The quickest way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to press Windows + Ctrl + O. You can also turn it on at Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, or type osk into the Run box. Windows 11 actually has two virtual keyboards, the classic On-Screen Keyboard and the touch keyboard, and this guide covers how to open, customise and stop each one appearing when you do not want it.
| Way to open it | What to do | Opens |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard shortcut | Windows + Ctrl + O | On-Screen Keyboard |
| Settings | Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard | On-Screen Keyboard |
| Run or search | Windows + R, type osk, Enter |
On-Screen Keyboard |
| Start menu | All apps > Accessibility > On-Screen Keyboard | On-Screen Keyboard |
| Sign-in screen | Accessibility icon (bottom right) > On-screen keyboard | On-Screen Keyboard |
| Taskbar icon | Touch keyboard icon in the system tray | Touch keyboard |
What is the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11?
The On-Screen Keyboard is a built-in Windows 11 accessibility tool that shows a full keyboard in a window, which you type on with a mouse, touchscreen, pen or switch device. It is useful when a physical keyboard is broken or missing a key, for people with limited mobility, and for typing sensitive text on a shared PC.
Its program file is osk.exe, and it has been part of Windows for many years. It behaves like a normal window, so you can move it, resize it and keep it on top of other apps while you work.
What we commonly see: people reach for the on-screen keyboard when a single key, often the @ or a letter, has stopped working on a laptop. It is a reliable stopgap while you clean the keyboard, update drivers or arrange a repair.
What is the difference between the On-Screen Keyboard and the touch keyboard?
The On-Screen Keyboard (osk.exe) is an accessibility tool with a full desktop layout, including function keys, Print Screen and a numeric keypad, designed for mouse or switch use. The touch keyboard is a modern, larger keyboard built for touchscreens and tablets, with emoji, voice typing and swipe input, and it appears automatically when you tap a text box.
- On-Screen Keyboard: best for mouse users, accessibility needs and keys a touch layout lacks, such as Ctrl, Alt, Fn or ScrLk.
- Touch keyboard: best for 2-in-1 laptops and tablets, with themes, emoji panel, clipboard history and voice typing.
The touch keyboard shares settings with the emoji panel (Windows + .) and clipboard history (Windows + V), so changes you make to its theme or size also affect those pop-ups.
How do I open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11?
Press Windows + Ctrl + O to switch the On-Screen Keyboard on or off instantly. Alternatively, open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on On-screen keyboard, or press Windows + R, type osk and press Enter. All three methods open the same tool, and it stays visible until you close it.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Accessibility, then Keyboard.
- Turn on the On-screen keyboard toggle.
If your physical keyboard does not work at all, use the mouse: select Start, choose All apps, scroll to Accessibility and select On-Screen Keyboard. Microsoft's own guide to using the On-Screen Keyboard lists the same routes.
Advanced nuance: pinning it saves time if you rely on it daily. Search for On-Screen Keyboard in Start, right-click the result and choose Pin to taskbar.
How do I use the on-screen keyboard at the sign-in screen?
On the Windows 11 sign-in screen, select the Accessibility icon in the bottom-right corner, then turn on On-screen keyboard. You can then click the keys to enter your PIN or password. This is especially helpful when your physical keyboard has failed and you cannot otherwise sign in.
By default, the keyboard closes once you sign in. If you need it to start automatically every time, use the legacy Ease of Access settings, which still work in Windows 11:
- Open Control Panel, set View by to Large icons and select Ease of Access Center.
- Select Change sign-in settings on the left.
- Under On-Screen Keyboard, tick At sign-in, After sign-in or both, then select OK. You need an administrator account to change this.
Cause and effect: the On-Screen Keyboard remembers its last layout. If you switch to a different view while signing in, it opens in that same view after you sign in, so switch back if the layout looks unfamiliar.
How do I change on-screen keyboard settings?
Open the On-Screen Keyboard and select its Options key, near the bottom right. From there you can turn on key click sounds, add a numeric keypad, choose whether keys are pressed by clicking, hovering or scanning, and turn on text prediction. Changes apply as soon as you select OK.
- Use click sound: plays a sound for each key press, useful for confirming input.
- Show keys to make it easier to move around the screen: adds navigation and docking keys.
- Turn on numeric keypad: adds a number pad, ideal for spreadsheets and PINs.
- Click on keys: the default; select a key to type it.
- Hover over keys: types a key when you rest the pointer on it for a set time, adjustable with Hover duration. This suits people who find clicking difficult, including eye-control users.
- Scan through keys: highlights rows and keys in turn, so you can select with one switch, key or click.
- Use Text Prediction: suggests words as you type, with an option to add a space after each predicted word.
If the numeric keypad option seems to do nothing, check that Num Lock is on, using the NumLock key on the On-Screen Keyboard itself.
How do I show the touch keyboard icon on the taskbar?
Right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, expand System tray icons and set Touch keyboard to Always. A keyboard icon then appears near the clock, and selecting it opens the touch keyboard on any PC, including those without a touchscreen. Choose When no keyboard attached to show it only in tablet use.
The Never option hides the icon and stops the touch keyboard from being opened from the tray. Microsoft's guide to enabling and disabling the touch keyboard describes these three options.
To customise how the touch keyboard looks, open Settings > Personalization > Text input, where you can change its theme and key size. The typing options, such as autocorrect and suggestions, are in Settings > Time & language > Typing.
How do I stop the on-screen keyboard popping up?
If the classic On-Screen Keyboard appears on its own, turn it off at Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and clear its At sign-in and After sign-in boxes in Ease of Access Center. If it is the touch keyboard, go to Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard and set Show the touch keyboard to Never.
- Press Windows + Ctrl + O to close the On-Screen Keyboard if it is open, then confirm the toggle in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard is off.
- In Control Panel > Ease of Access Center > Change sign-in settings, clear both On-Screen Keyboard boxes.
- In Settings > Time & language > Typing, expand Touch keyboard and set Show the touch keyboard to Never.
- If the problem started recently, check for Startup apps in Settings > Apps > Startup that might launch it.
What we commonly see: on 2-in-1 laptops, the touch keyboard appears whenever Windows thinks the device is in tablet mode, often because the hinge sensor or keyboard cover connection is unreliable. Setting Show the touch keyboard to Never stops it while you investigate the hardware.
If your physical keyboard keeps failing, check your device maker's support site for chipset and keyboard driver updates, and keep Windows itself up to date. Our guide to checking your Windows 11 version and updating to 26H2 shows how.
Does the on-screen keyboard work on all editions of Windows 11?
Yes. The On-Screen Keyboard and touch keyboard are included in every edition of Windows 11, including Home and Pro, with no extra download or cost. They work whether or not you have a touchscreen. Some personalisation options, such as touch keyboard themes, require an activated copy of Windows.
Unactivated Windows 11 locks the Personalization section of Settings, which includes text input themes. A genuine Windows 11 Home licence covers everyday needs, while a Windows 11 Pro licence adds business features such as BitLocker and Remote Desktop hosting. Our Pro vs Home comparison explains the differences if you are deciding.
If you have just reinstalled Windows and need to activate it, our Windows 11 Home install and activation guide walks you through entering your product key.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut for the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11?
Press Windows + Ctrl + O. The same shortcut opens and closes the classic On-Screen Keyboard, so you can toggle it whenever you need it. If your physical keyboard is not working, open it with the mouse instead through Start, All apps, Accessibility, On-Screen Keyboard.
Why is my on-screen keyboard not working?
First close it and reopen it with Windows + Ctrl + O or the osk command. If keys do not type, make sure the app you are typing into is selected and in focus. For the touch keyboard, check that Touch keyboard is not set to Never in Taskbar settings and that Windows is fully updated.
Can I use the on-screen keyboard to type a password safely?
Yes. Microsoft supports using the On-Screen Keyboard at the sign-in screen for PINs and passwords. Some people also use it on shared computers, because a hardware keylogger cannot capture clicks. It does not protect against malware on the PC itself, so keep Microsoft Defender and Windows updates current.
How do I make the on-screen keyboard bigger?
Drag any corner or edge of the On-Screen Keyboard window to resize it, and the keys scale with it. For the touch keyboard, open Settings, Personalization, Text input and adjust the keyboard size slider. Changing display scaling in Settings, System, Display also makes both keyboards larger.
Does the on-screen keyboard support other languages?
Yes. Both keyboards follow your active input language. Add a keyboard layout in Settings, Time and language, Language and region, then switch layouts with Windows + Space. The on-screen keys update to match, which helps when typing characters your physical keyboard does not show.
Related guides
- How to shut down Windows 11: 8 quick ways
- How to password protect a file or folder in Windows 11
- Check your Windows 11 version and update to 26H2
- Windows 11 Pro vs Home
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Check Windows 11 version | Internal | Keep keyboard drivers and Windows current |
| Windows 11 Pro vs Home | Internal | Explains edition differences |
| Windows 11 Home install guide | Internal | Activate Windows to unlock personalisation |
| Windows 11 Home licence | Internal | Genuine key for everyday use |
| Windows 11 Pro licence | Internal | Genuine key with business features |
| Microsoft: use the On-Screen Keyboard | External | Official OSK options and opening methods |
| Microsoft: enable or disable the touch keyboard | External | Official taskbar touch keyboard settings |