The touch keyboard provides an on-screen keyboard in Windows. It's helpful on a Windows tablet device when there's no keyboard attached to the Windows device.
Behavior of the touch keyboard varies on the version of Windows. Select the version of Windows, and then select the desired touch keyboard mode:
Appearance of the touch keyboard can be controlled with the touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar. The touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar has the following options:
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Never - This option permanently hides the touch keyboard icon from the system tray icon area of the taskbar. Select this option to prevent the touch keyboard from ever appearing.
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Always - The touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar always displays. To display the touch keyboard, select the touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar.
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When no keyboard is attached - The touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar only shows when a keyboard isn't attached. To display the touch keyboard when no keyboard is attached, select the touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar.
Note: With all of these options, the attached keyboard can be either a wired keyboard or a wireless/Bluetooth keyboard.
To hide the touch keyboard icon from the system tray area of the taskbar and disable the touch keyboard:
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If the touch keyboard is visible, close it by selecting the in the touch keyboard window.
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Right-click the taskbar and then select Taskbar settings. Or Select the following Personalization > Taskbar shortcut:Open Personalization > Taskbar
Tip: For touch screens, press and hold the taskbar and then select Taskbar settings.
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In the Personalization > Taskbar window, under the System tray icons section, select Never in the drop-down menu next to Touch keyboard.
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The touch keyboard icon is removed from the system tray area of the taskbar, even when a keyboard isn't attached. With the touch keyboard icon removed, the touch keyboard should never appear.
To always show the touch keyboard icon in the system tray icon area of the taskbar:
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Right-click the taskbar and then select Taskbar settings. Or Select the following Personalization > Taskbar shortcut:Open Personalization > Taskbar
Tip: For touch screens, press and hold the taskbar and then select Taskbar settings.
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In the Personalization > Taskbar window, under the System tray icons section, select Always in the drop-down menu next to Touch keyboard.
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The touch keyboard icon is permanently added to the system tray area of the taskbar, even when a keyboard is attached.
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To display the touch keyboard, select the touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar.
To only show the touch keyboard icon in the system tray icon area of the taskbar when there isn't a keyboard attached:
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Right-click the taskbar and then select Taskbar settings. Or Select the following Personalization > Taskbar shortcut:Open Personalization > Taskbar
Tip: For touch screens, press and hold the taskbar and then select Taskbar settings.
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In the Personalization > Taskbar window, under the System tray icons section, select When no keyboard attached in the drop-down menu next to Touch keyboard.
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The touch keyboard icon is only added to the system tray area of the taskbar when a keyboard isn't attached.
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To display the touch keyboard when a keyboard isn't attached, select the touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar.
Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
Appearance of the touch keyboard can be controlled with the touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar. The touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar has the following options:
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Never display the touch keyboard icon and disable the touch keyboard - This option permanently hides the touch keyboard icon from the system tray icon area of the taskbar. Select this option to prevent the touch keyboard from ever appearing.
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Always show the touch keyboard icon - This option always shows the touch keyboard icon from the system tray icon area of the taskbar. To display the touch keyboard, select the touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar.
In addition to these touch keyboard icon options, there's an additional option to automatically show the touch keyboard when the Windows device is in tablet mode with no keyboard attached.
Note: With all of these options, the attached keyboard can be either a wired keyboard or a wireless/Bluetooth keyboard.
To hide the touch keyboard icon from the system tray area of the taskbar and disable the touch keyboard:
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If the touch keyboard is visible, close it by selecting the in the touch keyboard window.
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Right-click the taskbar and in the menu that appears, make sure Show touch keyboard button isn't selected.
Tip: For touch screens, press and hold the taskbar and then make sure Show touch keyboard button isn't selected.
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Right-click on the Start menu and then select Settings > Devices > Typing . Or Select the following Typing shortcut:Open Typing
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In the Typing window, under Touch keyboard, make sure the option Show the touch keyboard when not in tablet mode and there's no keyboard attached is switched Off.
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The touch keyboard icon is removed from the system tray area of the taskbar, even when a keyboard isn't attached. With the touch keyboard icon removed, the touch keyboard should never appear.
To always show the touch keyboard icon in the system tray icon area of the taskbar:
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Right-click the taskbar and in the menu that appears, make sure Show touch keyboard button is selected.
Tip: For touch screens, press and hold the taskbar and then make sure Show touch keyboard button is selected.
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The touch keyboard icon is permanently added to the system tray area of the taskbar, even when a keyboard is attached.
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To display the touch keyboard, select the touch keyboard icon in the system tray area of the taskbar.
To automatically show the touch keyboard when the Windows device is in tablet mode and there's no keyboard attached:
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Right-click on the Start menu and then select Settings > Devices > Typing . Or Select the following Typing shortcut:Open Typing
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In the Typing window, under Touch keyboard, make sure the option Show the touch keyboard when not in tablet mode and there's no keyboard attached is switched On.
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When the Windows device is in tablet mode and there isn't a keyboard attached, the touch keyboard automatically displays.
Leaving feedback via Feedback Hub
If the touch keyboard launches unnecessarily in a specific app or situation, or if there are any suggestions for improving the touch keyboard, leave Microsoft feedback using Feedback Hub. For more information, see Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app.
