How to quickly open the virtual keyboard on a Macbook

The steps to open the virtual keyboard on a Macbook will vary slightly depending on the version of macOS you have installed. In the guide below, TipsMake will show you how to open the virtual keyboard on a Macbook running macOS Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, and High Sierra.

How to open the virtual keyboard on a Macbook

 

Table of contents:
Method 1: Opening the virtual keyboard on a Macbook via Accessibility .
Method 2: Opening the virtual keyboard on a Macbook from the login screen .
Method 3: Using keyboard shortcuts to open the virtual keyboard on a Macbook .
Method 4: Opening the virtual keyboard on a Macbook via the Input menu .

 

How to open the virtual keyboard on a Macbook

 

Method 1: Open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook via Accessibility.

To open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook through Accessibility settings, follow these steps:

Step 1: First, click on the Apple Menu => System Preferences.

Step 2: Next, find and click on Accessibility.

Step 3: Select Keyboard.

Step 4: Select Accessibility Keyboard.

Step 5: Find and check the box next to the Enable Accessibility Keyboard option to activate and open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook.

Step 6: To close the virtual keyboard, click the X icon in the upper left corner.

Alternatively, go to the Apple Menu => System Preferences => Accessibility => Keyboard => Accessibility Keyboard. There, find and uncheck the box next to the Enable Accessibility Keyboard option .

Step 7: To enlarge or shrink the virtual keyboard window, simply drag a corner of the window. Alternatively, you can click the Panel Options button and uncheck the box next to the Resize Proportionally option to change the keyboard size.

Step 8: Similarly, click the Panel Options button to change the keyboard interface or turn Dwell on or off.

 

Method 2: Open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook from the login screen.

In addition to the method above, you can also open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook directly from the device's login screen.

Here are the detailed instructions:

Step 1: Select the Apple Menu => System Preferences.
Step 2: Select Users & Groups.

Step 3: Select the lock icon in the bottom corner of the screen and enter your username and password to log in to your Admin account. Alternatively, if your Macbook supports it, you can also use your Apple Watch or Touch ID to unlock.

Step 4: Select the Login Options.

Step 5: Click on Accessibility Options.

Step 6: Select the accessibility option you want to enable in the login window, including Accessibility keyboard, Zoom, Sticky Keys, Mouse Keys, Slow Keys, or VoiceOver.

Step 7: Click Apply to apply the changes.

Note: You can also use the keyboard shortcut Option + Command + F5 to temporarily enable or disable accessibility options on the login window.

 

Additionally, if you are using Windows 11, you can also refer to the instructions on how to open and customize the virtual keyboard here.

 

Method 3: Use keyboard shortcuts to open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook.

The advantage of opening the virtual keyboard on a Macbook this way is that it's faster and simpler to use.

Step 1: First, press the Option + Command + F5 key combination.
Step 2: In the window that appears on the screen, find and check the box next to Accessibility Keyboard.

Step 3: Select Done to complete.

 

Method 4: Open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook via the Input menu.

The Input menu is located in the upper right corner of the menu bar on your Macbook, which you can use to access Keyboard Viewer, Character Viewer, and enabled input.

To open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook via the Input menu, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the Input menu icon as shown below:

Step 2: Select Show Keyboard Viewer to open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook.

If the Menu Input icon is not displayed on the menu bar, follow the steps below to enable it:

- Click the Apple menu => System Preferences.
- Select Keyboard.

- Select the Input Sources tab.

- Check the box for the "Show Input Menu in menu bar" option .

The article above has guided you through several ways to open the virtual keyboard on your Macbook. If you encounter any errors during the process, please leave a comment so everyone can discuss it.

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