mozc IME with fcitx5, but now I’d like to make a shortcut to switch between normal and Japanese mode ---
**Author:** ![yukitanuki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/yukitanuki/32/659005_2.png) [@yukitanuki](https://community.wanikani.com/u/yukitanuki)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:25am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/10 "2024-06-01T11:25:50Z")
Do you mean inside mozc or switching between different keyboard layouts? Because the latter is depending on your shell, which is why I was asking which one you use. Also I’m on GNOME so can’t help with XFCE. ---
**Author:** ![Gorbit99](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/gorbit99/32/7307_2.png) [@Gorbit99](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Gorbit99)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:29am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/11 "2024-06-01T11:29:08Z")
> [@NeoArcturus](#): > > can I make a shortcut to switch between my regular keyboard and the IME, though? Ofc, mine is set to windows + I, mess about in the config tool and you’ll find where. But you can also control it with dbus if it comes to that iirc. That has the benefit of making it always switchable, while with the official shortcut you need to be in an input field. ---
**Author:** ![polv](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/polv/32/572691_2.png) [@polv](https://community.wanikani.com/u/polv)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 11:37am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/12 "2024-06-01T11:37:36Z")
Ctrl+Space or Alt+Space? Have you added Japanese input? Share screenshot? ---
**Author:** ![trunklayer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/trunklayer/32/742093_2.png) [@trunklayer](https://community.wanikani.com/u/trunklayer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/13 "2024-06-01T12:00:44Z")
> [@NeoArcturus](#): > > There doesn’t seem to be official support from Google? Or am I too stupid to find it lol Unfortunately, as it was in 2016, I have now completely forgot how I installed it on Linux. I had Ubuntu at that time, but I do remember that somehow I did manage to install that IME… 🤔 Although to be fair, by now I’m not sure, maybe it was actually mozc that @polv さん has recommended… Sorry for being such a forgetful cat ![trunky_rolling](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/5/6/3/563563c1436ba26db36cbdb59e4477723588035c.gif) ---
**Author:** ![NeoArcturus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/neoarcturus/32/732634_2.png) [@NeoArcturus](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NeoArcturus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/14 "2024-06-01T13:50:21Z")
> [@polv](#): > > Have you added Japanese input? Share screenshot? Ctrl + Space seems to work when I have focus on an input field What would you need a screenshot of? 🙂 > [@Gorbit99](#): > > But you can also control it with dbus if it comes to that iirc. That has the benefit of making it always switchable, while with the official shortcut you need to be in an input field. That’s exactly what I was looking for, thanks! How do I do that? I can’t find anything helpful when researching 😅 ---
**Author:** ![Gorbit99](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/gorbit99/32/7307_2.png) [@Gorbit99](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Gorbit99)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/15 "2024-06-01T14:09:19Z")
> [@NeoArcturus](#): > > That’s exactly what I was looking for, thanks! How do I do that? I can’t find anything helpful when researching 😅 Dbus is one of those technologies where you won’t find a single direct guide for them usually. But you can snoop around with the tools that exist and see what methods a certain interface makes available. I certainly wouldn’t start with that, see if the default keybinding options cause an issue (generally they shouldn’t) ---
**Author:** ![mrcrab](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/mrcrab/32/708926_2.png) [@mrcrab](https://community.wanikani.com/u/mrcrab)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/16 "2024-06-01T14:35:14Z")
I think Mozc is best for Xfce? ---
**Author:** ![simias](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/simias/32/791573_2.png) [@simias](https://community.wanikani.com/u/simias)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/17 "2024-06-01T14:53:08Z")
I use mozc with fcitx5 (on Arch btw) because it’s the only way I managed to get the Japanese IME to work with my Dvorak layout. The others would generally revert to qwerty as soon as the IME was active which was really annoying for me. To make it even more complicated I also need to have a third Russian Cyrillic keyboard in my rotation and fcitx handles that well (it always favors the last used layout when toggling, so if I’m just writing English and Russian or English and Japanese the third layout stays out of the way). ---
**Author:** ![Gorbit99](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/gorbit99/32/7307_2.png) [@Gorbit99](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Gorbit99)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/18 "2024-06-01T15:08:00Z")
> [@simias](#): > > The others would generally revert to qwerty This I hate it so much on windows, reverting to qwerty, when I have a qwertz layout… ---
**Author:** ![simias](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/simias/32/791573_2.png) [@simias](https://community.wanikani.com/u/simias)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/19 "2024-06-01T15:08:55Z")
Yeah I find that really strange. Of course Dvorak is not common but there are plenty of people using QWERTZ or AZERTY… ---
**Author:** ![NeoArcturus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/neoarcturus/32/732634_2.png) [@NeoArcturus](https://community.wanikani.com/u/NeoArcturus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126/20 "2024-06-01T16:12:33Z")
> [@Gorbit99](#): > > Dbus is one of those technologies where you won’t find a single direct guide for them usually. But you can snoop around with the tools that exist and see what methods a certain interface makes available. I certainly wouldn’t start with that, see if the default keybinding options cause an issue (generally they shouldn’t) Ok, I guess I’ll just explore it a bit 😄 Thanks for the help! While they don’t cause an issue, it’s still a bit annoying that I have to have an active input box in order to switch between normal and Japanese input (still better than Windows, though) > [@mrcrab](#): > > I think Mozc is best for Xfce? I don’t plan staying with xfce, I’m just using it temporary until I finished configuring i3 so that I have something I can work with 🙂 (don’t expect me to be finished too soon, though 🤣) > [@Gorbit99](#): > > I hate it so much on windows, reverting to qwerty, when I have a qwertz layout… I had the same issue, but @pembogeyman helped me solving it [here](https://community.wanikani.com/t/japanese-in-one-year-not-your-usual-study-log/64062/50) [Next page](https://community.wanikani.com/t/recommended-imes-for-linux/66126.md?page=2)