Keyboard input is incorrectly detected by IME even when no text input box is selected in the game. This can lead to problems such as the IME candidate window appearing unexpectedly during normal gameplay.
This issue appears to occur only when using the OpenGL rendering backend. On my device, when using the Vulkan rendering backend, I cannot switch the IME to Chinese mode while no text input box is open, so I am unable to perform the steps described in Steps to Reproduce.
Note: I encountered this problem using the Microsoft Pinyin IME on Windows 11. I have not tested other input methods. The following description uses a Chinese input method as an example.
Steps to Reproduce:
Launch Minecraft.
Ensure that the Chinese IME is active and set to Chinese mode, and no text input field (chat box, sign, etc.) is currently focused or open in the game window.
Press some alphabetic keys while the game window is in focus – for example, press the W key twice.
Observe what appears on the screen.
Actual Result:
An IME candidate window appears, showing suggestions for "ww".
Expected Result:
No IME candidate window should appear.
Notes:
In 26.3‑snapshot‑10, pressing alphabetic keys did not immediately trigger the IME candidate window. However, the keystrokes were still buffered, causing pre‑field input to be passed to the IME after a text field was opened. (Video: 2026-08-22 15-03-24.mkv)
In 26.3‑pre‑1, this specific problem did not occur with the Microsoft Pinyin IME, but according to comments, similar issues might still exist with other input methods. (Video: 26.3-pre-1.mkv)
In 26.3‑pre‑2, pressing alphabetic keys immediately triggers the IME candidate window, even when no text input box is selected. (Video: 26.3-pre-2.mkv)
Linked issues
is duplicated by 14
MC-311375
Chinese IME candidate window pops up when moving (WASD) in latest snapshot
Resolved
MC-311409
Chinese input method bug
Resolved
MC-311418
There is an issue with non‑Microsoft Chinese input methods
Resolved
MC-311448
The Microsoft Pinyin input method has serious bugs.
Resolved
MC-311440
Residual WASD Letters Appear in Chat Box and Get Sent with Messages
Resolved
relates to 2
Attachments
Comments 11
我发现，在没有打开任何文本输入框的情况下，按潜行键，电脑系统右下角的“英”换成“中”，或者“中”换成“英”
English: I found that when no text input field is open, pressing the sneak key causes the input method indicator in the bottom-right corner of the computer to switch from "English" to "Chinese", or from "Chinese" to "English"
Request to reopen this issue. In 26.3 Pre-Release 1, among the input methods I have installed, only the Microsoft IME has been fixed; the other two third-party input methods still have issues.
This can still be reproduced in 26.3 Release Candidate 2.
This is a critical bug that directly hinders the Minecraft gameplay experience.
After testing, using the Vulkan renderer doesn't cause this issue, but once you switch to the OpenGL renderer, it happens
Reply to yuyu’s comment at 2026-09-17T13:42:55+0000: When I use the Vulkan render backend, I can’t switch to Chinese IME at all when there is no text input box, so this issue is unable to be triggered.
After consulting a mod developer, the following investigation results were obtained:
Background ①: When creating an OpenGL context, a window must be provided to bind to it.
Background ②: SDL internally and permanently caches the HWND of the first window created, for use by input method operations.
Background ③: In Snapshot 9, the timing of window creation changed from the original “create hidden window → create OGL context → show window” to “create OGL context → directly create visible window.”
In terms of implementation details, Snapshot 8’s OGL context binds directly to the real game window, whereas Snapshot 9 binds to a temporary window upon creation. This causes SDL’s cached HWND to become that temporary window, making it impossible to perform input method operations on the real game window created later.
In other words, under SDL, the first window created must be the real game window. The Vulkan backend, because it has no mandatory initialization requirement to bind to a window, does not have any temporary window.
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