Many users don't know that Windows comes with a virtual keyboard built in, called the On-Screen Keyboard. This tool can be very useful: when you don't have a physical keyboard, when drivers fail, or when you want to avoid keylogger attacks while entering private data. The Windows virtual keyboard includes all letters, numbers, and symbols, and you can operate it with the mouse.

We'll show you several methods to access the On-Screen Keyboard in all versions of Windows, plus some hidden features to get the most out of it.

How to Access the On-Screen Keyboard in Any Version of Windows

From the Run window

  • First, press the "Windows + R" key combination to open the Run window.
  • Then type "osk.exe" in the dialog box and click "OK". The on-screen keyboard will open automatically.
How to Access the Windows Virtual Keyboard
Very easy to activate

From Settings

  • Press the "Windows + U" key combination to open Windows settings.
  • Then, in Settings, select "Display" and activate the option: "Use the device without a physical keyboard".
How to Access the Windows Virtual Keyboard
More secure option in Windows 10

From the Start menu

In the search bar, type "On-Screen Keyboard" and click the desktop program. The keyboard will activate automatically, and when you close it, it will deactivate.

How to Access the Windows Virtual Keyboard

Remember that the Windows On-Screen Keyboard works the same way as on your mobile device. So if you don't have a touch screen, it will only work with the mouse.

How to Prevent the On-Screen Keyboard from Starting with Windows

Once activated, the Windows on-screen keyboard has the bad habit of activating at system startup. To disable it definitively:

  • First, go to Settings (Windows + U) and deactivate the option: "Use the device without a physical keyboard". And that's it!

Hidden Features of the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows

  • The keyboard has a large number of emojis in Windows 8 and Windows 10.
  • It has a predictive text option.
  • You can customize the keyboard layout and change the key distribution and language.

The Windows on-screen keyboard is really a very good solution when we have a failure in the physical keyboard. But most importantly, it can be used as a security method, avoiding keylogger attacks, which are a type of malware that tracks a user's keystrokes on the physical keyboard (to steal passwords). Fortunately, it is very difficult for malware to track your strokes on the On-Screen Keyboard.

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