In a method for invoking an input method, when an application on the server enters an editing state, a desktop serving end in the server monitors an operating system to determine that the application is in the editing state, and then the desktop serving end sends, to the terminal, a message indicating that the application is in the editing state, where the message triggers the terminal to invoke an input method of the terminal. In this way, when the application is in the editing state, a user may enter a text by using the input method of the terminal.