What an on-screen keyboard is and when you need it
An on-screen keyboard is a virtual keyboard that appears on your screen instead of requiring you to use a physical keyboard. You control it by clicking or tapping keys with your mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen. It is built into Windows, macOS, and most phones — you do not need to read anything.
You might use an on-screen keyboard if your physical keyboard is broken, if you have limited hand mobility, if you are using a tablet or touch screen, or if you want to type without making noise. Some people use it alongside voice typing or eye-tracking software for additional control.
The on-screen keyboard stays visible while you work, so you can see exactly what you are typing and switch between it and other tools on your screen without closing anything.
Key Takeaways
- Windows has an on-screen keyboard called the Touch Keyboard that you open from Settings or by pressing the Windows key plus the O key.
- macOS users can turn on the Keyboard Viewer from System Settings, which shows a visual layout of your keyboard and highlights keys as you press them.
- iPhone and iPad show an on-screen keyboard automatically when you tap a text field, and you can keep it visible by tapping the keyboard icon in the bottom right.
- Android devices display an on-screen keyboard whenever you tap to type, and you can switch between different keyboard layouts in Settings.
- On-screen keyboards work in any program where you normally type — email, web browsers, documents, and messaging apps.
Opening the on-screen keyboard on Windows
The fastest way to open Windows's on-screen keyboard is to press the Windows key + O at the same time. The Touch Keyboard will appear at the bottom of your screen, ready to use when ready.
If that shortcut does not work, you can open it through Settings. Click the Windows Start button, type "on-screen keyboard" into the search box, and click the result labeled "On-Screen Keyboard". The keyboard will open in a separate window that you can move around your screen by dragging its title bar.
Once the keyboard is open, click or tap the keys with your mouse or touchscreen. The keyboard stays open until you close it by clicking the X button in the top right corner of the window. If you are using a touchscreen, you can also swipe down from the top of the keyboard to minimize it temporarily.
Opening the on-screen keyboard on macOS
On a Mac, the on-screen keyboard is called the Keyboard Viewer. Open it by going to the Apple menu in the top left, clicking System Settings, then selecting Keyboard from the left sidebar. Click the Input Sources tab, then check the box next to "Show Input menu in menu bar".
Once that is enabled, you will see a flag or keyboard icon in the top right corner of your menu bar. Click it and select "Show Keyboard Viewer" from the dropdown menu. A window showing your keyboard layout will appear on screen.
The Keyboard Viewer highlights keys as you press them on your physical keyboard, and you can click any key directly with your mouse. This is useful for seeing which key does what, especially if you are using a different language layout or need to find a symbol.
Using the on-screen keyboard on iPhone and iPad
On iPhones and iPads, the on-screen keyboard appears automatically whenever you tap a text field — such as a search box, email compose window, or message. You do not need to open anything separately.
The keyboard will stay visible as long as you are typing. To dismiss it, tap the down arrow in the bottom right corner of the keyboard, or tap outside the text field. If the keyboard disappears and you want to type again, straightforward tap the text field once more.
You can customize how the keyboard looks and behaves by going to Settings, tapping General, then Keyboard. From there you can enable features like auto-capitalization, spell check, or predictive text, which suggests words as you type.
Using the on-screen keyboard on Android
Android devices show an on-screen keyboard whenever you tap a text field in any app — email, messaging, web search, or notes. The keyboard appears at the bottom of your screen and stays there while you type.
To close the keyboard, tap the back arrow or the X button (depending on your Android version and keyboard app), or tap outside the text field. The keyboard will reappear if you tap another text field.
You can change which keyboard app you use by going to Settings, tapping System, then Languages and Input. Select "Virtual Keyboard" or "On-Screen Keyboard" to see your options. Google Keyboard (Gboard) is the default on most Android phones and includes voice typing, emoji search, and multiple language support.
Adjusting keyboard size and layout
On Windows, you can resize the Touch Keyboard by dragging its edges. Right-click the keyboard to access options like key size, layout (standard or split), and whether to show number keys across the top.
On Mac, the Keyboard Viewer cannot be resized, but you can move it anywhere on your screen by dragging its title bar. The layout shown matches whatever keyboard language you have selected in System Settings.
On iPhone and iPad, you cannot resize the keyboard, but you can split it in half by swiping the bottom of the keyboard upward with two fingers. This makes it easier to type with your thumbs. Swipe down to merge it back together.
On Android, keyboard size and layout options depend on which keyboard app you are using. In Gboard, open the app, tap the gear icon for Settings, then look for options under "Preferences" or "Display and Layouts".
Combining the on-screen keyboard with other accessibility tools
The on-screen keyboard works alongside other built-in tools. On Windows, you can use it with Speech Recognition, which lets you control your computer by speaking commands. On Mac, you can pair it with Voice Control or Dictation.
On iPhone and iPad, the on-screen keyboard works with Voice Control, which lets you speak to select and set up keys. You can also use it with Switch Control, which cycles through keys automatically and lets you select one by pressing a button.
On Android, you can use the on-screen keyboard with Voice Access, which lets you speak to type and control your device. These tools are found in Settings under Accessibility or Accessibility Services, depending on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the on-screen keyboard in every app?
Yes. The on-screen keyboard works anywhere you would normally type — email, web browsers, documents, messaging apps, and search boxes. It sends the same input as a physical keyboard, so programs cannot tell the difference.
Will using the on-screen keyboard slow down my computer?
No. The on-screen keyboard uses very little processing power and will not noticeably affect your computer's speed or battery life, even on older devices.
Can I switch between the on-screen keyboard and my physical keyboard?
Yes. You can use both at the same time. Type with your physical keyboard, your mouse, or the on-screen keyboard — they all work together. You can leave the on-screen keyboard open while you use your physical keyboard normally.
What if the on-screen keyboard keys are too small to click accurately?
On Windows, right-click the Touch Keyboard and select a larger key size. On Mac, the Keyboard Viewer size is fixed, but you can zoom your entire screen using System Settings under Accessibility. On phones, pinch to zoom on the keyboard itself, or look for size options in your keyboard app's settings.
Can I customize which keys appear on the on-screen keyboard?
On Windows, you can choose between standard and split layouts, and toggle the number row on or off. On Mac and phones, the layout is set by your language and keyboard type, but you cannot remove individual keys. You can add additional keyboard languages in Settings if you need different characters.