What a virtual keyboard is and when you need it
A virtual keyboard is an on-screen keyboard you control with your mouse, trackpad, or other pointing device instead of typing on a physical keyboard. It appears as a window on your screen showing all the letters, numbers, and symbols you'd find on a regular keyboard. You click or tap each key to enter text.
You might use a virtual keyboard if your physical keyboard is broken, if you have limited hand mobility, if you're using a touchscreen device, or if you prefer not to type on a standard keyboard for any reason. Most operating systems include one built in, so you don't need to download anything.
Key Takeaways
- Windows includes the On-Screen Keyboard, which you can open by searching "osk" in the Start menu or through Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard.
- Mac users can enable the Keyboard Viewer through System Preferences > Keyboard > Input Sources, then access it from the menu bar.
- Chromebooks have a built-in virtual keyboard that appears automatically on touchscreen models or can be toggled in settings on non-touch devices.
- Virtual keyboards work with any program on your computer — you click keys just as you would type them, and the text appears in whatever window is active.
- Most virtual keyboards include settings to change key size, layout, and how keys respond when you click them.
Opening the virtual keyboard on Windows
The easiest way to open Windows's built-in virtual keyboard is to search for it. Click the Start button (the Windows logo in the bottom left), type osk, and press Enter. The On-Screen Keyboard window will appear on your screen.
If you prefer to open it through Settings, click Start, then go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard. Scroll down to "Use the On-Screen Keyboard" and toggle it on. The keyboard will open immediately and will also start automatically each time you restart your computer if you leave this setting on.
Once the keyboard is open, you can click any key with your mouse or trackpad, and the character will appear in whatever program you're using — a web browser, email, document, or anything else. The keyboard stays on top of other windows so you can see it while you work.
Opening the virtual keyboard on Mac
Mac's virtual keyboard is called the Keyboard Viewer. To enable it, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), then click Keyboard. Select the "Input Sources" tab, and check the box next to "Show Input menu in menu bar."
Once you've turned this on, a flag or keyboard icon will appear in the top right corner of your screen in the menu bar. Click that icon and select "Show Keyboard Viewer" from the dropdown menu. The keyboard will appear as a floating window on your screen.
You can click any key on the Keyboard Viewer to type, just as you would on Windows. The Keyboard Viewer also shows you which keys produce special characters when you hold Shift, Option, or Command — this is useful if you're learning keyboard shortcuts or need to type symbols.
Opening the virtual keyboard on Chromebook
If you have a Chromebook with a touchscreen, a virtual keyboard appears automatically when you tap in a text field. If your Chromebook doesn't have a touchscreen, you can still enable an on-screen keyboard through settings.
To turn on the virtual keyboard on a non-touch Chromebook, click the time in the bottom right corner, then click the Settings icon (gear). Go to Advanced > Accessibility > Keyboard and toggle on "Enable virtual keyboard." A keyboard icon will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen. Click it to open the virtual keyboard whenever you need it.
Adjusting virtual keyboard settings
All three operating systems let you customize how your virtual keyboard works. On Windows, right-click the title bar of the On-Screen Keyboard to access options like changing the keyboard layout (QWERTY, Dvorak, or others), adjusting the font size, or switching between different input modes.
On Mac, the Keyboard Viewer has fewer settings, but you can resize it by dragging its edges, and you can change which keyboard layout it displays by clicking the menu bar icon and selecting a different language or layout.
On Chromebook, accessibility settings let you adjust text size and other display options, though the virtual keyboard itself has fewer customization choices than Windows or Mac.
Using your virtual keyboard with different programs
The virtual keyboard works the same way in every program on your computer. Click in a text field — an email message, a search box, a document, a chat window — and then click the keys on your virtual keyboard. The text will appear exactly where your cursor is.
If you need to type capital letters, click the Shift key once before clicking the letter, just as you would on a physical keyboard. On Windows and Mac, holding down Shift or other modifier keys (like Ctrl or Alt) works the same way. Some virtual keyboards show you which keys are currently "held down" by highlighting them.
You can also use keyboard shortcuts with a virtual keyboard. For example, clicking Ctrl and then C will copy selected text, just as Ctrl+C would on a physical keyboard. This means you can do most computer tasks using only your pointing device.
Troubleshooting when the virtual keyboard won't open
If you search for "osk" on Windows and nothing happens, make sure you're logged in with an account that has administrator rights. Some workplace or school computers restrict access to accessibility tools. Try restarting your computer, or contact your IT support if the problem continues.
On Mac, if the Keyboard Viewer doesn't appear after you enable it, make sure you actually clicked the menu bar icon — it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it. If the icon isn't showing up at all, try disabling and re-enabling the Input Sources setting, then restart your computer.
On Chromebook, if the virtual keyboard doesn't appear on a touchscreen device, try tapping in a text field again. If you're on a non-touch Chromebook and the keyboard icon doesn't show up, check that you toggled the setting on in Accessibility settings, not just in the main keyboard settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a virtual keyboard with a mouse or trackpad?
Yes. You click each key on the virtual keyboard with your mouse or trackpad, just as you would click any button on your screen. This is the most common way to use a virtual keyboard.
Does the virtual keyboard work in all programs?
Yes. The virtual keyboard works anywhere you can type — web browsers, email, documents, chat programs, and most other applications. If you can click in a text field and type normally, you can use the virtual keyboard there.
Can I hide the virtual keyboard when I'm not using it?
Yes. On Windows, you can close the On-Screen Keyboard window by clicking the X button, and it will stay closed until you open it again. On Mac, click elsewhere on your screen or close the Keyboard Viewer window. On Chromebook, click the keyboard icon to toggle it off.
Is there a way to make the virtual keyboard keys bigger?
On Windows, right-click the title bar of the On-Screen Keyboard and look for size or display options. On Mac, you can resize the Keyboard Viewer by dragging its edges. On Chromebook, you can adjust text size in Accessibility settings, though this affects your whole screen, not just the keyboard.
What if I want to use a different keyboard layout, like Dvorak?
Windows lets you choose different layouts by right-clicking the On-Screen Keyboard's title bar. Mac and Chromebook let you select different layouts through their keyboard settings, and the virtual keyboard will display the layout you choose.