8 Ways to Enable On-Screen Keyboard on Windows 10

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If you use a Windows 10 PC as your daily device for personal or work-related tasks, there are different kinds of keyboards that can help you work better.

The most common type of keyboard is the physical one that you plug into your PC or the built-in keyboard on your laptop.

However, there’s a virtual keyboard that’s commonly used with Surface devices or touchscreen laptops often referred to as the on-screen keyboard. This built-in Ease of Access tool also works in desktop mode and can be used when yourphysical keyboard is damaged, thekeyboard keys won’t workor you don’t have a keyboard at all.

This guide explains different ways to enable the on-screen keyboard in Windows 10 so you can work even if you don’t have access to a physical keyboard.

How to Enable the On-screen Keyboard on Windows 10

The on-screen keyboard is a virtual keyboard that contains all the standard keys you would find on a physical keyboard.

To use the keyboard, you’ll need a pointing device like your mouse. Alternatively, you can cycle through the virtual keyboard using a single key or group of keys on your physical keyboard.

Note: The instructions in this guide apply to a Windows 10 PC without a touchscreen. However, you can also access the touch keyboard on a PC with a touchscreen by tapping inside a text box when your device is in tablet mode.

Keyboard shortcutsprovide quick ways to access different settings and features in your Windows PC including the on-screen keyboard.

To access the keyboard via a shortcut, press theCTRL + Windows key + O(letter o) simultaneously.

The keyboard will appear on your screen after a few seconds and you can use your mouse to select keys or other commands.

The Ease of Access Center in Windows 10 brings functionality for ease of use andaccessibility featuresto launch apps such as Magnifier, Narrator and on-screen keyboard. This feature allows you to use your computer without a display, see what’s on your screen, use your keyboard to enable Sticky, Toggle and Filter keys or use the virtual keyboard.

The on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can move it around or enter text and close the screen once you’re done.

You can also access the on-screen keyboard by searching for the feature using the Search panel.

If you haven’t managed to open the on-screen keyboard using the preceding steps, you can access it through the Run command.

You can also use the Command Prompt to turn on the on-screen keyboard.

Windows PowerShell is a command-line interface that works similar to Command Prompt but is much more powerful, and can be used to automate tasks. While PowerShell is more complicated than Command Prompt, you can still use it to enable on-screen keyboard.

Note: If you want to pin the on-screen keyboard in desktop mode, selectStart>Settings>Ease of Access>Keyboardand toggle theUse the on-screen keyboardswitch toOn.

Close the Keyboard dialogue box and the on-screen keyboard will be pinned to your screen. You can also add the on-screen keyboard to your Start Menu or Taskbar if you use it frequently.

If you’ve not managed to turn on the on-screen keyboard using the last six methods, you can still use the Control Panel in Windows 10 to access the keyboard.

If you’re unable to enable or access the on-screen keyboard on your Windows PC using the above methods, you can always download and install a virtual keyboard app.

There are several third-party virtual keyboards available for Windows 10 PCs includingHot Virtual keyboard,Free Virtual keyboard, Click-N-Type, Touch-It Virtual keyboard andVirtualKeyboard.

Get the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 10

The On-Screen keyboard is an easier way of typing and entering data instead of relying on the physical keyboard. You still get all the standard keys but you’ll need a separate pointing device to select and cycle through the keys on the screen.

We hope you were able to enable and use the on-screen keyboard on your PC. If you need to replace your keyboard, turn to our guides on thebest wireless keyboard and mouse combosor the lesser-knownmechanical keyboard brands worth trying.

Elsie is a technology writer and editor with a special focus on Windows, Android and iOS. She writes about software, electronics and other tech subjects, her ultimate goal being to help people out with useful solutions to their daily tech issues in a simple, straightforward and unbiased style. She has a BCom degree in Marketing and currently pursuing her Masters in Communications and New Media.Read Elsie’s Full Bio

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