Japanese on-screen virtual keyboard in KDE?

Framework Laptop 12 Linux
1

Which Linux distro are you using?
Fedora

Which release version?
43

Which kernel are you using?
6.18.7-200

Which BIOS version are you using?
BIOS Information
Vendor: INSYDE Corp.
Version: 03.06
Release Date: 10/02/2025

Which Framework Laptop 12 model are you using?
13th Gen Intel® Core™

Curious if anyone else has tried to get multiple language input working on the 12 in a way that the on-screen keyboard still works. So, I am trying to get Japanese input working and from my reading, the modern way to do it is using “fcitx5”.

Problem is, after switching the virtual keyboard to fcitx5, the on-screen keyboard function stops working, so I can not get a keyboard on the screen when in tablet mode. It appears to be a problem with fcitx because the on-screen keyboard works fine when switched back to the default “maliit” input.

It seems this is not a very common use, so I am having trouble finding any info on what is configured wrong. Is it just a limitation of wayland? Does X11 work? I may try installing X11 to try.

If anyone has been through this issue with trying to get fcitx5 working properly, I would love to know.

1 Like
2

Reading this: Reddit - The heart of the internet (a post specifically about fcitx on wayland KDE), it seems that fcitx has to be started as a virtual keyboard, which may be what is missing in your setup. I do not know how to do this, but perhaps this gets you on the path you need?

3

I am using Japanese input with fcitx5 + wvkbd on Sway window manager tablet mode on Fedora Linux on Framework Laptop 12. These work on tablet mode.

wvkbd: Official repository, GitHub mirror

4

I ended up going this route for now. Compiled and installed fcitx5-osk which gave me the on screen keyboard with both languages.

If anyone else tries this on Fedora, I also had to install the source-foundry-hack-fonts package.

5

I guess this is not technically an issue with the laptop itself but I’ve been having the same issue, on Fedora 43 KDE Plasma. A shame that Plasma Keyboard doesn’t work with fcitx5, really makes tablet mode almost unusable (if I also want to be able to type in Japanese with the physical keyboard).

Looks like I’ll also have to try fcitx5-osk, seems like it’s the only solution for now. Even though it looks like a very jank workaround to me, I appreciate that it exists.