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Digital on-screen keyboard. Free virtual on-screen keyboard program Free Virtual Keyboard screenshots

The on-screen keyboard is similar to a physical keyboard and allows you to control it with your mouse pointer. Very often, ordinary users do not know how to enable this option and where it can be found. Fortunately, a virtual device for entering information is a basic option of the Windows operating system, so it is available on absolutely all devices running this OS. In this article we will look at how to display the on-screen keyboard on the desktop, configure all the settings and make it launch automatically when you turn on the device.

Why do you need an on-screen keyboard when you have a regular one?

Many people do not understand the functional purpose of the on-screen keyboard and find it very inconvenient to use. But this software development has its own functional purpose. It is actively used in such cases:

  • people with limited finger mobility or the complete absence of several fingers are helped by the presence of an on-screen keyboard;
  • justified in case of buttons freezing on a regular keypad, when they stop functioning at the most inopportune time, and you absolutely need to finish an important document;
  • in the absence of a physical input device;
  • If you have a tablet device, you can only type on the on-screen keyboard;
  • the presence of an on-screen keyboard helps protect against keyloggers and hacker attacks, which can read the entered password from an ordinary keypad.

Important! A keylogger is a specially designed program or hardware device that is capable of recording every keystroke on a personal computer keyboard.

How to enable a keyboard on a computer screen?

To display the virtual device for entering information, you do not need to download additional software or install updates. The on-screen keyboard is part of the standard set of Windows programs of any modification.

Important! The Windows 8 operating system is also equipped with the ability to display a touch keyboard on the computer screen that supports mouse control.

How to install an on-screen keyboard on your computer? The file that launches the virtual device for entering information is located in the System32 folder of the Windows directory, called osk.exe. Thus, you can enable a window with on-screen keys, but few people use such actions.

There are many ways that help you call a virtual device to enter information on Windows 7, 8. Let's look at each method in more detail and detail.

Windows XP

When you enable the onscreen keypad on a computer running Windows XP, you must do the following:

  1. Click the “Start” button.
  2. Open the “All Programs” menu.
  3. Go to the “Standard” directory.
  4. Select the “On-Screen Keyboard” application in the “Accessibility” folder.

Important! If you need to access the program frequently, it is recommended to pin a shortcut to this application on your desktop.

Windows 7

There are several ways to enable a virtual information input device in the Windows 7 operating system. Let's look at them in more detail.

Method number 1 - Start menu

How to install an on-screen keyboard in Windows 7 via the main Start menu:

  1. Press the “Start” key.
  2. Next, select “All programs”.
  3. After that, go to the “Standard” section and open the “Special Features” subsection.
  4. Select the “On-Screen Keyboard” device.

Method number 2 - control panel

You can also activate the virtual device to enter the necessary information using the control panel. To do this you need to do the following:

  • Launch the control panel.

Important! This item can be found in the main Start menu. The control panel is located in the right list of all programs and functions.

  • Install the “Small Icons” element.
  • We find the “Ease of Access Center” object and launch it.
  • The last action we take is to click on the “Enable on-screen keyboard” object.

Method number 3 - search in the Start menu

The Windows 7 operating system provides a search bar that allows you to quickly find the location of the required object. In order to activate the virtual device to maintain the necessary information, you need to perform the following actions:

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. In the search bar, type “on-screen keyboard” (without using quotes).
  3. Press the Enter key.
  4. After these steps, the operating system will display all the results found that contain the search phrase.
  5. Click on “On-Screen Keyboard” to launch this software product.

Method number 4 - command line

The command line can also help in activating the virtual device to enter the necessary information. How to bring the on-screen keyboard to the desktop using the command line:

  1. Activate the command window.
  2. In the command window, click on “Run”.
  3. Enter the file name osk.exe.
  4. Click on the OK button.

Method No. 5 - password entry window

If you have a login password, you can activate the on-screen keypad through the password entry window. In this case, you need to perform the following actions:

  1. In the password entry window, click the “Accessibility” icon attached to the left side of the lower corner.
  2. Check the box for input without a keyboard.
  3. Click “OK”.

After this procedure, a virtual device is opened to enter Windows 7 information.

Important! In the upper corner of the left side you can change the input language.

Windows 8

Due to the change in interface in the Windows 8 operating system, the methods for enabling the on-screen keypad are slightly different from those discussed previously. Let's look at the step-by-step steps required to enable a virtual input device in Windows 8.

Method number 1 - Start menu

How to install an on-screen keyboard on a computer in the Windows 8 operating system through the main Start menu:

  1. Click the “Start” button to enter the start screen.
  2. In the lower corner of the left side, click on the arrow that points down.
  3. In the application menu, move to the right side, all the way.
  4. Find and open the “On-Screen Keyboard” item.

Method number 2 - control panel

To find the required function through the control panel, you must do the following:

  1. Click on the “Start” button.
  2. Click on the arrow and go to the application menu.
  3. In the list of all installed programs and applications, find the “Control Panel” item and activate it.
  4. On the control panel, in the “View” item, select “Large icons”.
  5. Next, you need to find the “Special Features” element and click on it.
  6. After that, select “Enable on-screen keyboard”.

Method number 3 - search

To activate a virtual input device, you can use the search. To do this you need to do the following:

  1. Call up the search using the keyboard shortcut Win + W.
  2. Select the search area “everywhere”.
  3. In the search bar, type “on-screen keyboard” (without quotes).
  4. In the list that appears below, select the element you are looking for.

Method number 4 - password entry window

How to bring the on-screen keyboard to the desktop in Windows 8 through the password window:

  1. In the window to enter the correct password to log in, you need to click the special icon located in the corner on the left side.
  2. After this, a menu appears in which you need to click “On-screen keyboard”.

How to start and disable automatic loading of the electronic keyboard when entering the OS?

If you have to use a virtual keypad on an ongoing basis, then using an auto-loading window with electronic keys for entering information is justified. The autoload situation will also be relevant if the account password is entered for the first time.

Let's consider options for autoloading an electronic input device when entering the operating system:

  1. Using one of the methods described above, we launch the electronic keypad onto the computer screen. At the bottom, press the “parameters” button. Follow the link to control the launch of the virtual keypad when entering the operating system.
  2. Using method 2 described above for Windows 7, 8, go to “Ease of Access” in the Control Panel.
  3. In the control panel window that opens, check the “use electronic keyboard” checkbox.
  4. Press the Enter key.

Important! After completing this procedure, the computer's virtual keypad will automatically appear on the display screen every time the operating system boots. When performing the reverse steps, you can turn off the window with on-screen keys for entering information from the Windows startup system at any time.

How to use and configure the virtual keyboard?

We have already dealt with the question of how to install an on-screen keyboard on a computer. Now you need to understand how to use this device. The virtual keypad is controlled using the mouse. The input text must be replaced with a blinking mouse cursor. After this, press the corresponding keys with the left mouse button. By using keyboard shortcuts you can, for example, change the input language on the virtual keypad.

Important! If there are input problems, then you need to familiarize yourself with the materials and find the answer to the question: why the Windows language bar disappeared or why the input language does not change.

To configure the input format and other parameters, you need to click on the “parameters” button. In this section it is possible to change the following settings:

  • Availability of sound confirmation - each time you press a virtual key, a sound signal will be emitted.
  • Enabling the numeric keypad—the buttons on the right are additionally enabled. This option helps you create folders without a name.
  • Keystrokes – pressing the left mouse button causes input.
  • The ability to hover over the keys - a character is entered when the mouse cursor is hovered over the keys, in addition, there is a choice of the possible duration of the hover.
  • Scanning buttons - selecting a range of keys in one line across the entire width, after which, when you press the selected keys, a scanning procedure occurs along the selected line with a smaller range until the corresponding key is pressed. The scanning speed is adjustable.
  • Text prediction - using these options, after typing the first letters, you can use the suggested word options with printed spaces after them.

After changing the parameters, press Enter for them to take effect.

Important! Please note that after pressing Fn, the F1-F12 keys appear instead of numbers. To enable the numeric keypad and be able to apply numbers, you need to press Num Lock.

In the Windows 7, 8 operating system there are practically no differences in the virtual keypad. The exception in Windows 8 is a number of additional keys that provide improved control. These are the Nav buttons - move, Mv Up - up, Mv Dn - down, Dock - pin, Fade - disappear.

How to remove the on-screen keyboard?

How to remove an electronic keyboard from a computer or laptop screen? To minimize or close this option, there are special buttons that are located in the upper right corner of the active window. To do this, you must do any of the following:

  • Click on the collapse button, which is indicated by a straight line. After this, the window with on-screen keys is minimized to enter information into the “Taskbar”, from where, if necessary, it can be easily called up again.
  • Click on the close button, which is indicated by a cross. As a result, the virtual input device program will cease to function and will be closed.

Where can I download an on-screen keyboard for a Windows computer?

In addition to the standard option of the Windows operating system, there are alternative options for virtual devices for entering the necessary information. Today on the Internet there is a huge number of software products that have the functionality of a window with on-screen keys for entering information. Let's consider the most optimal options.

Free Virtual Keyboard

One unique option is the Free Virtual Keyboard version. It has the following characteristics:

  • there is a Russian-language version of the electronic keypad;
  • there is no need to install this version on your computer, and the file size is less than 300 KB;
  • the installation file does not contain unnecessary or unwanted software products;
  • free.

Important! This software development copes well with all the assigned tasks. Although, in order to enable the Free Virtual Keyboard by default, instead of the classic one, you need to carefully examine the Windows operating system. You can download the Free Virtual Keyboard software product from its official website.

Touch It Virtual Keyboard

Touch It Virtual Keyboard software development is also a very good option.

Important! But it has one significant drawback - this is the fact that this program must be purchased for money. Also, by default, Touch It Virtual Keyboard does not provide Russian, so you will have to download a special dictionary, and it is also paid.

Despite all the listed disadvantages, this electronic keypad has wide functionality:

  • allows you to create your own versions of virtual keypads;
  • allows the integration of created products into the operating system.

Video material

Now you know everything about using the virtual keyboard, and we hope you have learned to use all its capabilities to appreciate the benefits of the program.

The virtual on-screen keyboard is a full-fledged replacement for the real keyboard (physical) that you can use on Windows 10. This feature will probably be useful to you in a situation where you do not want the so-called “keyloggers”, i.e. Utilities that record keystrokes did not record your data.

There are a great many solutions, but we will focus on only two. It is important to understand that there are so many differences between solutions that thinking that they are all safe and convenient is one of the biggest misconceptions. Therefore, we recommend that you approach your choice wisely, and to do this, use our short instructions.

The first option is to use software that is essentially just an on-screen keyboard. This solution is convenient if you have secure tasks. For example, the necessary key is broken or other difficulties.

If you have unsafe tasks:

  • Entering a password into the Internet bank;
  • Collection of sensitive information;
  • Entering any data that you do not want to “share” with others;

Then you need to use only those solutions that are known to guarantee you a high level of not only comfort, but also confidentiality.

On-screen keyboard built into antivirus

Almost all modern antiviruses include similar functionality. This is absolutely normal, because... is a necessary function in a situation where you need to enter a password or, for example, a card number in a secure mode. You can come up with a dozen other areas where and how to apply this opportunity. We will only clarify in which solutions you will find built-in functionality:

Please note that if you decide to download the distribution from this page just because your input device has stopped working, then perhaps it would have been easier for you to solve all the difficulties at the physical level? That is, eliminate the causes of the problem, and accordingly work on a full-fledged PC. No matter how great a product you download, you still won't get the same comfort that you would have with a real input device. If so, then we have it for you.

Returning to the situation when you have an English version of a utility or antivirus. In this case, the solution may be that you need to find the “Virtual Keyboard” tab, in English this means virtual keyboard. And if you are working on a tablet with a touch screen, then you will not need to download the utility.

Since in tablet mode on Windows 10 there is a special feature - an on-screen keyboard. You just need to call it through the start panel. It also opens automatically if you are logged into something, for example. And for this you do not need separate settings.

Therefore, we are attaching a download file on this page, which is included inside Kaspersky Anti-Virus. Since in this case you will receive not only a functional on-screen keyboard, but also a safe way to enter information. If you have additional requests, in the form of layout, non-standard format, etc., then use the search on our project to find improved versions, including not only in Russian.

In this review, I will talk about on-screen keyboards and where it is best to download them to your PC. An on-screen keyboard is a virtual version of a regular input device that appears on your computer display and can be controlled with a mouse, stylus, or touch screen. Such software is used when a physical keyboard is not available or cannot meet the user's needs, or to provide an increased level of security.


In terms of security, it’s worth downloading an on-screen keyboard to protect yourself from various malware: keyloggers, clipboard loggers, etc.

If the user needs screen input, the easiest and most convenient option is to use the standard Windows virtual keyboard. There are even two of them: one is full-fledged, imitating all the keys of a real device, the second is a stripped-down tablet. If the functionality of these programs is not enough or you are not satisfied with their design, you can use alternative on-screen keyboards.

Comfort On-Screen Keyboard - virtual keyboard on the screen

Comfort Software's product is a paid version of the on-screen keyboard that has the richest set of functions. The program is suitable for use on any computer, incl. and tablets running Windows.

The main advantage of this on-screen keyboard is its wide range of themes. You can choose a variety of shapes and colors of keys, including an ergonomic keyboard type and a keyboard trainer with marked zones for different fingers. In addition, each of the options can be supplemented


Easily adjust to your needs.

Ease of use of the Comfort On-Screen Keyboard is ensured by the following functions:

  • support for all system languages;
  • automatic appearance when the input field is activated;
  • sticky keys;
  • transparency;
  • icons for hot key combinations and quick launch of popular programs (text and graphic editors, email clients).
  1. You can download the program on the official website of the developer - http://ru.comfort-software.com.
  2. After installing it, you need to go to the settings and adjust the on-screen keyboard - select the design style, language layout, keyboard shortcuts, auto-hide delay, sounds, etc.
  3. After this, the keyboard will automatically pop up when you need to type something.

Detailed instructions for downloading, installing and configuring the program:

Click-N-Type - Download a simple on-screen keyboard

Click-N-Type is a free on-screen keyboard with a very simple design. Minimalism is its main advantage; Thanks to this style, the program does not tire the user during long-term printing.


The program is aimed at people with disabilities. A whole system for simplifying printing has been developed for them:

  • word prediction and auto-completion of input fields, configurable using macros;
  • automatic space input;
  • AutoClick mode, in which pressing a key occurs with a delay - this is useful if it is not possible to quickly and accurately hit the buttons;
  • scanning mode - the program itself selects the desired key, “targeting” it along three axes, the user only has to click;
  • sound of pressed keys.
  1. You can download the program for screen input from the official website - http://cnt.lakefolks.com.
  2. The on-screen keyboard is installed under the administrator account.
  3. Additionally, you need to download and install extensions - a word prediction system, layouts for languages ​​other than English, etc.
  4. The program does not require complex settings - just adjust the size of the program window and select the input mode, after which you can start typing.

Dasher - enters text using eye and mouse movements

Dasher is an on-screen predictive text keyboard available for Windows, MacOS, *nix and portable devices. It allows you to type quickly and conveniently using any pointing device.


The peculiarity of the program is that it does not require any clicks - you just need to hover the cursor over the letters, and the words will be built independently. You can see how it works in the video:

The most common words or combinations of letters from the user dictionary are typed fastest. As you use the keyboard, the program learns itself, and typing becomes easier each time.

  1. You can download the Dasher keyboard here: http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/russian.
  2. There you can also try the program in your browser, if it supports Java.
  3. Using the keyboard is very simple: initially there is a list of all the letters of the selected language, you need to move the cursor over the first letter of the word, then in the same section find the next letter, etc., until the word is written.

At first, using the on-screen keyboard will be inconvenient, but once you get used to it, you can learn to type almost as quickly as on a full-fledged device.

A virtual keyboard, also called an on-screen keyboard, was created to enter information by clicking on the symbols with the cursor.

This is a great option for those who have my original keyboard is broken or you are simply afraid of keyloggers, i.e. keyloggers.

Keylogging was extremely popular among cybercriminals 10–15 years ago.

Such software could read the data you entered, after which the attackers used the victim’s credit cards and hacked it mail and not only.

The on-screen version of the keyboard can partially replace the “full-fledged analogue” one, but the keyboard shortcuts do not work here, since you can only press 1 button at a time.

Search for an application

First, let's find the program on the PC. Download the on-screen keyboard for windows 7 It will only be required if the OS build you have was created in a makeshift environment.

In other cases, it is already preinstalled in the system. All that remains is to get there. There are 2 ways to do this:

  1. Quick search;
  2. Standard search.

Method 1

The quick search process is extraordinary. Click “Start”, after which in the line “find programs and files” we write either the full phrase or simply the word “screen”.

2 results will be displayed. Select the one that is highlighted and activate the program.

Method 2

In the case of standard search, we do almost the same. Click “Start” and click on “all programs”.

A ton of folders will appear. We are looking for the one called “standard”.

Scroll down the mouse slider until you find the “accessibility” folder.

We open it and find the desired keyboard. Click on the icon to launch the application.

If you use the program systematically, despite the working standard keyboard, then the activation process can be simplified. Again, there are 2 methods available:

1) shortcut on the desktop;

2) keyboard shortcut.

Method 1

We do all the same manipulations as in the second search method, but right-click on the desired shortcut. A context menu will appear.

We do the same as in the screenshot.

Now you have a shortcut that will allow you to launch the software much faster.

Method 2

We need program properties. We perform the same operations as in the second search method, and again click with the right button instead of the left.

Properties are displayed. We are interested in the selected fragment. Instead of a combination, it should say “No”.

To assign launch keys, simply press any button on your keyboard. Ctrl+Alt will be substituted automatically.

Note! Let's say you selected Ctrl+Alt+B. We save the changes, and then simultaneously press this combination of buttons. If everything is done correctly, the on-screen keyboard will be activated.

Launch and settings

Now you need to enable the on-screen keyboard Windows 7. The procedure is described above. A standard set of buttons will appear, as on a material “analog”.

Some noticed that it is small and there is also no number pad. All this can be changed in the parameters.

Here you can do the following:

1) sound notification of pressing;

2) activation of the digital block;

3) button pressing method.

You can independently adjust the sounds when pressed. If you are annoyed by the characteristic click, uncheck the box.

Advice! If you don't want to press a button with your mouse, switch to scanning. Use the slider to select the speed at which the program will read the position of the mouse cursor on the on-screen buttons. Point the arrow at a letter or number, wait from 0.5 to 2 seconds (depending on the settings) and move on to the next letter.

Switching the language on the on-screen keyboard is as easy as on a regular one. The only difference is the order in which the buttons are pressed.

If on a mechanical device you had to press Shift while holding Ctlr or Alt, then there is a different algorithm.

Let's say that in the settings the Alt+Shift combination is responsible for switching. Activate the virtual assistant and click first on Alt and then on Shift. They should turn white.

Then press Shift again. The buttons will change color to black, but the layout will become either English or Russian.

Hotkeys on the Windows 7 on-screen keyboard are activated using the same principle.

To, for example, use the combination Ctrl+Z (cancel action), press Ctrl and then Z. Just don’t forget to turn on the English layout.

Turning off the Windows 7 on-screen keyboard is very easy. Click the “cross” in the upper right corner and that’s the end of it.

The virtual assistant for the on-screen keyboard is no different from the standard one. The buttons and other attributes here are the same as on a regular keyboard.

On the one hand, screen projection will not replace a full-fledged keyboard, since writing speed is reduced by several orders of magnitude, and the algorithm for activating keyboard shortcuts leaves much to be desired.

Changing the layout is also implemented as on a standard device, although the developers could easily add a separate button, as on mobile devices.

On the other hand, if you are not inclined to have your data systematically fall into the hands of attackers or often spend time in Internet cafes, then it is more advisable to use a virtual keyboard instead of a regular one, since its actions are not tracked.

And of course, this is a good alternative way of working if you have broken your main keyboard and don’t yet have enough money to buy a new one.

You have to use what you have.

Of course, you can’t play games, but the basic functionality is quite passable and suitable for performing most tasks.

On-screen keyboard in Windows 7

Enter data without using a keyboard. If your keyboard suddenly stops working, you can always use the on-screen keyboard.

Windows 7 on-screen keyboard: launch, setup, shutdown


Virtual keyboard or “correctly”: “On-screen keyboard” is intended for entering characters into a request field, for example, the address bar of a window, a text document, etc.

There are rare cases when you urgently need to type something, but the keyboard is broken or does not exist at all. A virtual keyboard will help us solve this problem.

By the way, such a keyboard is necessary not only because there is no main “manual” keyboard, it is sometimes necessary for security purposes (there are malicious programs “keyloggers” on the Internet that are designed to track actions on the computer and transfer this data to a third party).

: Learn to find and open the On-Screen Keyboard program ( virtual keyboard).

: Windows system installed.

Options for enabling the virtual keyboard

In this lesson, we will look at several options for enabling the built-in keyboard using Windows 7 as an example, and you can choose for yourself which option is more convenient or faster.

Start and quick search

This is the fastest option, other than assigning a key combination (this method is described below, the most recent).

To quickly find a program " Screen keyboard", go to "Start" and enter the word "display" in the quick search line:

Rice. 1. Search for the on-screen keyboard through “Start”

A moment later, at the top we will see the search results, there we find the entry “ Screen keyboard"and left-click on it:

Rice. 2. Launch the On-Screen Keyboard program

Start and search for a program

This option is the most accurate and correct, but the longest. First, go to “Start” and left-click on the “All Programs” element:

Rice. 3. “All programs” button

After this, a menu with all programs will open, scroll the list of programs to the very bottom (if it is large) and click on the “Standard” element (folder icon) with the left mouse button:

Rice. 4. Click the “Standard” button

After this, the composition of this folder will open to us, in it we look for a folder called “Special Features” and left-click on it:

Rice. 5. Click the “Special Features” button

This folder will also open and in this list we find the program “ Screen keyboard"and click on it with the left mouse button:

Rice. 6. Location of the On-Screen Keyboard program

After we click on the program icon, the main window of the “On-Screen Keyboard” program or the so-called virtual keyboard:

Rice. 7. Main window of the On-Screen Keyboard program in Windows 7

For those who often use the virtual keyboard

If you need to use the virtual keyboard frequently, then constantly logging in through “Start” will be too time-consuming and inconvenient.

To quickly call up the virtual keyboard, you can assign so-called “hot keys” or a combination of them. Those. we will launch the virtual keyboard by pressing just a few keys 1 time.

In order to assign a key combination to call the on-screen keyboard, we need to go to the properties of this program (or shortcut).

To configure, click the “Start” button and enter the word “display” in the quick search bar:

Rice. 8. Search for the on-screen keyboard through Start

At the very top, usually the first position, a result will appear with the name " Screen keyboard" Find this result and right-click on it and select “Properties”:

Rice. 9. Program “Properties” button

After this, the “Properties: On-Screen Keyboard” window will open. In it we are now interested in the “Quick call” field:

Rice. 10. On-Screen Keyboard Properties Window

If the program does not already have hotkeys assigned, the “Shortcut” field will be “None”. Now the most interesting part: we need to come up with and remember/write down a future key combination, by pressing which we want our virtual keyboard to open. Many key combinations are reserved in the system, so try to check if “Your combination” is free.

To check whether a key combination is free in the simplest way, you need to minimize all open windows and, while on the desktop, press the planned combination. If nothing happens after pressing a key combination, it means it is free.

For example, I will use the keyboard shortcut: " Ctrl + Alt + K" This entry means that to call the virtual keyboard we will press these 3 keys at the same time. "K" was chosen because it is the first letter in the English translation of the word "keyboard".

In order to assign this key combination to the program, left-click in the “Shortcut” field and press the required key combination. After which our combination should automatically appear in this field:

Rice. 11. Field for entering the desired key combination

Rice. 12. Saving the required key combination

Being, say, on the desktop, press the reserved key combination “ Ctrl + Alt + K"and after a while our virtual keyboard will open:

Rice. 13. Windows 7 On-Screen Keyboard

All that remains is the simplest thing - choose the most convenient one from these three options and use the virtual keyboard. I recommend you check out other lessons on our website, choose what interests you and enjoy.