How to use the touch keyboard

With Windows 8.1, you can use different keyboards to meet your needs. The most common keyboard is an external physical keyboard that is connected to the computer. Windows 8.1 also comes with a touch keyboard for touchable computers.

Using the touch keyboard

To use the touch keyboard, tap the location on the screen where you can enter text and the keyboard will appear. If you are on the desktop, click the touch keyboard icon in the desktop taskbar to open the touch keyboard. To turn off the touch keyboard, click outside the text box or tap the touch keyboard icon and then tap the close keyboard icon .

If you want to manually open the touch keyboard (without clicking on text fields or other typing areas), do the following:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click “Settings&rdquo ;

(If you are using a mouse, point to the lower right corner of the screen, then move the mouse pointer up and click “Set”.)

Click the &# Keyboard” icon.

Click “Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel”.

Touch keyboard

Change touch keyboard

To use a different touch keyboard layout, or switch to a keyboard layout in another language, click the touch keyboard icon in the lower right corner of the keyboard , then click on the keyboard layout you want to switch to.

If you are standing or need to hold the tablet in both hands, you need to switch to the thumb keyboard, which will have different keys on both sides of the screen, making it easier and more comfortable to use. To switch to the thumb keyboard, tap the touchpad icon and then click the thumbpad icon . You can change the size of the thumb keyboard by holding down and sliding the three dots next to the space bar on the left side of the keyboard.

Thumb Keyboard

Suggestions and Corrections

When using a touch keyboard, Windows may provide text suggestions to help you type words faster or correct spelling mistakes. To insert a suggestion, click on the suggestion, and if the suggestion is highlighted, just press the spacebar. To switch between highlighted words, swipe the space bar to the left or right.

Touch Keyboard Suggestions

Touch Keyboard Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your touch keyboard.

At the end of a sentence, double-click the space bar to insert a period or space.

Long buttons, you can see similar characters. For example, long press “e” can see è, ē, é, ê and ë.

In the first line (the line starting with QWERTY), tap any key up to insert the corresponding number (in the upper left corner of the key).

Click the “&123” key to switch to the number and symbol view. You can switch back and forth between numbers and symbols more quickly by long-pressing the “&123” keys, clicking the desired key, and then releasing.

Double-click the Shift key to enable Caps Lock.

Click the Ctrl key and click the other keys to use the keyboard shortcuts.

If you want to find some interesting characters, you can click on the emoticons.

Note

If the touch keyboard is displayed when you don't need it, your computer may not be set up correctly. Try running the Touch Keyboard Troubleshooter (English only) to resolve the issue.