Use Hovering Mode

On–Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen that allows people with mobility impairments to type data by using a pointing device or joystick. Besides providing a minimum level of functionality for some people with mobility impairments, On–Screen Keyboard can also help people who do not know how to type.

In hovering mode, you use a mouse or joystick to point to a key for a predefined period of time, and the selected character is typed automatically. This procedure tells you how to select hovering mode for On–Screen Keyboard.

Mouse actions

Keyboard actions

On the Start menu:

Point to All Programs.
Point to Accessories.
Point to Accessibility.
Select On–Screen Keyboard.

Note: A message box with a link to more information about the On–Screen Keyboard may appear. To close the box, select OK.

Display the Start menu by pressing CTRL+ESC (or the Windows logo key [image: Windows logo key] ).

Move to All Programs by pressing P.
If it does not open automatically, press ENTER to open the All Programs menu.
Move to Accessories by pressing the DOWN ARROW key.
Press ENTER.
Select Accessibility by pressing ENTER.
Move to On–Screen Keyboard by pressing the DOWN ARROW key.
Press ENTER.

Note: A message box with a link to more information about accessibility utilities may appear. To close the box, press ALT+TAB to select the message box, and then press ENTER. Then, press ALT+TAB to select the document in which you want to begin working.

In the On–Screen Keyboard window:

Select Settings.
Select Typing Mode.

In the On–Screen Keyboard window:

Be sure On–Screen Keyboard is selected by pressing ALT+TAB.
Display the Settings menu by pressing ALT+S.
Select Typing Mode by pressing T.

In the Typing Mode dialog box:

Select Hover to select.

In the Typing Mode dialog box:

Select Hover to select by pressing H.

To adjust the minimum hover time:

Select the Down Arrow button and then choose a value from the list.
Select OK.

To adjust the minimum hover time:

Press TAB.
Use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to select a time.
Press ENTER.

After selecting On–Screen Keyboard options, to return to the document you want to type characters in:

Place the insertion point where you want to begin.

Note: To exit On–Screen Keyboard, select the Close button.

After selecting On–Screen Keyboard options, to return to the document you want to type characters in:

Press ALT+TAB to select it.

Note: To exit On–Screen Keyboard (be sure it is selected by pressing ALT+TAB), and then press ALT+F, X.

[image: On-Screen Keyboard: Settings: Typing Mode: Hover to select]

On–Screen Keyboard: Settings: Typing Mode: Hover to select

Microsoft Accessibility: Technology for Everyone

Use Hovering Mode

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