Android: switch to a different IME programmatically

Question

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/text/creating-input-method.html#GeneralDesign reads:

Because multiple IMEs may be installed on the device, provide a way for the user to switch to a different IME directly from the input method UI.

Let's assume I have the source of two input methods and can modify it. I want to let the user switch between them quickly and am ready to reserve a button for that. How do I "switch to a different IME directly from the input method UI"?

18446744073709551615 · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-14T08:03:10.193

18

Switching to the previous input method from the current input method is:

//final String LATIN = "com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME";
// 'this' is an InputMethodService
try {
    InputMethodManager imm = (InputMethodManager) this.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
    final IBinder token = this.getWindow().getWindow().getAttributes().token;
    //imm.setInputMethod(token, LATIN);
    imm.switchToLastInputMethod(token);
} catch (Throwable t) { // java.lang.NoSuchMethodError if API_level<11
    Log.e(TAG,"cannot set the previous input method:");
    t.printStackTrace();
}

If you want to switch to a particular input method whose ID you know, you may do as the commented-out lines suggest.

EDIT @pRaNaY suggested a single .getWindow() in a silent edit (click "edited" below to see the history). I remember that it did not work for Android 2.3; if you consult the docs, you will see that the first call, InputMethodService.getWindow() returns a Dialog (which is not a subclass of Window), and the second call, Dialog.getWindow() returns a Window. There is no Dialog.getAttributes(), so with a single .getWindow() it will not even compile.

edited Jul 14 '16 at 08:03

answered May 24 '13 at 07:09

18446744073709551615

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but how to get instance of service class for final IBinder token = this.getWindow().getWindow().getAttributes().token; – Ram May 25 '15 at 06:55
@Ram if your project is an InputMethodService, and it is currently selected by the user, this is your service. – 18446744073709551615 May 25 '15 at 10:00
I'm confused, doesn't this solution contradict what @Raghav Sood was saying - that for security reasons this is not allowed? – Ronen Rabinovici Mar 07 '16 at 11:46
@RonenRabinovici the security check is that _`setInputMethod()` can only be called from an application or a service which has a token of the currently active input method._ – 18446744073709551615 Mar 13 '16 at 04:01

Raghav Sood · Answer 2 · 2013-05-22T06:14:50.053

12

You cannot change the user's currently active IME through code for security reasons, sorry.

However, you can show a system provided dialog to allow the user to select one of the other enabled ones.

InputMethodManager imeManager = (InputMethodManager) context.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE); 
if (imeManager != null) {
    imeManager.showInputMethodPicker();
} else {
    Toast.makeText(context ,"Error", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}

edited May 22 '13 at 06:14

answered May 22 '13 at 05:59

Raghav Sood

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The mean for you to show a switcher dialog, which will be provided by the system. You cannot do it without showing this dialog. – Raghav Sood May 22 '13 at 06:14
Then how will I invoke that switcher dialog? Note that I am writing an input method, not an application. – 18446744073709551615 May 22 '13 at 06:16
1

Sorry if I miss understand, doesn't the accepted answer provide a solution? – Ronen Rabinovici Mar 07 '16 at 11:47
@RaghavSood if you use this, there as a Set Up Input Methods button if the keyboard is not in list. It has stopped working from Android 7.0 Nougat. :( – Harshad Dec 21 '16 at 16:32

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 25 '20 at 06:22

0

If you have rooted device, you can use /system/bin/ime utility.

List all installed input methods: # ime list -a

Set google's keyboard as default:

ime set com.google.android.inputmethod.latin/com.android.inputmethod.latin.LatinIME

answered Aug 25 '20 at 06:22

i love jack

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Android: switch to a different IME programmatically

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