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Windows includes a built-in On-Screen Keyboard (OSK), so you can type with a mouse, touchscreen, switch device, joystick, gamepad, or another pointing device when a physical keyboard is unavailable. In Windows 10, open Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and turn on Use the On-Screen Keyboard. Windows 8 provides the utility through Start search or Ease of Access tools, while Windows 7 uses Start > All Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > On-Screen Keyboard.
You can also open the OSK at the Windows sign-in screen by selecting the Accessibility (called Ease of Access on some releases) button in the lower-right corner and choosing On-Screen Keyboard. The instructions below distinguish the full OSK from the separate touch keyboard and explain the accessibility options that change how keys are entered.
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Which keyboard should you open?
Windows has two similarly named features. The On-Screen Keyboard is the full accessibility utility: it displays a visual keyboard and is designed to work without a physical keyboard. Microsoft says that a touchscreen is not required; a mouse or another pointing device is enough. The touch keyboard is a separate interface intended mainly for touchscreen and tablet use.
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- Need a full keyboard inside Windows? Open On-Screen Keyboard.
- Need to type before signing in? Use the sign-in screen’s Accessibility or Ease of Access menu, then select On-Screen Keyboard.
- Using a tablet and want a keyboard to appear automatically? Configure the touch-keyboard taskbar setting instead of the OSK.
The menu names differ between Windows releases. Follow the section for your version rather than assuming that a current Windows 10 label will appear in Windows 7 or Windows 8.
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Open the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 10
Windows 10 Settings path
- Select Start.
- Select Settings.
- Select Ease of Access.
- In the left pane, select Keyboard.
- Turn on Use the On-Screen Keyboard.
The OSK window appears immediately and remains visible until you close it. You can move the window while using a mouse or other pointing device, allowing it to stay clear of the text field or game window you are controlling.
Why current pages may say “Accessibility”
Microsoft’s newer documentation labels the same area Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > On-Screen Keyboard. Windows 10 documentation commonly says Ease of Access, whereas current Microsoft pages use Accessibility. If your Settings app shows Accessibility, open that category, choose Keyboard, and enable the On-Screen Keyboard control there.
Open it before signing in
- At the Windows sign-in screen, look in the lower-right corner.
- Select the Accessibility or Ease of Access button.
- Select On-Screen Keyboard.
- Click the password or PIN field, then select the displayed keys.
This route is useful when a physical keyboard has failed or is not connected. It starts the keyboard in the sign-in context, before your desktop settings load.
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Use Start search
Windows 8 documentation identifies On-Screen Keyboard as an Ease of Access tool. From the Windows 8 Start interface, search for On-Screen Keyboard, then select the matching desktop utility. This is generally the quickest method when you can operate a mouse, touchpad, or touchscreen but cannot type a search query on a physical keyboard.
Use Ease of Access tools
You can also open the Ease of Access tools and select On-Screen Keyboard. Windows 8 editions and update levels do not always display identical wording or navigation, so a result named On-Screen Keyboard is the item to choose rather than a similarly named touch-input option.
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Keep the distinction clear
The Windows 8 OSK is the visual keyboard used for accessibility and does not depend on a touchscreen. If the keyboard that appears is a compact touch-oriented panel or is tied to tablet behavior, you opened the touch keyboard instead. Return to Start search and choose the standalone On-Screen Keyboard utility.
Open it in Windows 7
Exact menu path
- Select Start.
- Select All Programs.
- Open Accessories.
- Open Ease of Access.
- Select On-Screen Keyboard.
The keyboard opens as a movable window. Select keys with the mouse or another pointing device, and use the Options control to change how input is accepted.
Windows 7 edition limitation
The Windows 7 guide notes that text prediction is not included in Windows 7 Home Basic. The keyboard itself remains available through the menu path above; only that prediction feature is excluded in that edition.
Use the OSK at the sign-in screen
The sign-in-screen procedure is separate from the desktop Settings path. Select the lower-right Accessibility or Ease of Access button before entering your account credentials, then choose On-Screen Keyboard. This lets you enter a password or PIN without first reaching the desktop.
If the keyboard covers the credential field, drag its title bar to another position. Select the field again after moving the window, then select each displayed key. When you finish signing in, the OSK may continue to run according to your account’s startup behavior; close it from its window when you no longer need it.
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On-Screen Keyboard versus touch keyboard
These tools overlap visually but serve different purposes. The OSK is the broad accessibility utility. The touch keyboard is designed for touch and tablet scenarios and has its own taskbar and automatic-display settings.
| Comparison point | On-Screen Keyboard | Touch keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Accessibility and full visual keyboard input | Touch and tablet typing |
| Touchscreen required | No; Microsoft documents mouse and other pointing-device use | Designed for touchscreen or tablet use, although it can be exposed from the taskbar |
| Where it is configured | Windows 10 Settings > Ease of Access or Accessibility > Keyboard | Taskbar touch-keyboard choices and tablet-mode behavior |
| Display choices documented by Microsoft | Window remains visible until closed | Never, Always, or When no keyboard is attached |
| Accessibility input modes | Click, hover, scanning, and text prediction options | Primarily touch-oriented input |
On a Windows tablet, Microsoft documents an option to show the touch keyboard automatically in tablet mode when no keyboard is attached. That behavior does not replace the OSK’s click, hover, scanning, or prediction controls. Choose the OSK when you need those controls or when you are working with a mouse, switch, joystick, or gamepad.
Configure the OSK with Options
With the On-Screen Keyboard open, select Options. The available controls let you adapt the keyboard to the way you can physically operate the computer.
Visual and sound behavior
- Use click sound: enable an audible confirmation when a key is selected.
- Show keys to make it easier to move around the screen: use the display and positioning controls to keep the keyboard usable while it is on top of another window.
- Show the numeric keypad: add a separate numeric keypad when number entry or familiar keypad placement matters.
The exact wording can vary slightly between Windows editions, but these controls are part of the OSK Options dialog rather than the touch-keyboard taskbar menu.
Choose how a key is entered
- Click on keys: select a key directly with a mouse, touch action, or another pointing device.
- Hover over keys: hold the pointer over a key for the configured hover period so a click is not required.
- Scan through keys: let the OSK highlight keys in sequence and select the highlighted key with a separate switch input.
Clicking is usually easiest when you can control a mouse precisely. Hovering can reduce the need for repeated button presses. Scanning is intended for users who operate the computer through a single switch or another limited input method.
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Scanning inputs
Microsoft documents scanning with a chosen keyboard key, mouse click, joystick, gamepad, or similar switch input. In Options, select the scan method that matches your available hardware and adjust the timing so the highlight advances at a manageable pace. A slower interval gives you more time to select a target; a faster interval reduces waiting once the sequence becomes familiar.
Text prediction
Text prediction is documented for English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. The corresponding language files must be installed for prediction to work. If a language does not appear, check the installed language components before changing OSK settings. Windows 7 Home Basic does not include text prediction, so changing the language or scan controls cannot add that feature to that edition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use the OSK for passwords, apps, and games
Password and PIN entry
Open the OSK at the sign-in screen when you cannot use a physical keyboard. At the desktop, open it before selecting a password field in an app or browser. Move the OSK window if it hides the field, then select each character carefully; password boxes normally display masking symbols rather than the characters themselves.
Game launchers and in-game chat
Many Windows game launchers, chat boxes, and text fields accept ordinary keyboard input, so the OSK can provide a practical way to enter a player name, search term, or short message. It is a windowed utility, not a replacement for every specialized gaming control. If a game requires simultaneous physical-key combinations or blocks background windows, the OSK may not provide the same control as a hardware keyboard.
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Mouse-only recovery
When a keyboard stops working, use the mouse to open the OSK, enter search terms, and navigate settings. This can help you reach device or accessibility controls without guessing at keyboard shortcuts. If the mouse or touchpad is also unavailable, choose a scanning input supported by the OSK Options dialog, such as a joystick, gamepad, or switch.
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Troubleshoot common OSK problems
The OSK does not appear after enabling it
- Confirm that you selected Use the On-Screen Keyboard in the Keyboard accessibility page, not a touch-keyboard taskbar setting.
- Look for the OSK window behind another application or at the edge of the screen; it is a movable window and may have been repositioned.
- Close the utility and open it again from the same version-specific path.
- If you are at sign-in, use the lower-right Accessibility or Ease of Access button instead of the desktop Settings path.
You see a touch keyboard instead
Close the touch keyboard and launch the standalone On-Screen Keyboard from Ease of Access. The touch keyboard’s Never, Always, and When no keyboard is attached choices control its taskbar presence; they do not enable the full OSK.
You cannot find the menu item
Windows 8 labels and Start behavior vary by edition and update level, so search the Start interface for the exact name On-Screen Keyboard or open Ease of Access tools. Windows 7 uses the fixed Accessories > Ease of Access path. Windows 10 uses the Keyboard page under Ease of Access; current Microsoft pages may call that category Accessibility.
Prediction is missing
Check that the language files for English, French, Italian, German, or Spanish are installed. On Windows 7 Home Basic, text prediction is not included. The remaining OSK functions, including click, hover, scanning, and numeric-keypad choices, are separate settings.
The sign-in control is hard to identify
At sign-in, inspect the lower-right corner for the accessibility icon. Its label can read Accessibility or Ease of Access depending on the Windows release. Select that button before choosing On-Screen Keyboard; the desktop Start or Settings menu is not available yet.
Windows 10 support status and what it means
Microsoft’s Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. The OSK remains a built-in feature on an existing installation, but opening it does not change the operating system’s support status. If you continue using Windows 10 in 2026, treat the lack of ongoing security fixes as a separate maintenance consideration from the keyboard instructions.
Quick Recap
Quick decision guide
- Windows 10 desktop: Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard > Use the On-Screen Keyboard. If your build uses current labels, follow Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > On-Screen Keyboard.
- Windows 8 desktop: search the Start interface for On-Screen Keyboard or open Ease of Access tools.
- Windows 7 desktop: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > On-Screen Keyboard.
- Any supported version at sign-in: select the lower-right Accessibility or Ease of Access button, then On-Screen Keyboard.
- Need mouse-based typing: use click-on-keys.
- Need typing without repeated clicks: try hover-over-keys.
- Use a switch, joystick, or gamepad: configure scanning in Options.
- Need word suggestions: install a supported language and enable text prediction, except on Windows 7 Home Basic where prediction is not included.
- Want automatic tablet keyboard behavior: configure the touch keyboard’s Never, Always, or When no keyboard is attached setting instead of the OSK.
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