How to Use the Windows On Screen Keyboard (Shortcut)

Want to put a keyboard on your screen (and use it, too)? Wondering how, then, you can get rid of that keyboard? Find out here how to get and use the on-screen keyboard with a shortcut on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

First, Say Your Name

Then, continue with a sage’s kind advice and words.

According to one study (quoted in Marc Brackett‘s thoroughly practical Permission to Feel), talking to yourself in the third person is an excellent way to steer your own emotions.

Where “I just know what to say and do” fails,

“Malwida just knows what to say and do.”

might well work.

How about a possibly novel approach to steering your Window computer? First, Heinz brings up the Windows on-screen keyboard:

How to Open the Windows On Screen Keyboard with a Shortcut

Alternative paths to the Windows on screen keyboard exist, of course (you may well be without a working physical keyboard after all):

Using Windows Settings

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Select Settings.
   Windows keyboard shortcut: Press Windows I to open Windows settings swiftly.
3. Open the Accessibility category.
   Windows 10: In Windows 10, open the category Ease of Access.
4. Now go to the Keyboard section.
5. Turn on On-screen keyboard under On-screen keyboard, access, and Print screen.
   Windows 10: Enable Use the On-Screen Keyboard under User your device without a physical keyboard.
   

Using the “Start” Menu

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Go to Windows Ease of Access under Programs or All Programs.
3. Launch the On-Screen Keyboard program.
   Windows 11: Search for and open the On-Screen Keyboard app.

How to Use the Touch Keyboard as an On-Screen Keyboard on Windows

Windows also offers a touch keyboard on the screen which you can use as an alternative; you can type on it using a touch screen but also a mouse or trackpad.

To bring up the Windows touch keyboard:

1. Click the Touch keyboard button in the Windows taskbar.
   
   No “Touch keyboard” button: See below for adding the button.
2. Use the touch keyboard’s settings button () to change its size and attach it to the bottom of the screen or have it float.
   No keyboard to be seen: If the touch keyboard does not appear, its service may be disabled in Windows; see below for enabling Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service.

Add the “Touch keyboard” Button to Windows

To add the Touch keyboard button to the Windows taskbar:

Windows 11

1. Open the Settings app in the Windows Start menu.
2. Go to the Personalization category.
3. Select Taskbar.
4. Now choose Always for Touch keyboard under System tray icons.

Windows 10

1. Click on the taskbar with the right mouse button.
2. Select Show touch keyboard button from the context menu.

How to Use the Windows On Screen Keyboard: FAQ

How do I get rid of the keyboard on the screen?

To close the Window on-screen keyboard:

1. Press Alt F4 (using the on-screen or a physical keyboard).
   Using the mouse: You can also click the keyboard’s close button (x), of course.
   Alternative Windows keyboard shortcut: Windows Ctrl O also closes the Windows on screen keyboard.

To move the Windows touch keyboard out of the way entirely:

1. Tap the keyboard’s close button (x).
   Alternative: If you attach a physical keyboard and press a key on it, the touch keyboard also closes.
   Move or minimize the on-screen keyboard: Tap the keyboard settings button () to make the keyboard smaller and move it out of the way without closing it entirely.

Can I get a numeric keyboard section for the on-screen keyboard?

Yes.

To show a numeric on-screen keyboard:

1. Open the on-screen keyboard. (See above.)
2. Click Options on the on-screen keyboard.
3. Check Turn on numeric key pad.
4. Close the Options window.

How do I get rid of the click sound when I press a key on the on-screen keyboard?

To stop the clicking sound from playing for the on-screen keyboard:

1. Click Options on the keyboard you see on the screen.
2. Uncheck Use click sound.
3. Close Options.

The touch keyboard does not appear when I click the taskbar button; what can I do?

When clicking the Touch keyboard button does nothing, chances are the Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel service is disabled in Windows 10.

To enable the service:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Begin typing services.
3. Now open Services (App).
4. Double-click Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service.
5. Select Manual, Automatic, or Automatic (Delayed Start) for Startup type:.
   With a physical keyboard: The typical choice on machines that do have a physical keyboard attached and no touch screen will be Manual.
6. Click OK.

(How to use the on-screen keyboard tested with Windows 11 Version 22H2–23H2 and Windows 10 Version 21H2; first published January 2020, last updated November 2024)