How to enable touch keyboard on Windows 11

Windows 11 enable touch keyboard
(Image credit: Future)

On Windows 11, you can use the touch keyboard to write with your fingers on a touch-enabled screen, such as on a tablet or convertible device. It can also come in handy to type or perform actions when the system has problems with a physical keyboard.

If you want to use the on-screen keyboard, you first need to enable the option to make it available in the Taskbar's system tray, and then you can turn it on or off with a single click.

This guide will walk you through the steps to enable and disable the touch keyboard on Windows 11.

How to enable touch keyboard on Windows 11

To enable the touch keyboard on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Personalization.
  3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

(Image credit: Future)
  1. Click the "Taskbar corner icons" settings.
  2. Turn on the Touch keyboard toggle switch.

(Image credit: Future)
  1. Click the Keyboard in the Taskbar.

(Image credit: Future)

Once you complete the steps, the software keyboard will appear on the screen to type on an app or document, like when using a physical keyboard. 

You can also use your finger or the mouse pointer to grab the gripper to move the keyboard around. The Settings (gear) button on the top-left corner access the context menu with options to change the keyboard layout, switch to handwriting style, and access Touch keyboard settings to change size and color theme.

If you are done typing, you can use the close "X" button to hide the keyboard.

How to disable touch keyboard on Windows 11

To disable the keyboard button from the Taskbar, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Personalization.
  3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

Open Taskbar settings

(Image credit: Future)
  1. Click the "Taskbar corner icons" settings.
  2. Turn off the Touch keyboard toggle switch.

(Image credit: Future)

After you complete the steps, the keyboard icon will be removed from the Taskbar.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.