diff --git a/backend/display.py b/backend/display.py
index f5c79e2..67cacf1 100644
--- a/backend/display.py
+++ b/backend/display.py
@@ -372,6 +372,9 @@ class ManagedGuiApp:
             await self._xdotool("windowmove", "--sync", wid, "0", "0", env=env)
             # Resize to fill display (Xvfb is 1280x1024)
             await self._xdotool("windowsize", "--sync", wid, "1280", "1024", env=env)
+            # Focus the window for input
+            await self._xdotool("windowfocus", wid, env=env)
+            self._focused = True
             # Some apps need a moment to redraw after resize
             await asyncio.sleep(0.3)
             log.debug("Maximized window %s to 1280x1024 for %s", wid, self.app_id)
@@ -397,6 +400,16 @@ class ManagedGuiApp:
 
     # ---- Input forwarding ----
 
+    _focused: bool = False  # tracks whether we've activated the window
+
+    async def _ensure_focus(self, env: dict):
+        """Activate/focus the window once, then skip on subsequent calls."""
+        if not self._focused:
+            wid = str(self.window_id)
+            await self._xdotool("windowactivate", wid, env=env)
+            await self._xdotool("windowfocus", wid, env=env)
+            self._focused = True
+
     async def send_input(self, msg: dict):
         """Forward mouse/keyboard input to the X11 window."""
         if not self.window_id or not XDOTOOL_BIN:
@@ -418,23 +431,23 @@ class ManagedGuiApp:
         wid = str(self.window_id)
 
         if action == "click":
+            await self._ensure_focus(env)
             btn = str(msg.get("button", 1))
             await self._xdotool(
-                "windowactivate", "--sync", wid,
                 "mousemove", "--window", wid, x, y,
                 "click", "--window", wid, btn,
                 env=env,
             )
         elif action == "dblclick":
+            await self._ensure_focus(env)
             btn = str(msg.get("button", 1))
             await self._xdotool(
-                "windowactivate", "--sync", wid,
                 "mousemove", "--window", wid, x, y,
                 "click", "--window", wid, "--repeat", "2", btn,
                 env=env,
             )
         elif action == "move":
-            await self._xdotool(
+            await self._xdotool_fire(
                 "mousemove", "--window", wid, x, y,
                 env=env,
             )
@@ -452,34 +465,52 @@ class ManagedGuiApp:
         key = msg.get("key", "")
         modifiers = msg.get("modifiers", [])
 
-        # Translate key name
-        xkey = _KEY_MAP.get(key, key)
+        # Skip release events — xdotool key handles press+release
+        if action != "press":
+            return
 
         # Skip standalone modifier key events
+        if key in ("Control", "Shift", "Alt", "Meta"):
+            return
+
+        await self._ensure_focus(env)
+        wid = str(self.window_id)
+
+        # Determine which modifiers are held (excluding Shift for printable chars)
+        active_mods = []
+        for m in modifiers:
+            xmod = _KEY_MAP.get(m, m.lower())
+            if xmod in ("ctrl", "alt", "super"):
+                active_mods.append(xmod)
+
+        # Single printable character with no ctrl/alt/super modifiers → use xdotool type
+        # This handles all special characters (@, #, !, etc.) correctly
+        if len(key) == 1 and not active_mods:
+            await self._xdotool(
+                "type", "--delay", "0", "--clearmodifiers", "--window", wid, key,
+                env=env,
+            )
+            return
+
+        # Non-printable key or key combo with modifiers → use xdotool key
+        xkey = _KEY_MAP.get(key, key)
         if xkey in ("ctrl", "shift", "alt", "super"):
             return
 
-        # Build modifier prefix
+        # For modifier combos, include shift too
         mod_parts = []
         for m in modifiers:
             xmod = _KEY_MAP.get(m, m.lower())
-            if xmod not in ("ctrl", "shift", "alt", "super"):
-                continue
-            mod_parts.append(xmod)
+            if xmod in ("ctrl", "shift", "alt", "super"):
+                mod_parts.append(xmod)
 
         if mod_parts:
             xkey = "+".join(mod_parts) + "+" + xkey
 
-        wid = str(self.window_id)
-        if action == "press":
-            await self._xdotool(
-                "windowfocus", "--sync", wid,
-                "key", "--window", wid, xkey,
-                env=env,
-            )
-        # release events handled implicitly by xdotool key
+        await self._xdotool("key", "--window", wid, xkey, env=env)
 
     async def _xdotool(self, *args, env=None):
+        """Run xdotool and wait for completion."""
         proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
             XDOTOOL_BIN, *args,
             stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
@@ -488,6 +519,28 @@ class ManagedGuiApp:
         )
         await asyncio.wait_for(proc.communicate(), timeout=5)
 
+    async def _xdotool_fire(self, *args, env=None):
+        """Run xdotool without waiting — fire and forget for low-latency ops."""
+        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+            XDOTOOL_BIN, *args,
+            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            stderr=asyncio.subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            env=env,
+        )
+        # Don't await — let it complete in background
+        asyncio.create_task(self._reap(proc))
+
+    @staticmethod
+    async def _reap(proc):
+        """Reap a fire-and-forget subprocess to avoid zombies."""
+        try:
+            await asyncio.wait_for(proc.wait(), timeout=5)
+        except Exception:
+            try:
+                proc.kill()
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+
     # ---- Lifecycle ----
 
     def kill(self):