protonscr

[General] - Steam Deck specific error message is shown on the on-screen keyboard when the ibus package is missing for the active layout.

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ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#12221 · opened 2025-07-23 by ZereoX · updated 2025-09-20 · 3 comments · github
ZZereoX 2025-07-23 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): Stable (1751405894) / Beta (1753228890)
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Manjaro 25 (Gnome)
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes. Issue is present on both Stable and Beta.
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
  • GPU: Radeon RX 7800 XT

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Steam's on-screen keyboard shows an error message (To use this keyboard, please opt into the Preview Channel in Settings -> System) if the underlying ibus package for the language the keyboard is actively switched to is missing. The error message however specific to Steam Deck and not applicable for Desktop users. This affects any keyboard layout which requires a dedicated package to support their Input Method Editor (IME).

ibus-pinyin Installed ✅ ibus-pinyin missing :x:
Image Image

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Launch Steam.
  2. Connect a Gamepad.
  3. Press the Show Keyboard shortcut (Steam / Xbox + X or PS + Square or Home + Y).

Reproduction Rate: 5/5

Affected Platforms

  • LCD / Jupiter: No
  • OLED / Galileo: No
  • Desktop Deck-like session (gamescope -e -- steam -gamepadui -steamdeck): Yes
  • Desktop: Yes (Desktop and Big Picture)

Note: Even with the package installed the error message continues to be shown when in a Deck-like session.

Actual result

  • Steam Deck specific error message is shown when the ibus package for the active keyboard layout is missing.

Expected result

  • Error message indicates that the system is missing a required ibus package for the active keyboard layout.
Cchenx-dust 2025-09-20 github

Please try to roll back to IBus 1.5.30 or even older versions. There is something about engine switching changed, which broke Steam IBus support.

Cchenx-dust 2025-09-20 github

It seems that IBus is always using global context after version 1.5.3. But Steam is still using context-dependent SetEngine method. The suitable method is SetGlobalEngine.
https://github.com/ibus/ibus/commit/ee6b673fbea00fa0f4d4671fd4eaea92739a2b5c This commit added global engine check in SetEngine, which makes the engine switching broken.

Cchenx-dust 2025-09-20 github

Here is a work around script:
https://gist.github.com/chenx-dust/2484c56f2afcdf7d9a553bc7293be7a8

Try it. :)

Nothing extracted yet.