How to open the virtual keyboard on Windows. On-screen (virtual) keyboard

The virtual (on-screen) keyboard is an analogue of the physical keyboard, which is controlled by the mouse pointer. This article will show you how to enable the on-screen keyboard on Windows 7, 8, as well as how to set it up, use it, launch it, and disable it when the OS boots.

A keyboard on a computer screen is necessary in the following cases:

  1. absent physical device input.
  2. The input device is malfunctioning or the keys on it do not function.
  3. Health problems that keep you from typing normally

How to enable the keyboard on your computer screen

The virtual input device startup file is located in the System32 folder Windows directory and is called osk.exe, from here you can call up the virtual keyboard, but few people will use such actions. There are enough ways to enable the on-screen keyboard on Windows 7, 8. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Enable virtual input device in Windows 7:

2. Launch Control Panel, set the view to "small icons". Find the center object special features", run it. Last action What you need to do is click on the “Enable on-screen keyboard” object.

3. In the Start search, type “ screen keyboard" (without quotes), then press Enter.

4. In the Run command window, type osk.exe. Click OK.

5. If you have a password to log into the system, then click the accessibility icon, which is attached to the lower left corner. Check the box for input without keyboard and click OK. After this the screen Windows keyboard 7 will open. In the upper left corner you can change the input language.

Enabling a virtual input device in Windows 8 due to the changed interface is different, but point 4 above can be used here. Use one of the methods below:

1. Click Start to exit to start screen. At the bottom left, click the downward-facing arrow. In the application menu, move all the way to the right. Find and open On-Screen Keyboard.

2. In the Control Panel, in the “View” area, select “Large Icons”. Next, find the “accessibility” element and click it. Next, click “turn on on-screen keyboard.”

3. Trigger the search using a combination Win keys+ W, select the search location “everywhere”. Enter “on-screen keyboard” into the search bar (no quotes needed). We wait, then select the desired object from the list below.

4. To use the electronic keyboard to enter your password when logging in, click the icon shown in the screenshot, which is located in the lower left corner. In the menu that appears, click “on-screen keyboard”.

In most cases, they resort to a virtual input device when it is not possible to use a physical input device. To enable the on-screen keyboard in Windows 7 with the mouse, use recommendations 1, 2, 5 for seven, and 1, 2, 4 for eight. The above are described all sorts of ways bring up the keyboard on the screen.

How to start and remove automatic loading of the electronic input device when entering the OS

Now let's look at how to enable or disable the Windows 7 on-screen keyboard when loading the OS. Autoloading of the virtual keyboard is especially important if you use it on permanent basis, or are faced with a password entry situation account first time in this way. Use one of the options below.

1. Bring up the keyboard on the computer screen using one of the methods described above. At the bottom, click the “options” button. Follow the link to control when the on-screen keyboard starts when you log in.

2. Get to Accessibility in Control Panel using method 2 described above for Windows 7, 8. Select the option marked in the screenshot.

In the control panel element that opens, check the box next to “use on-screen keyboard.” Click OK. After which the computer keyboard will automatically appear on the monitor screen every time the OS boots. By performing the reverse steps, you can remove the on-screen keyboard from Windows startup.

How to use and customize the virtual keyboard

The on-screen keyboard is controlled with the mouse. You need to put a blinking mouse cursor instead of entering text. Next, left-click required keys, keyboard shortcuts, for example to change the language on the on-screen keyboard.

Note: if there are problems with input, read the materials: why the input language does not change, it’s gone Language bar Windows.

To configure the input format and other parameters, click the “Options” button. Here you can change the following settings:

  1. Sound confirmation - every press virtual keys will publish sound signal.
  2. Enable numeric keypad – enables additional buttons on the right. It was used to create an untitled folder in the previous article.
  3. Keystrokes – specifies input by clicking the left mouse button.
  4. Hover over keys – a character is entered when you hover the mouse cursor over it, with the ability to select the hover duration.
  5. Key scanning – selecting a range of buttons in one line across the entire width, then after pressing the selection keys, scanning along the selected line in a smaller range before pressing required button. You can set the scanning speed.
  6. Text prediction – options allow you to suggest possible words when typing the first letters and put a space after them.

After changing the parameters, do not forget to click OK.

I would also like to note that when you press Fn, the F1-F12 buttons appear in place of the numbers. When turned on numeric keypad to access the numbers click Num Lock.

In Windows 7, 8 there are practically no differences in the on-screen keyboard, except that in the eight there is a row additional buttons for improved control. These are the Nav (go), Mv Up (up), Mv Dn (down), Dock (fix), Fade (disappear) buttons.

So we looked at all the ways to enable the on-screen keyboard on Windows 7, 8, as well as the startup process and disabling its startup. Virtual device input completely simulates the actions of buttons regular keyboard with the ability to customize to suit your needs.

Screen or virtual keyboard is a small program that allows you to enter characters and perform other operations directly on the monitor screen. This is done using a mouse or touchpad, as well as manually with the support of touchscreen technology. In this article we will learn how to enable such a keyboard on laptops with different versions of Windows.

This software will be useful in different situations. The most common case is a complete or partial failure of the physical keyboard. In addition, the on-screen keyboard helps to secure the entry of personal data on various resources, due to the fact that malicious keylogger programs are not able to read information from it.

In all editions of Windows this component is already built into the system, but there are also products from third party developers. Let's start getting acquainted with the program with them.

Third party software

Such programs are divided into paid and free, and differ in the set additional tools. The first include Free Virtual Keyboard. This keyboard is very similar to the standard one from Microsoft and performs only the most simple functions. This includes entering characters, using hotkeys and additional keys.

One of the representatives of paid software is Hot Virtual Keyboard. This product, having the same functionality as a regular keyboard, contains a lot additional settings, such as changing appearance, assistance when entering texts, connecting dictionaries, using gestures and many others.

The advantage of these programs is that when installed, they automatically place their shortcut on the desktop, which saves the user from having to search for a standard program in the wilds of the OS. Next we will talk about how to enable the on-screen keyboard in different versions Windows.

Windows 10

In the "ten" this component can be found in the folder "Special abilities" start menu.

For later quick call click RMB on the found item and select pinning to home screen or on the taskbar.

Windows 8

In the "eight" everything is somewhat more complicated. To enable the virtual keyboard, move the cursor to the lower right corner and click on "Search" on the panel that opens.

To create shortcuts, click RMB according to the relevant paragraph in search results and determine the action. The options are the same as in the “ten”.

Windows 7

In Win 7, the on-screen keyboard is located in a subfolder "Special abilities" directories "Standard" on the menu "Start".

The shortcut is created as follows: click RMB By "On-screen keyboard" and move on to point “Send to – Desktop (create shortcut)”.

Windows XP

The virtual keyboard in XP is turned on in much the same way as in the Seven. IN start menu move the cursor over the button "All programs", and then move along the chain "Standard - Special Features". This is where the component we need will “lie.”

A shortcut is created in a similar way to Windows 7.

Conclusion

Although the virtual keyboard is not the most convenient tool for entering text, it can help us out in case of physical breakdown. This program will also help avoid interception of personal data when entering it, for example, on websites social networks or electronic payment systems.

Most often, this is not difficult to do, since the corresponding utility is built into Windows. But, even if you can’t launch it, there are alternative options.

You may need to enable the on-screen keyboard on your laptop or PC in the following situations:

  • When the system does not recognize the device driver, but the mouse or display sensor works (some models of modern laptops have it);
  • If necessary, increase the confidentiality of information. It is believed that screen input is more protected from spyware than standard input.

Keyboard in Windows 7

For the seventh generation operating room Microsoft systems the most familiar and simplest way to call a utility that allows you to enter characters using the mouse or touch screen– login through the “Special Features” item (found in standard programs Start menu).

The second option is to search through the corresponding field.

If you cannot find the on-screen keyboard using any of the above methods, going to the “Control Panel” and the Programs and Features menu may be suitable.

On the left there is an item that opens a list of installed Windows elements 7.

Here the item for Tablet PC components is noted.

After selecting this option, a manual will appear on the screen. If it is not provided at all, most likely you will have to update the system.

Advice! For automatic appearance virtual keyboard when logging into Windows 7, you must perform all the same steps as for other versions of the OS from Microsoft.

On-screen keyboard in Windows 8

Windows 8 was designed from the ground up to be able to use touch displays. For this reason, virtual is present in it by default.

The only exception may be the simplified Home version.

You can run it like this:

  1. Open the “All applications” item of the system;
  2. Find the “Special Features” section;
  3. Enable the virtual on-screen keyboard in the application list.

The second method is to type using the on-screen keyboard. A search results window should appear with the right point.

Although this option is only possible if normal operation a regular keyboard and is only useful for increasing the secrecy of data entry.

The third option is to enable the manual through the system Control Panel. It will take about the same amount of time as the first one.

But sometimes you can quickly access the system control panel directly from the desktop - to do this, you just need to configure the settings of its icons.

In cases where the on-screen keyboard needs to be used frequently, it can be displayed automatically.

To do this, you need to open the system’s special features in the same way and find the item “Use a computer without a mouse or keyboard.”

If you select the use item, it will be available when the user password entry window opens.

Enabling on Windows 10

There are no special differences in launching the virtual keyboard for Windows 10. However, the way to enter the accessibility menu and its appearance other.

The on-screen keyboard must not only be selected, but turned on by moving the corresponding slider.

Downloading the on-screen keyboard

Sometimes the functionality of a standard virtual keyboard is not enough for the user. Or such a utility is not provided in the system.

In this case, you need to download Alternative option from the Internet.

Free Virtual Keyboard

Free utility Free Virtual Keyboard does not require installation on your computer, has a Russian layout installed and takes up only 0.3 MB.

The program's capabilities are greater than those built into the system, which it can replace when changing Windows settings.

Touch It Virtual Keyboard

The following product is not free, but quite functional. It has many settings and a nice-looking interface.

Moreover, the user can create additional virtual keyboards using Touch It Virtual Keyboard. True, the utility is paid.

Among all the on-screen keyboards, the Click-N-Type application is different high functionality And big amount settings. Visually it looks somewhat old-fashioned.

But it’s almost ideal for those who value features over appearance. Moreover, you don’t need to pay for it.

Click-N-Type On-Screen Keyboard

A virtual (on-screen) keyboard is an analogue of a physical keyboard, which is controlled. This article will show you how to enable the on-screen keyboard on Windows 7, 8, as well as how to set it up, use it, launch it, and disable it when the OS boots.

A keyboard on a computer screen is necessary in the following cases:

  1. There is no physical input device.
  2. The input device is malfunctioning or the keys on it do not function.
  3. Health problems that keep you from typing normally

How to enable the keyboard on your computer screen

The virtual input device startup file is located in the System32 folder of the Windows directory and is called osk.exe, from here you can call the virtual keyboard, but few people will use such actions. There are enough ways to enable the on-screen keyboard on Windows 7, 8. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Enable virtual input device in Windows 7:

To configure the input format and other parameters, click the “Options” button. Here you can change the following settings:

  1. Sound confirmation – each press of the virtual keys will emit a sound signal.
  2. Enable numeric keypad – enables additional buttons on the right. It was used in the previous article.
  3. Keystrokes – specifies input by clicking the left mouse button.
  4. Hover over keys – a character is entered when you hover the mouse cursor over it, with the ability to select the hover duration.
  5. Scanning keys – selecting a range of buttons in one line across the entire width, then after pressing the selection keys, scanning occurs along the selected line in a smaller range until the required button is pressed. You can set the scanning speed.
  6. Text prediction – options allow you to suggest possible words when typing the first letters and put a space after them.

After changing the parameters, do not forget to click OK.

I would also like to note that when you press Fn, the F1-F12 buttons appear in place of the numbers. When you turn on the numeric keypad, press Num Lock to access numbers.

In Windows 7, 8 there are practically no differences in the on-screen keyboard, except that the eight has a number of additional buttons for improved control. These are the Nav (go), Mv Up (up), Mv Dn (down), Dock (fix), Fade (disappear) buttons.

So we looked at all the ways to enable the on-screen keyboard on Windows 7, 8, as well as the startup process and disabling its startup. The virtual input device completely imitates the actions of the buttons on a regular keyboard, with the ability to customize it to suit your needs.

The Windows 7 virtual keyboard consists of keys that appear on top of the desktop or any other windows. In order for it to appear, it must be turned on, and to do this, perform a certain sequence of actions.

Why does the operating system include on-screen keyboard support?

Few people understand why operating systems Windows has a feature to show the keyboard on the desktop. To understand this, you need to refer to the help and supplement it a little.

First of all, a virtual keyboard is required for those people whose fingers are inactive or absent. In addition, it can help if the keys on a regular keyboard suddenly stop working, and you urgently need to add text or type the name of the file recipient.

IN Lately Devices such as tablet computers. Conventional devices can be connected to them bluetooth help or wi-fi, but in the absence wireless devices and nests USB work would be incredibly difficult if not for the virtual keyboard.

It can also help protect against malware, called keyloggers. They read passwords that are entered from a physical keyboard and then send them to the attacker.

How to enable a virtual keyboard if there is a regular one?

  1. Method one. IN latest versions Windows OS conveniently implements search functions. Just click on and enter "on-screen keyboard" in the search bar. Now click on the top search link and the desired window will appear on the screen.
  2. The second method is more efficient. You just need to press the combination and a window called “Run” will open. Write “osk” or “osk.exe” into it, and then click on the “OK” or “ENTER” button. If the window does not open after clicking, you will have to do several extra steps. First, hover over the Start menu and click on it right click mouse, select "Properties". Find the “Settings” button on the right and click on it. After clicking, another window will open in which you need to check the box next to the words “Run”.

How to enable the virtual keyboard if the steps described above are done, but nothing works? Just open the "Start" menu, and in the right column select "Run", now you can easily enter the file name "osk" or "osk.exe"

How to enable the virtual keyboard if the regular one does not work?

The on-screen keyboard can only be opened using the mouse.

Click on "Start", then on "Control Panel" and select "Ease of Access".

A window called "Ease of Access Center" will open.

After clicking on "Enable virtual keyboard", the required keys will appear on top of all windows.

Open Explorer by double-clicking on the “My Computer” shortcut (it is advisable to perform this action as an Administrator).

Since enabling the virtual keyboard is not always possible from the Control Panel, especially if the computer is infected, sometimes you need to open the executable file yourself.

Settings and additional features

The virtual keyboard is open on the screen, how can I enable its settings window? There is nothing complicated about this - click on the "Options" button. Here you can choose a reaction to hovering by simply holding over a certain key - it will be considered that this key is pressed.

Shutdown

Often, after some time of operation, the OS feature in the form of an on-screen keyboard becomes unnecessary. To disable a window that is no longer required for operation, in its right top corner Click on the buttons familiar to the user: the symbol to collapse, or the cross to close completely.