Input Methods, Fonts, Screenshots, and Screen Recording

For users who need non-Latin input methods, proper configuration of input methods, fonts, and screenshot/recording tools is essential for daily use. Ubuntu 26.04 provides good out-of-the-box support in these areas. This article covers the configuration methods in detail.

Input Methods

Ubuntu 26.04 supports two mainstream input method frameworks: IBus (default) and Fcitx5.

Tip

If you prefer simplicity and out-of-the-box functionality, use the system default IBus. If you need a better input experience (lower latency, richer configuration, better application compatibility), Fcitx5 is recommended.

IBus Input Method (System Default)

Ubuntu uses the IBus framework by default, making input method installation straightforward.

Installing Language Support

First, ensure that your language support packages are installed:


sudo apt install language-pack-zh-hans
sudo apt install $(check-language-support -l zh)

Installing IBus Input Method Engines

Intelligent Pinyin (Recommended):


sudo apt install ibus-libpinyin

Rime Input Method (highly customizable):


sudo apt install ibus-rime

Enabling the Input Method

Open “Settings > Keyboard”
Under “Input Sources”, click the ”+” button
Select “Chinese (Intelligent Pinyin)” or another installed input method
Use Super + Space to switch between input methods

Fcitx5 Input Method

If you prefer the Fcitx5 framework (faster response, more flexible configuration), follow these steps:

Installing Fcitx5


sudo apt install fcitx5 fcitx5-chinese-addons fcitx5-config-qt fcitx5-frontend-gtk3 fcitx5-frontend-gtk4 fcitx5-frontend-qt5

Setting Fcitx5 as the Default Input Method


im-config -n fcitx5

Then log out and log back in; Fcitx5 will start automatically.

Configuring Fcitx5

Run the Fcitx5 configuration tool:


fcitx5-configtool

In the configuration interface:

Click “Add Input Method”
Search for and add “Pinyin” or “Rime”
Adjust candidate word count, fuzzy pinyin, and other options

Environment Variable Setup

If some applications cannot use Fcitx5, ensure the environment variables are set correctly. Edit ~/.bashrc or create /etc/environment.d/fcitx5.conf:


XMODIFIERS=@im=fcitx
GTK_IM_MODULE=fcitx
QT_IM_MODULE=fcitx

Font Installation

Ubuntu 26.04 includes Noto CJK fonts by default, but you may need additional fonts for different needs.

Installing Common CJK Fonts


# Google Noto CJK fonts (Sans and Serif)
sudo apt install fonts-noto-cjk fonts-noto-cjk-extra
 
# WenQuanYi fonts
sudo apt install fonts-wqy-zenhei fonts-wqy-microhei
 
# Source Han fonts
sudo apt install fonts-source-han-sans-cn fonts-source-han-serif-cn

Installing Common Windows Fonts

If you need to exchange documents with Windows users, install the Microsoft core fonts:


sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer

You will need to accept the EULA license agreement during installation.

Manually Installing Fonts

Copy .ttf or .otf font files to the following directories:

Current user: ~/.local/share/fonts/
All users: /usr/local/share/fonts/

Then refresh the font cache:


fc-cache -fv

Adjusting Font Rendering

You can adjust font rendering in GNOME Tweaks:


sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

Open GNOME Tweaks > Fonts to configure:

Anti-aliasing mode (subpixel rendering recommended)
Hinting level
Scaling factor

Screenshot Tool

GNOME Built-in Screenshot

Ubuntu 26.04 uses the GNOME Shell built-in screenshot UI (the standalone gnome-screenshot app is deprecated), triggered by pressing the Print Screen key.

GNOME 50’s screenshot UI provides a unified interface:

Full Screen: Press Print Screen and select full-screen mode
Window Screenshot: Click the window you want to capture in the screenshot interface
Area Screenshot: Drag to select a screenshot region
After capturing, you can copy to clipboard or save to file directly from the preview

Screenshots are saved by default in the ~/Pictures/Screenshots/ directory.

Shortcut Reference

Shortcut	Function
`Print Screen`	Open the screenshot UI
`Shift + Print Screen`	Capture the whole screen directly and save to file
`Alt + Print Screen`	Capture the current window directly

In the screenshot UI, drag to select a region; captures are saved to a file and copied to the clipboard at the same time.

Third-Party Screenshot Tools

For more annotation features, install Flameshot:


sudo apt install flameshot

Flameshot supports arrows, text annotations, blur, highlight, and other editing features — great for creating tutorial screenshots.

Screen Recording

GNOME Built-in Screen Recording

GNOME 50 includes a built-in screen recording feature that can be launched via:

Press Print Screen to open the screenshot tool, then switch to the “Screen Recording” tab
Choose to record the full screen or a specific area
Click the red record button to start recording
A red indicator appears in the top bar during recording — click it to stop

You can also use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Alt + R to quickly start/stop recording.

Recorded videos are saved in WebM format by default, stored in the ~/Videos/Screencasts/ directory.

OBS Studio

For more professional screen recording and streaming, OBS Studio is recommended:


sudo apt install obs-studio

OBS Studio supports:

Multi-source mixing (screen, window, webcam, images, etc.)
Multiple output formats (MP4, MKV, FLV, etc.)
Live streaming to various platforms
Scene switching and transition effects

Post-Installation Setup — Language pack, input method, and basic configuration after installation
Software Installation — Install more input methods and font tools via APT, Snap, or Flatpak

Summary

Ubuntu 26.04 provides comprehensive input method support. IBus is suitable for users who prefer simplicity, while Fcitx5 offers more flexible configuration options. Combined with good font support and built-in screenshot/recording tools, your daily experience will be very smooth.

FAQ

Should I Choose IBus or Fcitx5?

If you prefer out-of-the-box simplicity, IBus is a good choice as the default input method framework. If you need faster response times, richer customization options, and better third-party input method support, Fcitx5 is recommended.

Can I Use Sogou Input Method?

Sogou Input Method for Linux is based on the Fcitx framework, but its official support for newer Ubuntu versions may lag behind. It is recommended to use Fcitx5’s built-in Pinyin input method first, as its dictionary and intelligent correction capabilities are already excellent. If you specifically need Sogou, download the latest deb package from the Sogou website and install it manually.

What Are the Input Method Switching Shortcuts?

IBus uses Super + Space by default to switch input methods. Fcitx5 uses Ctrl + Space by default, with Left Shift for toggling between Chinese and English. You can customize shortcuts in each framework’s settings tool.