diff --git a/bin/omarchy-input-method b/bin/omarchy-input-method
index 36004c2f..a3dcb653 100755
--- a/bin/omarchy-input-method
+++ b/bin/omarchy-input-method
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 if [[ ${1:-} == "cycle" ]]; then
-  python "$OMARCHY_PATH/default/input-methods/indicator.py" cycle
+  # The shell's reader retains a choice made while nothing has focus. Without
+  # the shell, switch directly.
+  if [[ $(omarchy-shell shell cycleInput 2>/dev/null) != "ok" ]]; then
+    python "$OMARCHY_PATH/default/input-methods/indicator.py" cycle
+  fi
 else
   python "$OMARCHY_PATH/default/input-methods/configure.py" "$@"
 fi
diff --git a/default/input-methods/indicator.py b/default/input-methods/indicator.py
index bdd12c05..bb6703db 100644
--- a/default/input-methods/indicator.py
+++ b/default/input-methods/indicator.py
@@ -112,12 +112,18 @@ class Indicator:
     self.entries = {}
 
   def select_next(self):
-    state = snapshot(self.bus)
+    devices = subprocess.run(["hyprctl", "-j", "devices"], check=True, text=True, capture_output=True)
+    keyboards = json.loads(devices.stdout).get("keyboards", [])
+    try:
+      state = snapshot(self.bus)
+    except GLib.Error:
+      # Without Fcitx, Super+I still cycles the compositor layouts.
+      for command in layout_switches(keyboards):
+        subprocess.run(command, check=True, capture_output=True)
+      return
     methods = state["methods"]
     current = self.pending or state["current"] or self.last
     state["current"] = current if current in methods else next(iter(methods), "")
-    devices = subprocess.run(["hyprctl", "-j", "devices"], check=True, text=True, capture_output=True)
-    keyboards = json.loads(devices.stdout).get("keyboards", [])
     following, index = cycle_choice(state, keyboards)
     if following is None:
       return
diff --git a/docs/omarchy-shell.md b/docs/omarchy-shell.md
index 280268dc..b900a24a 100644
--- a/docs/omarchy-shell.md
+++ b/docs/omarchy-shell.md
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ or `omarchy.power`. There is no `bar` target.
 | `reloadConfig`                        | reload shell.json               |
 | `applyTheme <colorsB64> <shellB64>`   | push theme colors + shell.toml  |
 | `toggleBarTransparency`               | flip the bar background between solid and transparent |
+| `cycleInput`                          | switch to the next input method or layout (Super+I); `not running` without the input reader |
 | `setPluginEnabled <id> <"true"\|…>`   | flip enabled bit (`ok` / `unknown`) |
 | `enablePlugin <id> <placementJson>`   | enable and place in one mutation |
 | `putBarWidget <id> <placementJson>`   | place a widget only where absent (`omarchy bar put`) |
diff --git a/shell/Commons/InputMethodState.qml b/shell/Commons/InputMethodState.qml
index bbcc757c..7535055c 100644
--- a/shell/Commons/InputMethodState.qml
+++ b/shell/Commons/InputMethodState.qml
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ Singleton {
   property var state: ({})
 
   function cycle() {
-    if (watcher.running) watcher.write("cycle\n")
+    if (!watcher.running) return false
+    watcher.write("cycle\n")
+    return true
   }
 
   // One reader and pending selection for every monitor's keyboard widget.
diff --git a/shell/shell.qml b/shell/shell.qml
index 8a7272e4..d2c9ef1d 100644
--- a/shell/shell.qml
+++ b/shell/shell.qml
@@ -1779,6 +1779,12 @@ ShellRoot {
       return "ok"
     }
 
+    // Super+I goes through the bar's reader, which keeps a choice made before
+    // any text field has focus until one does.
+    function cycleInput(): string {
+      return Commons.InputMethodState.cycle() ? "ok" : "not running"
+    }
+
     function rescanPlugins(): void {
       shell.reloadPlugins()
     }
diff --git a/test/shell.d/input-indicator-test.sh b/test/shell.d/input-indicator-test.sh
index 8e91a79c..ac73df73 100755
--- a/test/shell.d/input-indicator-test.sh
+++ b/test/shell.d/input-indicator-test.sh
@@ -170,4 +170,33 @@ with patch.object(indicator.GLib, "MainLoop", return_value=loop), patch.object(i
   assert call.call_args.args[1] == "SetCurrentIM"
 print("ok - a failed compositor query leaves the bar click reader alive for the next request")
 
+keyboards = [{"name": "physical", "layout": "us,dk", "active_layout_index": 0}]
+with patch.object(indicator, "snapshot", side_effect=indicator.GLib.Error("no fcitx")), patch.object(indicator.subprocess, "run", side_effect=fake_process):
+  indicator.Indicator(None).select_next()
+  assert keyboards[0]["active_layout_index"] == 1
+print("ok - the shortcut reader cycles compositor layouts when Fcitx is unavailable")
+
 PY
+
+stubs=$(mktemp -d)
+trap 'rm -rf "$stubs"' EXIT
+calls="$stubs/calls"
+cat >"$stubs/omarchy-shell" <<'SH'
+#!/bin/bash
+echo "shell $*" >>"$CALLS"
+echo "$SHELL_REPLY"
+SH
+cat >"$stubs/python" <<'SH'
+#!/bin/bash
+echo "python ${*##*/}" >>"$CALLS"
+SH
+chmod +x "$stubs/omarchy-shell" "$stubs/python"
+
+CALLS=$calls SHELL_REPLY=ok PATH="$stubs:$PATH" OMARCHY_PATH="$ROOT" "$ROOT/bin/omarchy-input-method" cycle
+[[ $(<"$calls") == "shell shell cycleInput" ]] || fail "Super+I goes through the shell's reader" "$(<"$calls")"
+pass "Super+I goes through the shell's reader, which retains a choice made without focus"
+
+: >"$calls"
+CALLS=$calls SHELL_REPLY="" PATH="$stubs:$PATH" OMARCHY_PATH="$ROOT" "$ROOT/bin/omarchy-input-method" cycle
+[[ $(<"$calls") == $'shell shell cycleInput\npython indicator.py cycle' ]] || fail "Super+I switches directly without the shell" "$(<"$calls")"
+pass "Super+I switches directly when the shell does not answer"