how to enable chinese input method in WSL using ibus and wslg?

I am running Ubuntu 25.04 on WSL2 with WSLg enabled on Windows 11. I have installed IBus and can configure it via the GUI panel, but I encounter several issues:

1. When I try to use Chinese input (e.g., Pinyin or Wubi) in Linux GUI applications like gedit or Firefox, the candidate window either flashes briefly and disappears, or I cannot switch input at all.

ibus restart sometimes gives errors such as Wayland input-method protocol version 1 does not work with the forked application and No global engine.

I have tried setting environment variables (GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus, QT_IM_MODULE=ibus, XMODIFIERS=@im=ibus, IBUS_USE_PORTAL=0), but the issue persists.

If I force MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=0 to run Firefox in X11 mode, it fails with Error: cannot open display: :0.

I have considered using Fcitx5, but it often reports it is already running even when it is not, making it unreliable in WSLg.

What I want to achieve:

Fully functional Chinese input method (Pinyin/Wubi) in Linux GUI applications running under WSLg.

Stable candidate window and input switching, without conflicts or crashes.

Ideally, a solution that works for both X11 and Wayland GUI applications, but X11-only solution is acceptable if Wayland cannot be supported.

What I have tried:

Installing IBus and necessary packages (ibus, ibus-gtk, ibus-gtk3, ibus-qt4, ibus-libpinyin, ibus-table)

Setting environment variables in ~/.bashrc

Starting ibus-daemon -drx --panel disable

Testing with both lightweight editors (Leafpad) and heavier applications (Gedit, Firefox)

Attempting to use Fcitx5 but facing the “already running” problem

Question: What is the recommended way to enable a stable Chinese input method in WSL2 with WSLg using IBus (or Fcitx5 if better) for Linux GUI applications?I am running Ubuntu 25.04 on WSL2 with WSLg enabled on Windows 11. I have installed IBus and can configure it via the GUI panel, but I encounter several issues:

When I try to use Chinese input (e.g., Pinyin or Wubi) in Linux GUI applications like gedit or Firefox, the candidate window either flashes briefly and disappears, or I cannot switch input at all.

ibus restart sometimes gives errors such as Wayland input-method protocol version 1 does not work with the forked application and No global engine.

I have tried setting environment variables (GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus, QT_IM_MODULE=ibus, XMODIFIERS=@im=ibus, IBUS_USE_PORTAL=0), but the issue persists.

If I force MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=0 to run Firefox in X11 mode, it fails with Error: cannot open display: :0.

I have considered using Fcitx5, but it often reports it is already running even when it is not, making it unreliable in WSLg.

What I want to achieve:

Fully functional Chinese input method (Pinyin/Wubi) in Linux GUI applications running under WSLg.

Stable candidate window and input switching, without conflicts or crashes.

Ideally, a solution that works for both X11 and Wayland GUI applications, but X11-only solution is acceptable if Wayland cannot be supported.

What I have tried:

Installing IBus and necessary packages (ibus, ibus-gtk, ibus-gtk3, ibus-qt4, ibus-libpinyin, ibus-table)

Setting environment variables in ~/.bashrc

Starting ibus-daemon -drx --panel disable

Testing with both lightweight editors (Leafpad) and heavier applications (Gedit, Firefox)

Attempting to use Fcitx5 but facing the “already running” problem

Question:
What is the recommended way to enable a stable Chinese input method in WSL2 with WSLg using IBus for Linux GUI applications?

The Error Reports I received:

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export QT_IM_MODULE=ibus

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export XMODIFIERS=@im=ibus

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ source ~/.bashrc

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ nano ~/.bashrc

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ source ~/.bashrc

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ firefox

xdg-settings: unknown desktop environment

[GFX1-]: RenderCompositorSWGL failed mapping default framebuffer, no dt

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=0 firefox

xdg-settings: unknown desktop environment

Error: cannot open display: :0

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ nano ~/.profile

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ ibus restart

Wayland input-method protocol version 1 does not work with the forked application.

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$

(ibus-ui-gtk3:5632): IBUS-CRITICAL **: 01:08:49.886: string_substring: assertion '(offset + len) <= string_length' failed

(ibus-ui-gtk3:5632): IBUS-CRITICAL **: 01:08:49.886: string_substring: assertion '(offset + len) <= string_length' failed

(ibus-ui-gtk3:5632): IBUS-WARNING **: 01:08:49.904: ibus_bus_call_sync: org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.Get: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.Failed: No global engine.

(ibus-ui-gtk3:5632): IBUS-WARNING **: 01:08:49.907: panel.vala:983: Please unset QT_IM_MODULE and GTK_IM_MODULE environment variables and 'ibus-daemon --panel disable' should be executed as a child process of ibus-ui-gtk3 component.

(ibus-ui-gtk3:5632): IBUS-WARNING **: 01:08:49.914: ibus_bus_call_sync: org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.Get: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.Failed: No global engine.

Gdk-Message: 01:08:49.939: Error 71 (Protocol error) dispatching to Wayland display.

^C

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export QT_IM_MODULE=ibus

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export XMODIFIERS=@im=ibus

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export IBUS_USE_PORTAL=0

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=0

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ source ~/.bashrc

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ ibus-daemon -drx --panel disable

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ gedit

** (gedit:5763): WARNING **: 01:10:04.268: Could not load Peas repository: Typelib file for namespace 'Peas', version '1.0' not found

** (gedit:5763): WARNING **: 01:10:04.268: Could not load PeasGtk repository: Typelib file for namespace 'PeasGtk', version '1.0' not found

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ gedit

** (gedit:6042): WARNING **: 01:14:32.643: Could not load Peas repository: Typelib file for namespace 'Peas', version '1.0' not found

** (gedit:6042): WARNING **: 01:14:32.643: Could not load PeasGtk repository: Typelib file for namespace 'PeasGtk', version '1.0' not found

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ export GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus

export QT_IM_MODULE=ibus

export XMODIFIERS=@im=ibus

export IBUS_USE_PORTAL=0

export MOZ_ENABLE_WAYLAND=0

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ source ~/.bashrc

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ ibus-daemon -drx --panel disable

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ sudo apt install leafpad -y

Package leafpad is not available, but is referred to by another package.

This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or

is only available from another source

Error: Package 'leafpad' has no installation candidate

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ sudo apt install leafpad -y

Package leafpad is not available, but is referred to by another package.

This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or

is only available from another source

Error: Package 'leafpad' has no installation candidate

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ sudo apt install leafpad

Package leafpad is not available, but is referred to by another package.

This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or

is only available from another source

Error: Package 'leafpad' has no installation candidate

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ gedit

** (gedit:6205): WARNING **: 01:16:20.127: Could not load Peas repository: Typelib file for namespace 'Peas', version '1.0' not found

** (gedit:6205): WARNING **: 01:16:20.127: Could not load PeasGtk repository: Typelib file for namespace 'PeasGtk', version '1.0' not found

In Addition:

i've tried to use fcitx5, however, it always fails the failure is the fcitx thinks itself has been started but actually not... so that's why i changed to ibus...

weber@DESKTOP-L9N6UR0:~$ fcitx5

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.065529 instance.cpp:1394] Override Enabled Addons: {}

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.065606 instance.cpp:1395] Override Disabled Addons: {}

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.068257 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon wayland

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.070169 xcbconnection.cpp:199] Connecting to X11 display, display name::0.

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.070335 xcbconnection.cpp:204] X11 display: :0 is xwayland.

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.070438 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon xcb

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.071281 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon quickphrase

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.071793 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon clipboard

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.071974 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon unicode

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.072102 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon imselector

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.074780 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon keyboard

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.074954 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon waylandim

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.075308 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon luaaddonloader

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.075905 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon pinyinhelper

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.076849 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon dbus

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.079768 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon fcitx4frontend

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.080339 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon imeapi

I2025-08-24 01:50:35.081117 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon ibusfrontend

E2025-08-24 01:50:35.081702 xim.cpp:165] Failed to open xim, retrying.

E2025-08-24 01:50:36.082424 xim.cpp:165] Failed to open xim, retrying.

E2025-08-24 01:50:37.082969 xim.cpp:165] Failed to open xim, retrying.

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.083208 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon xim

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.084383 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon dbusfrontend

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.106557 inputmethodmanager.cpp:209] Found 739 input method(s) in addon keyboard

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.116160 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon kimpanel

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.116417 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon virtualkeyboard

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.128447 classicui.cpp:88] Created classicui for x11 display::0

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.128494 classicui.cpp:109] Created classicui for wayland display:

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.128562 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon classicui

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.128912 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon notificationitem

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.129397 addonmanager.cpp:205] Loaded addon notifications

zwp_input_method_v1#10: error 0: permission to bind input_method denied

E2025-08-24 01:50:38.134407 waylandeventreader.cpp:129] Wayland connection got error: 71

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.134461 waylandmodule.cpp:360] Connection removed

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.138806 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon notifications

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.138871 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon notificationitem

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.138916 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon classicui

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.139715 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon virtualkeyboard

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.139765 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon kimpanel

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.139808 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon dbusfrontend

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.139850 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon xim

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.139969 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon ibusfrontend

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140031 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon imeapi

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140111 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon fcitx4frontend

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140180 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon dbus

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140236 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon pinyinhelper

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140267 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon luaaddonloader

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140289 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon waylandim

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140330 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon keyboard

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140437 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon imselector

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140457 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon unicode

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140478 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon clipboard

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140500 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon quickphrase

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140634 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon xcb

I2025-08-24 01:50:38.140787 addonmanager.cpp:308] Unloading addon wayland

Please! i know it may sound weird but i won't get i high GPA/score if i don't use Chinese😭😭😭