The Touch Keyboard in Windows 11/10 is a useful tool that lets you type on touch devices, without needing any physical keyboard. It is not to be confused with the Windows On-screen Keyboard which can appear on non-touch devices too. In this post, we will see how to use, start, enable, disable the Touchscreen keyboard, change its layout, disable it if the Touch keyboard icon keeps appearing in your taskbar, and what to do if the Windows Touch Keyboard is not working.
Touch Keyboard in Windows 11/10
In Windows 11 you will find the settings at Settings > Time and Languages > Typing > Touch keyboard.
In Windows 10 you will find the settings at Settings > Devices > Typing section > Touch keyboard.
Turn on Touch Keyboard
In Windows 11, If you need regular and faster access, you can enable the Touch icon via Settings > Taskbar settings.
To turn on the Touch Keyboard in Windows 8.1, swipe in from the right edge to open the Charms bar. Tap Settings and then Keyboard. Next select Touch keyboard and handwriting panel. The keyboard will appear.
Show Touch keyboard icon in Taskbar and use it to show the keyboard
In Windows 11, you have to do the following:
- Right-click on the Taskbar > Taskbars settings
- Under Taskbar corner icons, turn on the switch against Touch keyboard
- The Touch keyboard icon will be displayed.
In Windows 10 or Windows 8.1, If you need regular and faster access, you can right-click on the taskbar > Toolbars > Touch keyboard. The touch keyboard icon will appear and sit in your taskbar near the notification area. Tapping it will make the touch keyboard appear.
Press the touch keyboard icon in the bottom right corner. You will see the four available layouts in the Default Docked Style. These appear edge-to-edge.
Touch keyboard layouts
Windows 11
Windows 11 offers 3 layouts:
- Default
- Small
- Traditional.
Windows 10
Windows 10 offers more layouts.
The first one is the default layout.
The second one is a mini layout.
The third one is the Thumb keyboard, which splits the keys on either side of the screen. You will find this view useful if you are standing, holding the device, and need to type with both your thumbs.
The fourth one, the Standard Keyboard layout.
The fifth one activates the Pen Input layout.
You can also activate the Detached Style – which will again offer you 5 layouts.
Related: What is the meaning of Touch Support with Touch Points in Windows.
A few Touch keyboard tips to get you started:
- Turn Caps Lock on by double-tapping the Shift key.
- Double-tap the Spacebar to insert a full-stop and space.
- Tap the &123 key to switch to the numbers and symbols view.
- Switch to and from the numbers and symbols view by pressing and holding the &123 key, tapping the keys you want, and then releasing it.
- Tap the Emoticon key to see Emojis. Go here to see how to use colored Emojis.
Related: How to customize Touch keyboard on Windows 11.
Touch keyboard icon keeps appearing? Disable Touch keyboard
If your Touch keyboard icon keeps appearing in your taskbar every time you log on or reboot, you can if you wish to disable the Touch screen keyboard. To do this, Run services.msc to open Services Manager. Change the Startup type of Touch keyboard and handwriting panel service from Automatic to Disabled.
This post will show you how to reset the Touch Keyboard to default open position. See this post if your Touch keyboard is not working in Windows.
Are you aware of any touch keyboard replacements? Specifically, I’m interested in a replacement that allows me to swipe like my Swype Android keyboard.
Nope, not aware, but will post about it if I come across something.
I use voice recognition software, and the problem I have is that the Windows 8.1 keyboard pops up every time I touch the screen to set the cursor. Very irritating because it blocks my view (as does this purring cat on my chest) and I can only take one problem at a time. Do you have any way of toggling this keyboard on and off – in and out of service?
Touchpal
Install button doesn’t show in the windows store. Also, it has a lot of bad reviews (mostly for not working). This would be the solution I’m looking for if I could install and it worked.
Do you know how to open this keyboard from Command Prompt? OSK command is for the old On-Screen Keyboard, what about the command for this touch keyboard?
It is TabTip.exe or TabTip32.exe.
You will find it in C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedInk OR C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesMicrosoft SharedInk respectively.
i can’t seem to find anything on just having the numeric keypad on the screen; i know it’s part of the osk but when i’m using the touchscreen keyboard the numeric keypad isn’t an option; for faster inputting i would like just the number keys (like on a phyiscal desktop keyboard) because the osk takes up too much room on the screen. i do not see a way to pick the keyboard up and say “snap it to the left or rt ” of a web page like you can do with the windows taskbar. I’ve looked on various tutorials and can’t seem to nail anything down. do you think it’s an after market add on? if so what would i call it when searching for it. thanks – i enjoyed reading your article and your website.
I found this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt9dc4c4nF0
I find myself reading this post a lot more than just a few times! Great tips and very well written! http://www.touchscreensmelbourne.com.au/
how can I auto hide the on screen keyboard in case nobody touches the screen in a specified time out?
I would like to be able to choose a different tactile feedback sound. Is this possible?
i need only key number
Is there a way to disable the emoticons and dock keys? Assuming I can dock the keyboard at initial launch
I couldn’t remember how to enable the Standard Keyboard Layout. I found it here. Thank you.