To open the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 10, press Windows logo key + Ctrl + O. Or select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and turn on Use the On-Screen Keyboard. You can type on it with a mouse, a touch screen, or another pointing device.
Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 25, 2026.
Ways to open the On-Screen Keyboard
- Shortcut: press Windows logo key + Ctrl + O. Press it again to close the keyboard.
- Settings: select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, then turn on Use the On-Screen Keyboard.
- Run: press Windows logo key + R, type
osk, and press Enter. - Search: type
on-screen keyboardin the search box on the taskbar. - Sign-in screen: select the Ease of Access button in the lower-right corner, then select On-Screen Keyboard.
Change how the keyboard works
Select the Options key on the On-Screen Keyboard to:
- Turn on the numeric keypad.
- Turn click sounds on or off.
- Type by hovering over keys instead of clicking them.
- Turn on text prediction.
Select Fade to make the keyboard see-through so you can see what’s behind it.
Use the touch keyboard instead
On a touch screen, the touch keyboard is easier to use. Right-click the taskbar and select Show touch keyboard button, then tap the keyboard icon near the clock to open it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop the On-Screen Keyboard from opening at startup?
Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and turn off Use the On-Screen Keyboard. If it still opens when you sign in, open Control Panel > Ease of Access Center > Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard, clear Use On-Screen Keyboard, and select OK.
Some keys on my keyboard stopped working. Can this help?
Yes. The On-Screen Keyboard works until you can fix or replace your keyboard.
To type in another language, see how to change the keyboard language in Windows 10.
To make text easier to read, see how to increase the font size in Windows 10.
If a physical key is broken, you can also remap another key in Windows 10.
To add emojis as you type, see how to use emojis on Windows 10.
To have Windows read the screen aloud, see how to turn on text-to-speech (Narrator) in Windows 10.
If you need to turn off a laptop’s built-in keyboard, see how to disable a laptop keyboard in Windows 10.
To turn off a stuck Caps Lock, see how to turn off Caps Lock in Windows 10.
Microsoft’s guide is Use the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) to type. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
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