Turn On and Use On-Screen Keyboard

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. This procedure tells you how to turn on and use 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

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.

To continue

To continue customizing On–Screen Keyboard, see one or more of the following accessibility tutorials:

On–Screen Keyboard: Open

On–Screen Keyboard: Keyboard layout