Switch less. Stay in flow.
Chinese for chat. English for the terminal. Keep your thoughts moving.
FlowIME · Automatic Chinese/English input switching for VS Code on Windows.
Install from the Marketplace · Usage guide (中文) · Report an issue
简体中文 / English
Discuss a solution with AI in Chinese, run a command in the terminal, then return to the conversation. FlowIME switches input modes with focus, reducing the interruptions of switching them yourself.
| What you are doing | FlowIME's default behavior |
|---|---|
| Describing a task in chat | Request Chinese mode |
| Entering a terminal command | Request English mode |
| Working in the code editor | Keep the current input mode |
| Using a recognized find widget, including Markdown preview | Keep the current input mode |
- Keep your familiar IME: use the input method already configured in Windows, with no extra English keyboard required.
- Make it yours: observable manual language changes are remembered for the current session. You can also choose Chinese, English, or no intervention for an input.
- Reduce back-and-forth switching: focus debounce waits for a stable input before switching, filtering out brief stops along the way.
- Take control anytime: click the status bar to pause; use diagnostics to investigate unrecognized inputs. Password fields and read-only controls are left unchanged.
Requires Windows x64, VS Code 1.96+ or Insiders, and a configured Chinese input method.
Search the Marketplace for FlowIME: Auto Input Switcher, published by FlowIME, or run:
code --install-extension FlowIME.flowimeEnabled as soon as you install it. Type a Chinese message in chat, then enter a terminal command to try focus-based switching.
Commands, setting descriptions, status bar text and prompts follow the VS Code display language: Chinese for Chinese locales, English otherwise. After changing the display language, restart as prompted by VS Code. Interface language does not change input-switching rules.
| Setting | Default | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
autoInput.enabled |
true |
Enable automatic switching |
autoInput.rememberPreferences |
true |
Remember input preferences for the current session |
autoInput.otherInputs |
chinese |
Use preserve to leave ordinary inputs, such as search boxes, unchanged |
autoInput.pollInterval |
100 |
Focus-check interval in milliseconds, from 50 to 1000 |
Preferences do not persist across helper sessions. Switching depends on control accessibility and IME support. The status bar shows the requested target, not a verified input state; unrecognized chat inputs may need adaptation.
Usage, migration and troubleshooting (中文) · Compatibility (中文) · Maintenance and releases (中文) · Changelog · Report an issue
Focused on focus. No code or chat content is read. No keystroke listening, network requests, or telemetry. Currently limited to desktop VS Code on Windows; no system-wide switching.
Developed by haochen12 · MIT License · Independent project, not affiliated with AI assistant vendors.