I start vnc4server in Debian Jessie using command line below: vncserver :1 The part of ~/.vnc/xstartup as below: #************ export GTK_IM_MODULE=xim export QT_IM_MODULE=xim export XMODIFIERS=@im=fcitx fcitx & gnome-session & #************ I can't activated fcitx in vncviewer remotely with any keys combination, I have changed the different keys combination for activating input method in the guest machine. The "xstartup" configuration has been used in Debian 6 normally. Fcitx still can't work in vnc environment of Debian 7 normally, but act the other strange behavior, I will report it in my Debian 7 machine soon. Ibus has no this kind of broblem.