How to Open On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 11 Easily and Quickly

An on-screen keyboard or virtual keyboard is a feature that allows you to type without using a physical keyboard. This feature is especially useful if you have problems with your keyboard, or if you’re using a touch device like a tablet or convertible laptop. The on-screen keyboard can also help you type special characters, emojis, or symbols that may not be available on your keyboard.

There are several ways to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11, depending on your preferences and needs. In this article, I will show you nine ways to open an on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 easily and quickly. Let’s get started!

Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcuts

The easiest and fastest way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to use keyboard shortcuts. You just need to press the Windows key + Ctrl + O at the same time, and the on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can close it by pressing the same key again, or by clicking the X button in the upper right corner of the on-screen keyboard.

Method 2: Using the Taskbar

Another easy way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to use the taskbar. You can add an on-screen keyboard icon to your taskbar, so you can click on it anytime you want to open the on-screen keyboard. Here are the steps:

1. Right-click on an empty area on the taskbar, and select Taskbar settings.
2. Scroll down until you find the Taskbar corner icons section, and click on Keyboard.
3. Select the Show keyboard button option. You’ll see a keyboard icon appear in the lower-right corner of your taskbar.
4. Click on the keyboard icon, and an on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can close it by clicking the keyboard icon again, or by clicking the X button in the upper-right corner of the on-screen keyboard.

Method 3: Using the Start Menu

The third way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to use the start menu. You can find the on-screen keyboard in the list of available apps in the start menu. Here are the steps:

1. Click on the Start button in the lower-left corner of your taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Click on the All apps icon in the upper right corner of the start menu, or press the down arrow key on your keyboard.
3. Scroll down until you find the folder Windows Ease of Access, and click on the folder to open it.
4. Find the On-Screen Keyboard app, and click on it to open it. You can also press the O key on your keyboard to directly open the app.
5. An on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can close it by clicking the X button in the upper-right corner of the on-screen keyboard, or by pressing Alt + F4 on your keyboard.

Method 4: Using Settings

The fourth way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to use settings. You can access the on-screen keyboard settings through settings, and enable or disable the feature as you see fit. Here are the steps:

1. Click on the Start button in the lower-left corner of your taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Click on the Settings icon on the right side of the start menu, or press the I key on your keyboard.
3. Select the Accessibility category on the left side of the settings window, or press the A key on your keyboard.
4. Select the Keyboard subcategory on the right side of the settings window, or press the K key on your keyboard.
5. Under the On-Screen Keyboard section, slide the Use the On-Screen Keyboard switch to the On position to turn the feature on, or to the Off position to disable the feature. You can also use the space bar on your keyboard to slide the key.
6. If you enable the feature, an on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can close it by sliding the button to the Off position again, or by clicking the X button in the upper right corner of the on-screen keyboard.

Method 5: Using Control Panel

The fifth way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to use the control panel. You can access the on-screen keyboard settings through the control panel, and change some of the options available for the feature. Here are the steps:

1. Click on the Start button in the lower-left corner of your taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Type the control panel in the start menu search box, and click on the result that appears, or press the Enter key on your keyboard.
3. In the control panel window, change the view to Large icons or Small icons by clicking on the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner of the window, or by pressing the Tab key on your keyboard until you highlight the menu, then press the down arrow key to open it, and select the option you want by pressing the up arrow key or the down arrow key.
4. Find the Ease of Access Center icon, and click on it to open it, or press the E key on your keyboard to go directly to it.
5. In the Ease of Access Center window, click on the Start On-Screen Keyboard link under the Quick access to common tools section, or press the S key on your keyboard to go directly to the link.
6. An on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can close it by clicking the X button in the upper-right corner of the on-screen keyboard, or by pressing Alt + F4 on your keyboard.

Method 6: Using Command Prompt

The sixth way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to use the command prompt. You can run a command that will open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 via the command prompt. Here are the steps:

1. Click on the Start button in the lower-left corner of your taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Type cmd in the start menu search box, and right-click on the result that appears, or press the Tab key on your keyboard until you highlight the result.
3. Select the Run as administrator option from the menu that appears, or press the down arrow key on your keyboard until you highlight the option, then press the Enter key. You may need to grant administrator permissions to run the command prompt.
4. In the command prompt window, type the following command, and press the Enter key:

osk

5. An on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can close it by typing the following command in the command prompt, and pressing the Enter key:

taskkill /im osk.exe /f

Method 7: Using Run

The seventh way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to use run. You can run a command that will open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 via run. Here are the steps:

1. Click on the Start button in the lower-left corner of your taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Type run in the start menu search box, and click on the result that appears, or press the Enter key on your keyboard.
3. In the run window, type the following command, and press the Enter key or click on the OK button:

osk

4. An on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can close it by clicking the X button in the upper-right corner of the on-screen keyboard, or by pressing Alt + F4 on your keyboard.

Method 8: Using File Explorer

The eighth and final way to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 is to use the file explorer. You can find the file responsible for running the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 through the file explorer, and open it directly. Here are the steps:

1. Click on the File Explorer icon on your taskbar, or press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
2. In the file explorer window, click on the drop-down menu next to This PC, or press the Alt + D keys on your keyboard to highlight the menu, then press the down arrow key to open it.
3. Select the OS (C:) option, or press O button on your keyboard to select the option directly.
4. Open the Windows folder, and then open the System32 folder.
5. Find the file osk.exe, and double-click on it to open it, or press the O key on your keyboard to open the file directly.
6. An on-screen keyboard will appear on your screen. You can close it by clicking the X button in the upper-right corner of the on-screen keyboard, or by pressing Alt + F4 on your keyboard.

Conclusion

Those are nine ways to open the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 easily and quickly. You can choose the way that best suits your preferences and needs, and enjoy this useful feature. On-screen keyboard can help you type without using a physical keyboard, or typing special characters, emoji, or symbols that may not be available on your keyboard.