How to Enable and Customize the Touch Keyboard on Windows 11

While physical keyboards are still the tool of choice for typists and gamers, the on-screen keyboard can come into play when the physical keyboard stops working, or you're just too tired to press the keys.

In Windows 11, you can enable touch and on-screen keyboards in a slightly different way than in Windows 10.Next, we'll show you how to enable the touch keyboard and how to get the most out of it with some tips and tricks.

How to enable the touch keyboard on Windows 11

The easiest way to enable the touch keyboard on Windows 11 is through the Settings app.

Here's how you do it:

1. Press the Win+I keys at the same time to open Windows Settings.

2. Select Personalize in the left pane.

3. In the right pane, scroll down to find the Taskbar option and click it.

4. Now, enable the touch keyboard switch in the icon section in the corner of the taskbar.

Doing so will always show the touch keyboard icon on your taskbar, which you can simply tap to launch the onscreen keyboard.

Different ways to launch the on-screen keyboard on Windows 11

There are also several other ways to activate the on-screen keyboard.However, compared to the default touch keyboard, this keyboard will be floating, allowing you to move it around the screen.

The different ways to activate the on-screen keyboard are listed below:

1. Use the keyboard shortcuts of the on-screen keyboard

Some Windows services and functions can be started using default keyboard shortcuts.

To launch the on-screen keyboard, press the Ctrl + Win + O keys simultaneously.Once the keyboard is activated, you can adjust its position to your liking.

2. Open the Run dialog

You can also start the on-screen keyboard by launching Run.First, press Win + R at the same time.In the following dialog, enter "osk" in the text field and hit Enter.

This should successfully launch the keyboard.

3. Use Windows Search

You can launch the on-screen keyboard via Windows Search, just like you would any other application.

Just open the Windows search bar, type "On-Screen Keyboard" into the search bar, and click Open under the appropriate result.

How to get the most out of your touch keyboard

Once you've enabled the touch keyboard, you can personalize it to your liking.

To get started, just fire up the keyboard and hit the Options button.If you're using the on-screen keyboard, you'll find the option buttons on the right side of the keyboard.

Once clicked, you can customize some features like click sound, text prediction, hover time and scan speed.

If you're using a touch keyboard, click the gear icon at the top left.Here, you can customize features such as keyboard layout, handwriting, themes, and keyboard size.

For example, if you want to change the keyboard's theme, you can choose from one of the 17 available options.In the same window, you can adjust the overall size of the keyboard, as well as the size of the individual keys.

How to disable touch keyboard again

If you no longer want to use the keyboard, it's best to turn it off again.If you leave its icon on the taskbar, it can cause accidental clicks, which can be annoying.

Here's how to disable the touch keyboard:

1. Right-click on your taskbar, and then click Taskbar Settings.

2 Turn off the toggle key of the touch keyboard.

That's it, you should no longer see the touch keyboard icon in the taskbar.

Get the most out of your Windows touch keyboard

Virtual keyboards may not be as convenient as physical keyboards, but they do have their advantages.For example, did you know that entering confidential information like bank account information on a touch keyboard is less risky than entering it on a physical keyboard?This is because malicious websites can record your keystrokes on your physical keyboard, allowing them to determine what information you type!