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4 Ways to Fix On-Screen Keyboard Not Working on Windows 11

Quick Tips
  • Consider restarting your PC to resolve any temporary glitches causing the issue.
  • Ensure that the on-screen keyboard isn’t disabled on your Windows 11 PC.
  • Try repairing any damaged system files on your PC by running the SFC scan to fix the problem.

Fix 1: Enable On-Screen Keyboard

The on-screen keyboard may fail to open on Windows if you have previously disabled it from the Settings app. Hence, it’s the first thing you should check.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and head to Accessibility > Keyboard.

Open Keyboard Settings in Windows 11

Step 2: Toggle on On-screen keyboard.

Enable On Screen Keyboard in Windows 11

Fix 2: Check if the Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service Is Running

The Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service is an essential component that needs to run in the background for the on-screen keyboard to work properly. You should ensure that this service is running on your PC to avoid any issues. Here’s how to check.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type services.msc and press Enter.

Step 2: Locate Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service and check if it’s running. If it’s not, right-click on it and select Start to run it.

Touch Keyboard Service Status on Windows

Fix 3: Run an SFC Scan

Corrupt or damaged system files on your PC could also cause such problems. You can run the SFC (System File Checker) to find and fix problematic system files.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) from the list.

Open Terminal on Windows 11 PC

Step 2: Type the command mentioned below and press Enter.

SFC /scannow
SFC Scan on Windows 11 PC

Fix 4: Modify Registry Files

If nothing works, try modifying a few registry files to get the on-screen keyboard working on Windows. Here are the steps.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type regedit, and press Enter.

Step 2: Use the left pane to navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Scaling

Step 3: Double-click the MonitorSize entry, change its value data to 22.5, and hit OK.

Modify DWORD in Registry Editor

Restart your PC after this and try to access the on-screen keyboard again.

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Last updated on 10 June, 2024

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