If you use a Windows 11 tablet or a 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop without a physical keyboard attached, the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) is an essential tool. However, by default, the touch keyboard only appears when you tap inside a text box, and it immediately disappears as soon as you tap anywhere else on the screen.
This auto-hide behaviour can be incredibly frustrating if you are trying to use keyboard shortcuts while navigating the operating system. Fortunately, Windows 11 includes a dedicated Accessibility setting that forces the traditional On-Screen Keyboard to remain permanently visible on top of all other windows.
How to Enable the Permanent On-Screen Keyboard
Unlike the modern “Touch Keyboard”, the classic Accessibility On-Screen Keyboard behaves like a standard desktop application window.
- Open the Settings app on your Windows 11 device (press Windows Key + i).
- Click on Accessibility in the left-hand menu.
- Scroll down to the “Interaction” section and click on Keyboard.
- Look for the toggle switch labelled On-screen keyboard and turn it On.
The keyboard will immediately appear on your screen. This version of the keyboard is fully resizable. You can click and drag the edges of the keyboard window to make it as large or as small as you need.
How to Keep It Always on Top
To ensure this keyboard never disappears behind your web browser or other applications, you must enable its built-in “Always on Top” feature.
- Look at the bottom right corner of the On-Screen Keyboard itself.
- Click the key labelled Options.
- A small settings window will appear. Check the box that says Show the on-screen keyboard over other windows (it may also be labelled “Always on Top” depending on your Windows version).
- Click OK.
Now, the keyboard will permanently float above all your active applications. It will only disappear if you manually click the ‘X’ button in the top right corner of the keyboard window to close it.