# Activate on-screen keyboard in Windows 10, 8, and 7 Windows’ on-screen keyboard is ultra helpful if you’re unable to use an external physical keyboard for your PC or Windows device. The on-screen keyboard is a standard input tool in Windows 7, 8, and 10 that lets you navigate the system and use text input without a classic keyboard. ## Quick guide: Activating the on-screen keyboard ### Windows 10 on-screen keyboard 1. Open “Settings” via the Windows Start menu or via \[Windows\] + \[I\]. 2. Click on “Ease of Access”. 3. Open the “Keyboard” menu. 4. Set the toggle under “Use your device without physical keyboard” to “On”. 5. The visual on-screen keyboard will now appear onscreen. 6. Click on “x” to close the on-screen keyboard. ### Windows 8 on-screen keyboard 1. Right-click in a free area in the lower taskbar. 2. Click on “Toolbars”. 3. Activate “On-Screen Keyboard”. 4. Click on the keyboard icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar to open it. 5. Click the icon again to close the keyboard ### Windows 7 on-screen keyboard 1. Click on the Windows logo at the bottom left. 2. Go to “All Programs”. 3. First select “Accessories” and then “Ease of access”. 4. Click on “On-Screen Keyboard” to open the keyboard. 5. Click on the “x” to close the keyboard. ## On-screen keyboards in Windows: What are they for? For many, a normal, physical PC keyboard is as natural to their computer use as the screen. But what happens if your keyboard is broken or not responsive? Fortunately, Windows has a visual on-screen keyboard in case problems with the physical keyboard arise. This is also helpful if devices are infected with [keylogger malware](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/security/keylogger/ "Keylogger") and there is a risk that malware will record sensitive data input such as login data or bank details via a physical keyboard. With a Windows on-screen keyboard, you have **all the standard physical keys** and can make visual keystrokes with and without tablet mode, with a mouse, or, if parts of the keyboard don’t work, with selected key groups. --- ### Tip You want to use the on-screen keyboard, but you don’t know which Windows version it is? The [Windows shortcut](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/windows-button/ "Windows button") **Windows + Pause** will take you to the system information displaying your [Windows version](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/know-how/what-version-of-windows-do-i-have/ "What version of Windows do I have?"). --- To enable or disable the on-screen keyboard on Windows 10, 8, and 7, follow our detailed step-by-step instructions or our quick guides. ## Open on-screen keyboard in Windows 10 ### Shortcut for onscreen keyboard The fastest way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 10 is the shortcut \[Windows\] + \[Ctrl\] + \[O\]. This way, the on-screen keyboard can be activated immediately if a physical keyboard is available or intact. Alternatively, on Windows 10, 8, and 7, you can open the “Run” command prompt window by pressing **\[Windows\] + \[R\]** and display the on-screen keyboard with the [Windows CMD command](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/know-how/windows-cmd-commands/ "Windows CMD commands") “**osk**”. [![Image: The Windows CMD command “osk” can be used to open the on-screen keyboard directly](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/1/csm_the-windows-cmd-command-osk-can-be-used-to-open-the-on-screen-keyboard-directly_e6e9fc08ab.webp "The Windows CMD command “osk” can be used to open the on-screen keyboard directly")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/the-windows-cmd-command-osk-can-be-used-to-open-the-on-screen-keyboard-directly.png) To open the on-screen keyboard, enter the Windows CMD command “osk” in the “Run” window. It is also possible to open the Windows on-screen keyboard via the “Settings”, which you can open with the shortcut \[Windows\] + \[I\]. Select the submenus “Ease of Access” and “Keyboard” and then activate “Use On-Screen Keyboard”. We will show these steps again in more detail below. ### Via mouse / without keyboard use **Step 1:** First open the Windows “Settings” menu. To do this, click on the Windows logo at the bottom left and then on the gear icon for the Settings menu. [![Image: Open the Settings menu via the gear icon in the Start menu](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/d/csm_open-the-settings-menu-via-the-gear-icon-in-the-start-menu_6697d22f82.webp "Open the Settings menu via the gear icon in the Start menu")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/open-the-settings-menu-via-the-gear-icon-in-the-start-menu.png) Open the Settings menu via the gear icon in the Start menu. **Step 2:** Click “Ease of Access” in the Settings menu. [![Image: In the Settings menu, click the “Ease of Access” field](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/5/5/csm_in-the-settings-menu-click-the-ease-of-access-field_9986a6d545.webp "In the Settings menu, click the “Ease of Access” field")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/in-the-settings-menu-click-the-ease-of-access-field.png) In the settings menu, click on the “Ease of Access” field. **Step 3:** Under “Interaction” in the “Ease of Access” sidebar, select the “Keyboard” menu. [![Image: Go to “Keyboard” in the left sidebar](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/4/csm_go-to-keyboard-in-the-left-sidebar_ea389017aa.webp "Go to “Keyboard” in the left sidebar")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/go-to-keyboard-in-the-left-sidebar.png) Go to the “Keyboard” panel in the left sidebar. **Step 4:** Click the toggle below “Use your device without a physical keyboard”. When the toggle is set to “On”, the visual on-screen keyboard appears. [![Image: Enable the on-screen keyboard by clicking the toggle button under “Use your device without physical keyboard”](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/8/csm_enable-the-on-screen-keyboard-by-clicking-the-toggle-button-under-use-your-device-without-physical_34f1cfffed.webp "Enable the on-screen keyboard by clicking the toggle button under “Use your device without physical keyboard”")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/enable-the-on-screen-keyboard-by-clicking-the-toggle-button-under-use-your-device-without-physical.png) Open the on-screen keyboard by setting the toggle under “Use your device without physical keyboard” to “On”. **Step 5:** To disable the on-screen keyboard, click the “x” at the top right of the on-screen keyboard. [![Image: Close the keyboard with the “x” in the upper right corner](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/3/csm_close-the-keyboard-with-the-x-in-the-upper-right-corner_2a1f96968d.webp "Close the keyboard with the “x” in the upper right corner")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/close-the-keyboard-with-the-x-in-the-upper-right-corner.png) Click on “x” to deactivate the on-screen keyboard. --- ### Note Should you have persistent problems with the physical keyboard in Windows 10, should [Windows not start correctly](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/configuration/windows-wont-boot/ "Windows won’t boot") or should you fear that keylogger malware has infected your device, it is recommended to [reset Windows 10](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/configuration/resetting-windows-10/ "Resetting Windows 10"). Before this happens, you should back up data including [hidden Windows files and folders](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/configuration/windows-show-hidden-folders-and-files/ "Windows: show hidden folders and files") in a timely manner and on a regular basis. --- ## Open on-screen keyboard in Windows 8 **Step 1:** Go to the bottom taskbar with the mouse and right-click on a free area. **Step 2:** In the menu that opens, go to “Toolbars” at the top. [![Image: Go to “Toolbars” in the menu that opens at the top](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/8/3/csm_go-to-toolbars-in-the-menu-that-opens-at-the-top_a2de561f78.webp "Go to “Toolbars” in the menu that opens at the top")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/go-to-toolbars-in-the-menu-that-opens-at-the-top.png) Click on “Toolbars” in the taskbar menu that opens. **Step 3:** Check the “On-screen keyboard” box. **Step 4:** The Windows on-screen keyboard icon will now appear at the bottom right of the taskbar. Click on it to open the visual keyboard. [![Image: Click the on-screen keyboard icon in the taskbar to open the on-screen keyboard](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/f/csm_click-the-on-screen-keyboard-icon-in-the-taskbar-to-open-the-on-screen-keyboard_562e01514b.webp "Click the on-screen keyboard icon in the taskbar to open the on-screen keyboard")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/click-the-on-screen-keyboard-icon-in-the-taskbar-to-open-the-on-screen-keyboard.png) Open the on-screen keyboard by clicking on the keyboard icon at the bottom of the taskbar. **Step 5:** Close the keyboard by clicking the keyboard icon again. To disable the on-screen keyboard, right-click again to open the taskbar menu and uncheck “On-screen keyboard”. [![Image: Click the keyboard icon to close the on-screen keyboard](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/5/9/csm_click-the-keyboard-icon-to-close-the-on-screen-keyboard_c9c263168b.webp "Click the keyboard icon to close the on-screen keyboard")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/click-the-keyboard-icon-to-close-the-on-screen-keyboard.png) Click on the keyboard icon to close the on-screen keyboard again. **Step 6:** Alternatively, the Windows on-screen keyboard can be opened by swiping inward from the right edge of the screen, typing “on-screen keyboard” into the search bar, and clicking it. ## Activate an on-screen keyboard in Windows 7 **Step 1:** Click the Windows logo at the bottom left to open the Start menu. **Step 2:** Go to “All Programs” on the Start menu and click on it. [![Image: Open “All Programs” with one click](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/f/7/csm_open-all-programs-with-one-click_dde409d776.webp "Open “All Programs” with one click")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/open-all-programs-with-one-click.png) Click “All Programs” in the Start menu. **Step 3:** Click the “Accessories” tab, and then click the “Ease of Access” tab. [![Image: Open the “Accessories” tab and then the “Ease of Access” tab](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/8/0/csm_open-the-accessories-tab-and-then-the-ease-of-access-tab_be4f790e20.webp "Open the “Accessories” tab and then the “Ease of Access” tab")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/open-the-accessories-tab-and-then-the-ease-of-access-tab.png) Click on the “Accessories” tab and then immediately on “Ease of Access”. **Step 4:** Activate the visual keyboard by clicking on “On-Screen Keyboard”. [![Image: Click on “On-Screen Keyboard” to open the visual keyboard](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/3/csm_click-on-on-screen-keyboard-to-open-the-visual-keyboard_7e836c5051.webp "Click on “On-Screen Keyboard” to open the visual keyboard")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/click-on-on-screen-keyboard-to-open-the-visual-keyboard.png) Open the visual keyboard with a click on “On-Screen Keyboard”. **Step 5:** Click on the “x” to deactivate the keyboard again. [![Image: Close the keyboard by clicking on the “x” at the top right of the keyboard](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/f/csm_close-the-keyboard-by-clicking-on-the-x-at-the-top-right-of-the-keyboard_a011e3872c.webp "Close the keyboard by clicking on the “x” at the top right of the keyboard")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/close-the-keyboard-by-clicking-on-the-x-at-the-top-right-of-the-keyboard.png) Click on the “x” at the top right of the keyboard to close it. --- ### Note Windows 7 users should consider upgrading their Windows system to a newer version. The [Windows 7 support ended](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/know-how/windows-7-end-of-life/ "Windows 7: End of Life") back in 2020, which means that Windows security vulnerabilities will no longer be closed. --- ## Pin an on-screen keyboard to Windows 10 taskbar To open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 10 extra quickly, simply pin it to your taskbar. **Step 1:** Type “system icons” at the bottom of the Windows search bar and open the system icons menu. [![Image: Type “system icons” in the Windows search bar and open the system icons menu](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/a/csm_type-system-icons-in-the-windows-search-bar-and-open-the-system-icons-menu_ec0fc6a709.webp "Type “system icons” in the Windows search bar and open the system icons menu")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/type-system-icons-in-the-windows-search-bar-and-open-the-system-icons-menu.png) Type “system icons” in the lower Windows search bar and open the menu. **Step 2:** Set the slider to “On” in the menu window that opens. The on-screen keyboard is now pinned to your taskbar and can be opened with one click. [![Image: Once the slider is set to “On”, the on-screen keyboard is pinned to the bottom right of the taskbar](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/0/csm_once-the-slider-is-set-to-on-the-on-screen-keyboard-is-pinned-to-the-bottom-right-of-the-taskbar_91138ee05d.webp "Once the slider is set to “On”, the on-screen keyboard is pinned to the bottom right of the taskbar")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/once-the-slider-is-set-to-on-the-on-screen-keyboard-is-pinned-to-the-bottom-right-of-the-taskbar.png) Set the slider under “On-screen keyboard” to “On” to pin the visual keyboard to the taskbar. --- ### Tip Those who rely on the visual on-screen keyboard may already have problems with the Windows system. Use IONOS [HiDrive cloud storage](https://www.ionos.ca/office-solutions/hidrive-cloud-storage "HiDrive cloud storage from IONOS") to make reliable backups of your data in time and prevent data loss. --- This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/configuration/on-screen-keyboard-windows/](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/configuration/on-screen-keyboard-windows/) for AI/LLM consumption.