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What does a virtual keyboard mean? Virtual keyboard - how to enable it on your computer

Knowing how to turn on on-screen keyboard, you can solve problems with connected devices that may, for example, stop working as a result of reinstalling the system.

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 system Microsoft is the most familiar and easiest 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 is an item that opens a list of installed Windows 7 items.

Here the item of 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 the virtual keyboard to automatically appear when you log into Windows 7, you must follow all the same steps as for other versions of Microsoft's OS.

Windows 8 was immediately designed with touchscreens in mind. 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:

Open the “All applications” item of the system;
Find the “Special Features” section;
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 desired item.

Although this option is only possible during normal operation of 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 quick exit into the system control panel is possible directly from the desktop - to do this, you just need to configure the settings for 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 an alternative option from the Internet.

Free Virtual Keyboard

And Windows 10 even has a special emoji keyboard for making it easier to enter emoticons.

On-screen keyboard in Windows 8

When problems arise with a regular keyboard, the on-screen keyboard in Windows 8 comes to the rescue of users. And even more than that: in certain cases, it can be more convenient than a regular one.

Virtual keyboard appears as keys located on top of all windows and the desktop. To call it in the Windows 7 operating system, you must perform a certain sequence of actions. They will be discussed in this article.

Why is on-screen keyboard support needed?

Many users do not understand at all why Windows has the function of displaying the on-screen keyboard. To understand why this function is used, let's look at the reference material. The virtual keyboard is primarily designed for people who have missing or immobile fingers. It can also be used if a regular keyboard refuses to work.

In recent years, they have gained great popularity tablet computers. You can connect to them peripherals using wi-fi or bluetooth. However, in the absence of a USB connector and a wireless connection, working with these devices would be terribly inconvenient if not for the on-screen keyboard. The virtual keyboard also helps protect your computer from keyloggers. These are malicious programs that read passwords entered from a regular keyboard and send them directly to attackers.

How to enable the on-screen keyboard?

There are several methods you can use to enable the virtual keyboard.

1. Using search

IN latest versions operating room Windows systems The search function is very conveniently implemented. To use it, just click on the “Start” button and enter the phrase “on-screen keyboard”. After that, click on the top link. The window you need will appear on the screen.

2. Using a keyboard shortcut

The second method of calling the on-screen keyboard is more efficient. All you need to do is press the key combination “Win” + “R”. As a result, the Run window will appear. You must enter “osk.exe” or simply “osk” into it. Then click on “Enter” or “Ok”. If the window you need does not open after pressing a key combination, you will have to do a little work. To begin, hover your cursor over the Start menu bar, then right-click on it and select Properties. On the right side of the window that opens, select “Settings” and click on it. After clicking, a window will appear in which you need to check the box next to “Run”.

How to enable the on-screen keyboard if the regular one does not work?

You can open the on-screen keyboard using only the mouse pointing device. To do this, click on the “Start” menu, then select “Control Panel” and find the “Ease of Access” line. This will open a window called Ease of Access Center. Here, select “Enable virtual keyboard.” As a result, keys should appear on top of all windows.

Sometimes due to the activity of viruses and malware I can't enable the virtual keyboard from the control panel. Then you will have to open it manually executable file. To do this, go to the path “C:\\Windows\System32\” and run the file “osk.exe”.

Additional features and settings

To enable the virtual keyboard in the settings window, just follow these steps: Click on “Options” and select a hover response.

Disabling the on-screen keyboard

Perhaps after some time the need for an on-screen keyboard will no longer be necessary. This function will become unnecessary. To disable it, you just need to click on the OS familiar to all users Windows icons, located in the upper right corner of the virtual keyboard window. To close the window completely, select the cross, and to minimize the window, select the underscore symbol.

Instead of using a regular keyboard, you can use the on-screen keyboard to type and enter data. In this tutorial we will learn how to enable the virtual (on-screen) keyboard in Windows 7.

The on-screen keyboard appears on the computer screen with all the standard keys. The only thing missing is an additional number pad. To enable the virtual keyboard, follow these steps.

Step 1. “Standard” group

Press the button Start. In the menu that appears, expand the list All programs. In this list we find the group Standard and expand it:

Step 2: Accessibility

In Group Standard need to find the folder Special abilities and open it:

Step 3: On-Screen Keyboard

Now in the folder Special abilities find the component Screen keyboard and run it:

Screen keyboard

This is what the on-screen keyboard looks like in Windows 7.

Step 4: Numpad

By default, the on-screen keyboard does not have a number pad (numeric keypad). To turn it on, you need to press the button on the keyboard itself Options. In the settings window that appears, you need to check the box next to the item Enable numeric keypad:

After this, a number pad (numeric keypad) will appear on our keyboard:

How to enable virtual keyboard on windows 7, windows 8, windows 10? Few people think about this until the situation forces them to act immediately.

Of course, an on-screen device will not replace a real full-scale push-button keyboard. But it's better than nothing.

There are many situations where you need to use the on-screen keyboard. Sometimes it happens that some important key, for example Enter, stops working. And the problem needs to be solved. Or simply the keyboard has served its purpose and retired, the plug or USB port has become unusable, etc.

Immediately after you open the on-screen keyboard, it becomes clear that it is not nearly as convenient when compared to a physical one.

So, the disadvantages! The main disadvantage is the “slow response”; you can also note the fact that you won’t be able to work with your fingers, only with the mouse.

You can use a virtual keyboard if the regular one has become unusable, but it’s better not to delay it and buy a new, reliable keyboard.

If you think that a virtual keyboard needs to be downloaded, then you are wrong, it can be found in Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 without any problems, it is built-in.

Method number 1. How to enable the virtual keyboard on Windows

This is the longest and at the same time the most reliable option to enable the virtual keyboard. Why is that? Everything is banally simple. The other two methods require a working real keyboard.

Instructions:

Follow the path: Start button -> All programs -> Now turn the mouse wheel down -> find the standard folder and click on it -> Click on the “special features” folder -> left-click to select the on-screen keyboard.

Method number 2. How to enable the virtual keyboard with two keys

The second way to enable the virtual keyboard is quite simple, but you will need a keyboard, at least two keys must work. Since you need to press win+u at the same time.

On Windows 10, after pressing win and u, the following window will appear:

You are required to click on the “Keyboard” section and in the “Turn on the on-screen keyboard” item, switch the plug to On.

As you can see, this is the most quick way, it couldn’t be easier, but you need a working keyboard. This option is suitable for those whose keyboard has not completely failed.

Method number 3. How to enable the virtual keyboard

If you want to know how to enable the virtual keyboard from any computer state, then please check out the third enable method.

Instructions:

Press the Win+R keys. A window for entering commands appears in front of us. You are required to insert two words (without quotes) into the empty field: “osk.exe”. Next, click “OK”.