What a virtual keyboard is and when you need it

A virtual keyboard is an on-screen keyboard you control with your mouse, trackpad, or touch screen instead of typing on a physical keyboard. It appears as a window on your screen showing all the letters, numbers, and symbols a regular keyboard has. You click or tap each key to type.

You might use a virtual keyboard if your physical keyboard is broken, if you have limited hand mobility, if you're using a tablet or touchscreen device, or if you want to type without making noise. Some people use it alongside speech-to-text software for extra control. The virtual keyboard stays open while you work in other programs — you can switch between applications and keep typing through the on-screen keys.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows computers have a built-in virtual keyboard called the On-Screen Keyboard that you open through Settings or by searching for "osk".
  • Mac computers have a virtual keyboard in System Settings under Accessibility, or you can enable the Keyboard Viewer to see what keys do.
  • iPhones and iPads show a virtual keyboard automatically when you tap a text field, and you can customize it in Settings under Keyboard.
  • Android phones display a virtual keyboard when you tap to type, and you can change which keyboard app you use in Settings under Languages and Input.
  • Virtual keyboards work in any program where you normally type — email, documents, web forms, and messaging apps.

Opening the virtual keyboard on Windows

The easiest way is to search for it. Press the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo) and type osk — that's the abbreviation for On-Screen Keyboard. Click the result that appears. The keyboard window will open and stay on top of your other windows.

If you prefer to find it through Settings, open Settings, go to Accessibility on the left side, then select Keyboard. Scroll down to find "On-Screen Keyboard" and click the toggle to turn it on. The keyboard will appear on your screen.

Once it's open, click any key with your mouse or trackpad the same way you would press a physical key. The text appears in whatever program you have active — an email, a document, a web search box. You can move the keyboard window by dragging its title bar, and you can resize it by dragging the corner if you need the keys larger or smaller.

Opening the virtual keyboard on Mac

Mac calls its virtual keyboard the Keyboard Viewer. Open System Settings, click Keyboard on the left, then click Keyboard Shortcuts at the bottom. In the list on the left, select Accessibility. On the right side, find "Show Keyboard Viewer in menu bar" and check the box.

Once you've turned it on, a small keyboard icon appears in your menu bar at the top right of the screen. Click that icon and select "Show Keyboard Viewer" from the dropdown menu. A window showing your keyboard layout appears. Click the keys you need to type, and the text goes into whatever program you're using.

The Keyboard Viewer also shows you what happens when you hold Shift, Option, or Command — the keys change to show you the alternate characters. This is useful if you're learning where special symbols are located.

Using the virtual keyboard on iPhone and iPad

iPhones and iPads show a virtual keyboard automatically whenever you tap a text field — a search box, an email compose window, a messaging app, or any place that accepts typing. You don't have to open anything. The keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen with all the letters, numbers, and punctuation you need.

Tap each key to type. If you want to type a capital letter, tap the Shift key (the up arrow) once before tapping the letter. For numbers and symbols, tap the key labeled "123" to switch to the number keyboard, then tap "ABC" to go back to letters. Swipe down on the keyboard or tap outside it to hide it when you're done typing.

You can customize which keyboard appears in Settings. Go to Settings, tap General, then Keyboard. From there you can add different language keyboards, turn on or off features like auto-correction, and choose which keyboard layout you prefer. Some people add a second language keyboard so they can switch between them while typing.

Using the virtual keyboard on Android phones

Android phones also show a virtual keyboard automatically when you tap anywhere you can type — a text message, an email, a search box, or a form. The keyboard appears at the bottom of your screen. Tap the keys to type, and the text appears in the field above.

Most Android phones come with Google Keyboard (also called Gboard) as the default, but you can change which keyboard app you use. Go to Settings, search for "Languages and input" or "Keyboard," and you'll see which keyboard is currently active. You can read other keyboard apps from the Google Play Store if you want a different layout, size, or style.

To hide the keyboard, tap the back button or swipe down from the top of the keyboard. If the keyboard doesn't appear when you tap a text field, go back to Settings and make sure a keyboard app is enabled.

Making the virtual keyboard easier to use

If you have trouble clicking individual keys, most virtual keyboards have settings to help. On Windows, right-click the On-Screen Keyboard window and select Settings. You can turn on Click Sound so you hear a beep when you press a key, or enable Hover to Select so keys set up when you move your mouse over them instead of requiring a click.

On Mac, the Keyboard Viewer doesn't have many settings, but you can make the text larger by going to System Settings > Accessibility > Display and increasing the text size. This makes the keyboard easier to see.

On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on features like Slow Keys (which requires you to hold a key longer before it registers) or Sticky Keys (which lets you press modifier keys like Shift separately instead of holding them down). These settings reduce accidental presses.

On Android, open Gboard settings by going to Settings > Languages and input > Gboard > Preferences. You can increase key size, turn on sound feedback, or enable Glide Typing if you prefer to swipe across keys instead of tapping each one.

Troubleshooting when the virtual keyboard won't open

If the On-Screen Keyboard won't open on Windows, make sure you're searching for "osk" correctly — it's three letters, lowercase. If the search doesn't find it, your keyboard accessibility features may be disabled. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and check that the toggle for On-Screen Keyboard is turned on.

If the keyboard appears but won't respond to your clicks, try clicking directly on the keys rather than near them. If your mouse or trackpad isn't working, you may need to use Tab to move between keys and then press Enter to set up the selected key.

On Mac, if the Keyboard Viewer doesn't appear after you enable it, check that you've actually clicked the keyboard icon in the menu bar. If it's not there, go back to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Accessibility and make sure the checkbox is marked.

On phones, if no keyboard appears when you tap a text field, restart the phone. If that doesn't work, go to Settings and check that at least one keyboard is enabled in your Languages and Input settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a virtual keyboard in every program?

Yes. The virtual keyboard works anywhere you can normally type — email programs, web browsers, document editors, messaging apps, and search boxes. It sends keystrokes to whatever program is active on your screen, just like a physical keyboard does.

Is there a way to type faster with a virtual keyboard?

Most virtual keyboards support word prediction or autocomplete. On phones, the keyboard suggests words as you type and you can tap the suggestion instead of finishing the word. On Windows, you can enable Predictive Text in the On-Screen Keyboard settings. This reduces the number of keys you have to click.

Can I use voice typing instead of clicking keys?

Yes. Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android all have built-in speech-to-text features. On Windows, press Windows key + H to open the voice typing tool. On Mac, enable Dictation in System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation. On phones, look for a microphone icon on the virtual keyboard and tap it to speak instead of typing.

What if I want to use a virtual keyboard alongside my physical keyboard?

You can have both open at the same time. Some people keep the virtual keyboard visible as a backup or to reduce the force needed to type. The virtual keyboard will respond to mouse clicks while the physical keyboard responds to key presses — both work simultaneously.

Does using a virtual keyboard slow down my computer?

No. The On-Screen Keyboard uses very little processing power. It runs in the background without slowing down other programs. You can leave it open all day without affecting your computer's performance.