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codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Windows Chinese IME fails in Codex CLI input until the terminal loses and regains focus [1 comments, 2 participants]

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openai/codex#19501•Fetched 2026-04-26 05:16:19
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Fix Action

Fix / Workaround

Workarounds tried

These did not fully resolve the issue. Losing and regaining focus is the only reliable workaround observed so far.

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What version of Codex is running?

codex-cli 0.125.0

What platform is your computer?

Windows 11 x64
Windows Terminal + PowerShell

What issue are you seeing?

When using Codex CLI on Windows with a Chinese IME, the Codex input box sometimes fails to accept Chinese input after startup or after switching input methods.

However, if I switch to another application and then switch back to the Codex CLI terminal window, Chinese IME input starts working again in the same Codex input box.

This makes the issue look related to focus handling or IME context initialization in the Codex CLI TUI.

Steps to reproduce

  1. Open Windows Terminal with PowerShell.
  2. Run codex.
  3. Focus the Codex CLI input box.
  4. Switch to a Chinese IME.
  5. Try to type Chinese text.
  6. Observe that Chinese input does not work correctly.
  7. Switch to another application, then switch back to the Codex terminal.
  8. Try typing Chinese again.

Expected behavior

Chinese IME input should work immediately in the Codex CLI input box after startup, without needing to switch away from and back to the terminal window.

Actual behavior

Chinese IME input fails initially, but starts working after the Codex terminal loses and regains focus.

Workarounds tried

  • codex --no-alt-screen
  • Switching input method with Win + Space
  • Switching Chinese/English mode with Shift

These did not fully resolve the issue. Losing and regaining focus is the only reliable workaround observed so far.

Additional information

This may be related to focus or IME context initialization in the Windows TUI layer.

Possibly related issues:

extent analysis

TL;DR

The issue can be temporarily resolved by switching away from and back to the Codex terminal window to regain focus, which allows Chinese IME input to work correctly.

Guidance

  • Investigate the focus handling and IME context initialization in the Codex CLI TUI to identify the root cause of the issue.
  • Review the possibly related issues (e.g., #5036, #5194, #12260, #18930) to see if they provide any insights or solutions.
  • Consider testing the issue with different versions of Codex or Windows to determine if it's a version-specific problem.
  • Look into alternative workarounds, such as using a different terminal emulator or input method editor, to see if they can provide a more reliable solution.

Notes

The issue seems to be related to the interaction between the Codex CLI, Windows Terminal, and the Chinese IME, and may require a deeper understanding of the underlying systems and their interactions to resolve.

Recommendation

Apply the workaround of switching away from and back to the Codex terminal window to regain focus, as it is the only reliable solution observed so far, until a more permanent fix can be found.

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FAQ

Expected behavior

Chinese IME input should work immediately in the Codex CLI input box after startup, without needing to switch away from and back to the terminal window.

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codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Windows Chinese IME fails in Codex CLI input until the terminal loses and regains focus [1 comments, 2 participants]