Windows 10 keyboard tips and tricks

Whether it’s being productive, staying in touch, or just plain having fun, Windows 10 has lots of little tricks and shortcuts that can help you achieve more. Here are a just a few of them:

Smile and the world smiles with you

Emojis aren’t just for your phone anymore! The new emoji keyboard in Windows 10 lets you express yourself like never before. To use it:

During text entry, type Windows logo key + . (period). The emoji keyboard will appear.

Select an emoji with the mouse, or keep typing to search through the available emojis for one you like.

Type all the symbols like a pro

Sometimes you need to type a character that isn’t on your keyboard, like an em-dash (—) or the copyright symbol (©). If you have a numeric keypad on your keyboard, you don’t have to find one and copy and paste, you can just do it! Here’s how:

Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard.

With the Alt key held down, type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad for the character you want. (Include the leading 0 if that’s required.)

Note: This only works on the numeric keypad. This won’t work on the row of numbers at the top of the keyboard.

Release the Alt key.

Here’s just a few of the characters you can type with the Alt key:

Free Virtual Keyboard

A free, lightweight, multilingual and finger friendly virtual on-screen keyboard

If you spend a lot of time responding to e-mail or jotting down notes on your mobile computer and find your hardware keyboard awkward or too small, a screen software keyboard may be just the improvement you’ve been seeking. This handy keyboard has keys large enough to be typed with the fingertips.

Free Virtual Keyboard works on any Windows based PC with a touchscreen (Surface Pro, Tablet PC and Panel PC).

Also Free Virtual Keyboard allows people with mobility impairments to type data by using a pointing device.

Change size, color and transparency of keyboard on the computer screen

You can change size, color and transparency of keyboard with one click at any time. In full-screen mode virtual keyboard automatically resizes to fit the width of the screen when invoked. This means it works in both landscape and portrait orientation, something other keyboard does not do.

Auto-repeat function

The autorepeat function (any key held down to repeat same character continuously) is automatic. All relevant keys would auto-repeat when pressed continuously.

Run it from your portable USB flash drive

Free Virtual Keyboard is a totally portable application, meaning that you can put it on any USB stick and run it directly from there. In this way, your interactive keyboard will always be with you.
The settings are stored in the FreeVK.ini file located in the program installation folder. If it’s impossible, settings are stored in the registry.

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Download

Version: 5.0
Release: March 26, 2020
System Requirements:
Microsoft Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP

Sponsor

Hot Virtual Keyboard packs a number of advanced features to make on-screen typing faster, easier and more accurate. Fully customizable look and behavior.

6 Ways to Turn on On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 10

Six methods are available when you want to turn on the On-Screen Keyboard (as shown in the following picture) in your Windows 10 computer, and they are minutely illustrated in this article.

Video guide on how to open On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 10:

6 ways to turn on On-Screen Keyboard in Windows 10:

Way 1: Open On-Screen Keyboard in PC settings.

Step 2: Select Ease of Access in the settings.

Step 3: Choose Keyboard, and tap the switch under On-Screen Keyboard to turn it on.

Way 2: Turn On-Screen Keyboard on in Ease of Access Center.

Press Windows+U to open the Ease of Access Center, and choose Start On-Screen Keyboard.

Way 3: Open the keyboard through Search panel.

Step 1: Press Windows+C to open the Charms Menu, and select Search.

Step 2: Input on screen (or on screen keyboard) in the box, and tap On-Screen Keyboard in the results.

Way 4: Turn on this keyboard by means of Run.

Step 1: Right-click the lower-left corner, and choose Run in the Quick Access Menu.

Step 2: Type osk and tap OK in the Run dialog.

Way 5: Open this keyboard with the help of Command Prompt.

Step 1: Press Windows+X to open the Quick Access Menu, and select Command Prompt.

Step 2: Enter osk in the Command Prompt and press Enter.

Way 6: Turn on On-Screen Keyboard using Windows PowerShell.

Step 1: Click the Start button and choose Windows PowerShell in the Start Menu to open it.

Step 2: Type osk in Windows PowerShell window and hit Enter.

Shop our collection of keyboards

Showing 1 — 15 of 15 results

Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard

A premium keyboard optimized for modern productivity. Slim, elegant design features built-in expressive input (emoji) key,¹ plus a Screen snipping key to quickly capture, copy, paste, and share.

New Microsoft Number Pad

Sleek and slim, with a premium finish, work with numbers faster and more naturally while making your Windows 10 PC or compact keyboard more productive.

Microsoft Bluetooth® Keyboard

Enjoy the solid feel of our sleek, modern keyboard as you work in Windows and Microsoft 365.* Wireless design features time-saving shortcut keys and pairs with your laptop via Bluetooth.

Microsoft Bluetooth® Desktop

Enjoy the solid feel of our sleek, modern keyboard and compact mouse as you work in Windows and Microsoft 365.* The Microsoft Bluetooth® Keyboard features time-saving shortcut keys and pairs with your laptop via Bluetooth. Microsoft Bluetooth® Mouse features precise scrolling and navigation. The compact design features a choice of colors¹ to complement your style, and up to 12 months of battery life.²

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop

Work longer and more comfortably with this keyboard, mouse, and number pad designed with advanced ergonomics.

Microsoft Wireless Desktop 900

Be more productive with this USB keyboard and mouse set.

Works with Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and 7.

Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 850

Get the comfort and convenience of a full-sized keyboard with the Wireless Keyboard 850.

Microsoft Ergonomic Desktop

Work in all-day comfort with Microsoft Ergonomic Desktop. Featuring the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard with split keyboard, improved cushion, and dedicated shortcut keys and Microsoft Ergonomic Mouse with ultra-precise tracking and two programmable buttons¹, the Microsoft Ergonomic Desktop offers reduced fatigue in a slim and refined design.

Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard

Work in comfort all day. Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard reduces fatigue and delivers a slim, refined design with split keyboard, improved cushioned palm rest, and dedicated shortcut keys.

Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Desktop

With its contoured design, customizable features that easily adjust to your needs, and a specially designed, right-handed mouse, the Sculpt Comfort Desktop transforms the way you use a keyboard and mouse. It helps you keep your wrists in a neutral position, while providing functionality and shortcuts that improve typing efficiency.

Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard

This keyboard provides comfortable typing, a built-in trackpad, and customizable media hotkeys.

Surface Keyboard

• Meticulously crafted, just like Surface
• Sleek and simple design
• Optimized feedback and return force
• Bluetooth 4.0

Surface Ergonomic Keyboard

• Designed for productivity and advanced comfort
• Natural arc and slope
• Palm rest covered in stunning two-tone grey mélange Alcantara
• Bluetooth 4.0

Razer BlackWidow Elite Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Durable, swift, and ultra-responsive, this mechanical keyboard is made for peak gaming performance.

Razer Huntsman Elite Opto-Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Storm the digital battlefield with this power-packed gaming keyboard complete with ultra-fast, ultra-precise Opto-Mechanical keys for satisfying tactile responsiveness.

Logitech G213 RGB Prodigy Gaming Keyboard

Achieve superior gaming performance with this powerful RGB-lit gaming keyboard designed with precision and durability in mind.

Logitech G413 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Achieve superior gaming performance with this powerful RGB-lit mechanical gaming keyboard designed with precision and durability in mind.

The best virtual keyboard software for your PC

• Marvel
• Starwars
• National Geographic
• Pixar

. Virtual keyboards can be quite useful, especially if you have a keylogger that can steal your sensitive information such as login details. Some users tend to use virtual keyboards because they have problems using their keyboard or because their keyboard isn’t working properly. Windows 10 has its own virtual keyboard, but if you’re looking for a third-party solution, today we’re going to show you the best virtual keyboard software that you can download.

What is the best virtual keyboard software?

Hot Virtual Keyboard (recommended)

If you’re looking for advanced virtual keyboard software, you might be interested in Hot Virtual Keyboard. The keyboard is customizable and you can choose from many different looks and styles.

Regarding the customization, there are more than 70 styles available, but you can also create your unique style if you want. In addition, there’s support for multiple languages and layouts. We also have to mention that this keyboard supports auto-complete function that will make typing easier and faster than before.

Additional features include programmable keys and shortcuts so you can easily launch applications or open certain web pages with a single click. The keyboard also supports macros, so you can record them and use them with just a few clicks.

It’s worth mentioning that this keyboard also supports gestures, so you can add spaces or change the case of the letters with a single gesture.

As for additional features, this application supports different Windows actions, so you can change the volume, control the playback, turn off your monitor and perform all sorts of other actions simply by clicking the dedicated button on your virtual keyboard.

Hot Virtual Keyboard is an advanced virtual keyboard, and it offers great customization and array of different features. This tool isn’t free, but you can download the evaluation version and use it for 30 days.

It’s worth mentioning another useful tool that keeps the clipboard history and you can paste any selected fragment again: Comfort Clipboard Pro. This professional Windows Clipboard Viewer and Manager supports all known data formats. Download free evaluation versions of Comfort Clipboard 9 or Comfort Clipboard Pro.

Free Virtual Keyboard

This virtual keyboard will work on any Windows device that has a touchscreen display, so it’s perfect if you can’t adjust to your device’s physical keyboard. The keyboard has large keys so you can easily type with your fingertips. It’s worth mentioning that this keyboard supports pointing devices, so users with mobility impairments can use it as well.

The keyboard supports customization, so you can easily change the size, color or transparency of the keyboard with a single click. We have to mention that changing the color is relatively simple, but you can’t use a custom color, instead, you can toggle between couple available presets.

The keyboard supports auto-repeat function and you can repeat the keystrokes simply by keeping the certain button clicked. Free Virtual Keyboard is a simple tool, and it offers all the necessary features. We have to mention that portable version is also available, so you can easily run Free Virtual Keyboard on any PC without installation.

Click-N-Type

Click-N-Type is a simple virtual keyboard that can be useful to users that have problems using physical keyboard. The keyboard supports word prediction which makes typing faster and simpler. The keyboard also supports macros, which can be rather useful. In addition to macros, the keyboard offers support for AutoClick and Scanning Modes.

This tool offers support for multiple languages and it has many language and keyboard packs available. We have to mention that there’s a Keyboard Designer feature that allows you to make your own keyboard designs. Of course, there are custom user-created designs available as well. The tool offers audible and visible feedback thanks to the Spoken Keys feature. Click-N-Type works with all pointing devices including a head mouse, and it even works with virtual mouse programs.

Click-N-Type offers decent features, but we have to admit that the application has a humble user interface that might not appeal to certain users. Despite the user interface, this is still a great application, so you might want to try it out. Click-N-Type is available for free, and you can download and use the portable version on any PC without installation.

Touch-It Virtual Keyboard

If you’re looking for a virtual keyboard that supports wide range of features, you might want to consider Touch-It Virtual Keyboard. This virtual keyboard supports both desktop and Winlogon, so it’s perfect for all your needs. The keyboard works on demand and you can start it simply by clicking its floating icon in the bottom right corner.

Touch-It Virtual Keyboard works with multiple languages and it supports multiple monitors and remote desktops. The keyboard is fully customizable and it supports unlimited number of actions by key. In addition, it also supports Pascal scripting. The keyboard has a modern design, so it will match the look of Universal apps with ease. The keyboard can also appear whenever you select an input field, which is rather useful. This virtual keyboard is customizable and you can even design your own keyboard if you want.

Touch-It Virtual Keyboard is a great tool, and our only complaint is the size of keyboard. Although it might be easier for some users to use full-width keyboard on their PC, we found that the full-width version is taking too much space for our liking. Despite this minor flaw, this is still a great application and you can download and try the evaluation version for free.

VirtualKeyboard

Another simple and free virtual keyboard for your PC is VirtualKeyboard. This tool has a humble user interface, and it supports self-training predictive text. Thanks to this feature you can quickly and easily enter words.

Additional features include color coding, multiple dictionaries and user-made macros. The keyboard also supports an effective sweep scanning mode thus allowing you to control the keyboard with a single click. The keyboard also has common functions available such as copy, cut and paste, which is rather useful.

Changing the dictionary is quite simple, and you can do it right from the dropdown menu with just a few clicks. VirtualKeyboard is a decent tool, but its humble user interface might turn away some users. If you want to try this tool, you can download it and use it for free.

Neo’s SafeKeys v3

Virtual keyboards can be useful especially if you’re concerned that your computer is infected with malware or a keylogger. Keyloggers will monitor your keyboard input and send it to malicious users without your knowledge. If you want to protect your personal information, you might want to use Neo’s SafeKeys v3.

This application allows you to enter your login information without using a physical keyboard. This is one of the safest ways to protect your login information from malicious users. The tool also has screenlogger protection that will protect your sensitive information at all times.

We have to mention that this virtual keyboard supports Injection Mode so you can use this tool with programs that don’t accept drag and drop method. The tool also supports transparency and auto-hiding thus making your passwords secure from malicious users. Neo’s SafeKeys v3 also supports hover entry, so you can enter your password without even clicking your mouse.

Neo’s SafeKeys v3 is a great tool if you want to protect your login information from malicious users. This is a decent virtual keyboard, and it’s available for free. In addition to being free, this tool is also portable, and it will work on any PC without installation.

EyesBoard

This tool is designed to work with any Windows device that has a touchscreen display. We have to mention that this keyboard supports Windows logon screen so you can easily log in to Windows by using this tool. The keyboard is multi-lingual and the key layout will adapt to current input locale. To make switching between different inputs easier, the tool has a dedicated button that allows you to switch inputs instantly.

This virtual keyboard can be resized and moved freely so you can easily adjust it. In addition to standard keyboard, you can also use numeric keyboard and function keys. The application supports special shortcuts such as multimedia player, web browser, etc. The tool also has a floating icon, so you can easily open the virtual keyboard at any time. EyesBoard virtual keyboard has Caps Lock and Num Lock indicators and it even supports Ctrl+Alt+Del and Win+L shortcuts.

Regarding the customization, this tool supports different color schemes and several levels of transparency. If you want, you can even lock the keyboard at the bottom of your screen so that it doesn’t interfere with any open windows. If you’re a developer, you’ll pleased to hear that there’s an API available for third-party integration, so you can expand the functionality of the keyboard even further. As for customization, all keys and keypads are defined in XML so you can easily modify them if you want.

EyesBoard is a decent virtual keyboard and it offers all the features that basic users will need. This application isn’t free, but you can download the evaluation version and use it for 15 days.

My-T-Soft Virtual Keyboard

My-T-Soft Virtual Keyboard comes with over 200 international layouts, so it will support almost any language. The application supports up to 2000 keystrokes on each button, and you can also group up to 15 buttons on a panel. Using this tool you can assign any of the 63 functions to any button thus allowing a great level of customization.

This virtual keyboard has its own 4-function calculator that will always remain on the top of all other windows. This allows you to enter the desired input right into the open document or input field. There’s also a built-in Magnifier tool that allows you to magnify a certain part of your screen in order to see it better.

My-T-Soft Virtual Keyboard supports customization and you can change the background color or the color of the open panel. In addition, you can change the color of button text, button face, button highlight, button shadow, and keyboard background. If you want to customize your keyboard even further, you can use the Developer Kit to do so.

This application is fully compatible with touchscreens, but it also works with trackballs, pens or any other pointing device. The keyboard supports infinite sizing and it allows you to show and hide certain keys. In addition, there are 11 panels available, and you can also create your own panels if you want to. Just like many other virtual keyboards, this one also supports macros so you can start certain programs simply by pressing the appropriate shortcuts.

My-T-Soft Virtual Keyboard supports wide range of features, so it will be perfect for basic and advanced users alike. We have to mention that this application has a humble and slightly outdated user interface that might turn away some users. The free demo is available for download, but if you want to continue using this application, you’ll need to purchase a full version.

WiViK

This virtual keyboard allows you to enter your input simply by selecting a certain keys or by hovering over them with a pointing device. This keyboard supports multiple dictionaries, and you’ll even get predictions on the left thus making the entire process simpler and faster. In addition to word prediction, this tool also supports abbreviations thus allowing you to enter the desired text quickly. Of course, the tool also supports speech output thus making it easier for you to enter the correct words.

This device works with most pointing devices, so you should be able to use it with ease. WiViK is a great tool, and it’s available for download as a free trial. If you want to continue using this tool, you’ll need to purchase a full version.

BeKey On-Screen Keyboard

This virtual keyboard is a keyboard replacement, and it comes with smart word prediction that will allow you to enter words quickly. This virtual keyboard memorizes your words as you enter them so the more you use it the more suggestion you’ll get while typing. We also have to mention that the word prediction can also predict the next word that you’ll enter thus making typing process faster and streamlined. Regarding the predictions, they are available in 23 different languages.

This virtual keyboard supports customization and you can easily change the size of the keyboard, button size, distance between buttons, font size, etc. We also have to mention that this keyboard is optimized for single clicks, but it also supports hover mode that lets you enter words without a single click.

The tool also supports different skins and levels of transparency and it even allows you to create text macros. There are also special keys for frequently used tasks and scanning modes for 1 or 2 switches. BeKey On-Screen Keyboard is a great tool and you can use the trial version for 30 days. If you want to continue using this tool, you’ll need to purchase a license.

Virtual keyboard software can be quite useful, and if you’re looking for a third-party virtual keyboard, be sure to check some of these tools.