How to Enable the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 10 and Windows 11

The on-screen keyboard is a handy built-in feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11, allowing users to type without a physical keyboard. It’s especially useful for touchscreen devices and in situations where the physical keyboard is unavailable or not working. In this guide, we’ll go over several methods to enable the on-screen keyboard in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1. Enabling the On-Screen Keyboard via Settings

One of the easiest ways to activate the on-screen keyboard is through the Settings menu.

For Windows 10:

  1. Open the Start menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Ease of Access.
  3. Navigate to the Keyboard section and toggle on the On-Screen Keyboard option.

For Windows 11:

  1. Open the Start menu and go to Settings.
  2. Choose Accessibility.
  3. Go to the Keyboard section and turn on the On-Screen Keyboard switch.

2. Enabling the On-Screen Keyboard via Taskbar

A quick way to access the virtual keyboard is through the taskbar icon.

Steps:

  1. Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar.
  2. Select Show touch keyboard button.
  3. A keyboard icon will appear on the taskbar. Click it to open the on-screen keyboard.

3. Using the Start Menu Search

If you need to open the on-screen keyboard quickly, use the Windows search function:

  1. Click Start and type On-Screen Keyboard in the search box.
  2. Select the app from the list to launch it.

4. Launching the On-Screen Keyboard via Command Prompt

If you prefer using the Command Prompt, you can launch the on-screen keyboard with a simple command:

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type osk and press Enter.

5. Using the On-Screen Keyboard on Touchscreen Devices

On touchscreen devices, the on-screen keyboard often appears automatically when you tap a text field. However, if it doesn’t show up, you can enable it manually using the methods described above.