What the onscreen keyboard is and when to use it
The onscreen keyboard is a tool built into Windows, Mac, and most phones that displays a keyboard on your screen you can click or tap instead of using a physical keyboard. You control it with your mouse, trackpad, or by touching the screen — useful if your physical keyboard is broken, if you have limited hand mobility, or if you straightforward prefer not to type on a traditional keyboard.
Every major operating system includes this feature at no cost. It works the same way a physical keyboard does: you select letters, numbers, and symbols, and they appear in whatever program you have open — email, documents, search boxes, anywhere you would normally type.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 10 and 11 open the onscreen keyboard through Settings under Ease of Access, or by searching "On-Screen Keyboard" in the Start menu.
- Mac users find the onscreen keyboard (called Keyboard Viewer) in System Preferences under Accessibility, then Keyboard.
- iPhone and iPad users enable it in Settings under Accessibility, then Keyboard, then toggle on "Show Onscreen Keyboard."
- Android devices vary by manufacturer, but the setting is usually in Settings under Accessibility or Display, labeled "Onscreen Keyboard" or "Virtual Keyboard."
- Once open, the onscreen keyboard stays visible until you close it, and you can move it around your screen by dragging its title bar.
Opening the onscreen keyboard on Windows 10 and 11
The fastest way is to search for it directly. Press the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo) or click the Start button in the bottom left corner. Type "On-Screen Keyboard" into the search box. The app will appear at the top of the results — click it to open.
If you prefer to find it through Settings, click the Start button, then select Settings (the gear icon). Go to Accessibility on the left side, then Keyboard. Scroll down until you see "Use the On-Screen Keyboard" and toggle it on. The keyboard will open when ready and will also open automatically each time you start your computer if you leave this toggle on.
Once the keyboard is open, click any key with your mouse or trackpad just as you would press a physical key. The letter or number appears in whatever window you have active — your email, a document, a search box. To close it, click the X button in the top right corner of the keyboard window.
Opening the onscreen keyboard on Mac
On Mac, the onscreen keyboard is called the Keyboard Viewer. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs). Click Accessibility, then Keyboard on the left side.
Check the box next to "Enable Keyboard Viewer." A small keyboard icon will now appear in your menu bar at the top of the screen. Click that icon whenever you want to open the onscreen keyboard. The Keyboard Viewer will appear as a floating window you can move around by dragging its top edge.
The Mac onscreen keyboard shows you which keys produce which symbols when you hold Shift or other modifier keys — useful if you are learning a new keyboard layout or language. Click any key to type it into your active window, just as you would on a physical keyboard.
Opening the onscreen keyboard on iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad, the onscreen keyboard appears automatically whenever you tap a text field — you do not need to open it separately. However, if your keyboard is not appearing when you tap to type, you can check that it is enabled. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Keyboard.
Make sure "Show Onscreen Keyboard" is toggled on (it should be green). If it is already on, try closing the app you were using and opening it again. If the keyboard still does not appear, restart your device by powering it off and back on.
Once the keyboard is visible, tap the letters you want to type. You can also swipe across letters to type faster if your device supports that feature. To hide the keyboard, tap the down arrow in the bottom right corner of the keyboard, or tap outside the text field.
Opening the onscreen keyboard on Android
Android devices vary depending on the manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.), but the process is similar. Go to Settings and look for Accessibility or Display settings. The onscreen keyboard is often called "Virtual Keyboard" or "Onscreen Keyboard."
On most Android phones, the onscreen keyboard appears automatically when you tap a text field, just like on iPhone. If it is not appearing, go to Settings, then Accessibility, and look for Keyboard or Input Method. Make sure your default keyboard is enabled. If you have multiple keyboards installed, you can switch between them by holding down the space bar while typing.
If you want a different onscreen keyboard with different features, you can read alternative keyboards from the Google Play Store — many are free. Go to Settings, then Apps, then Default Apps, and select your preferred keyboard as the default input method.
Moving and resizing the onscreen keyboard
On Windows and Mac, the onscreen keyboard appears as a floating window you can move anywhere on your screen. Click and drag the title bar (the top edge of the keyboard) to reposition it. This is useful if the keyboard is covering the text field you are trying to type in.
On Windows, you can also resize the keyboard by dragging the edges of the window to make it larger or smaller. A larger keyboard is easier to click accurately if you have limited fine motor control. On Mac, the Keyboard Viewer size is fixed, but you can move it out of the way.
On phones and tablets, the onscreen keyboard usually takes up the bottom half of the screen and cannot be moved or resized — it appears and disappears automatically as you type.
Troubleshooting when the onscreen keyboard does not work
If you opened the onscreen keyboard but nothing happens when you click the keys, check that your text field is actually active. Click inside the email, document, or search box where you want to type, then try clicking a key on the onscreen keyboard again. The cursor (the blinking line) should be in that field.
If the keyboard is open but you cannot see it, it may be hidden behind another window. Look at your taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac) to see if the keyboard window is listed. Click it to bring it to the front. On Windows, you can also press Alt+Tab to cycle through open windows until you find the keyboard.
If the onscreen keyboard is not opening at all, restart your computer or phone. If it still does not work, uninstall and reinstall it (on Windows, go to Settings, Apps, and uninstall "On-Screen Keyboard," then search for it again in the Start menu). On Mac or phone, restart the device and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the onscreen keyboard with voice commands?
Yes. Windows, Mac, and phones all have voice control features that work alongside the onscreen keyboard. On Windows, use Dictation (Windows key + H). On Mac, enable Voice Control in Accessibility settings. On phones, use voice typing by tapping the microphone icon on your onscreen keyboard.
Is the onscreen keyboard slower than a physical keyboard?
Usually yes, because clicking or tapping each letter takes longer than pressing keys. However, many onscreen keyboards offer word prediction — as you type, they suggest common words you can tap instead of spelling them out. This can actually make typing faster once you get used to it.
Can I customize the onscreen keyboard layout?
On Windows and Mac, the built-in onscreen keyboard uses your system's keyboard layout and cannot be customized. On Android, you can read alternative keyboards from the Play Store with different layouts, sizes, and features. On iPhone, you are limited to the built-in keyboard but can add different languages.
Will the onscreen keyboard stay open all the time?
On Windows, if you toggle it on in Settings, it will open automatically each time you start your computer. On Mac, you control it manually through the menu bar icon. On phones, it appears only when you tap a text field and disappears when you are done typing.
What if I want to switch back to my physical keyboard?
straightforward close the onscreen keyboard window or toggle it off in Settings. Your physical keyboard will work normally. You can switch between them anytime — there is no need to choose one permanently.