Use the on-screen keyboard

To type or handwrite text, or to add images to files, documents, and emails, you can use your Chromebook’s on-screen keyboard.

Tip: To type text with the on-screen keyboard, you can use one or multiple fingers just as you would with a hardware keyboard.

Open the keyboard

Open the keyboard in Settings

1. Sign in to your Chromebook.
2. At the bottom right, select the time.
3. Select Settings   Accessibility.
4. Under "Keyboard and text input," turn on On-screen keyboard.

Open the keyboard in tablet mode

If your Chromebook can be used as a tablet, the on-screen keyboard will automatically open when you flip the screen of your Chromebook over its hinge.

Use the keyboard

Use accented letters

If your default on-screen keyboard is the US keyboard, you’ll need to switch to a different keyboard to type with accented letters:

1. Open your Chromebook's on-screen keyboard.
2. Select Settings . 
3. At the bottom, select Advanced. 
4. Select Languages and input.
5. Under "Input method," select Manage input methods.
6. Select a keyboard other than the US keyboard.
   • If you only see the US keyboard, you'll need to add another keyboard language before going to the next step.
7. At the bottom of the on-screen keyboard, select AltGr.
8. Select the accented letters you'd like to type.

Type text by speaking

You can speak to enter text in most places where you usually type. You can even add common punctuation marks by saying "comma," "period," "question mark," "exclamation mark," or "exclamation point.” 

Type text with your voice

1. Select where you want to type.
2. Open your Chromebook's on-screen keyboard.
3. At the top right of the on-screen keyboard, select Speak .
4. The first time you do this, you’ll see a message explaining how the feature works. To turn on your microphone, select Got it.
5. When the microphone icon turns blue, say what you want to type.
   • Optional: To delete what you last said, select Delete.
6. You can also edit your text with specific voice commands.

Fix problems with voice typing 

If you speak, but text doesn't show up on the page, try these steps:

• If you use an external microphone: Make sure it's fully plugged in, not muted, and has up-to-date software.
• If you have other open programs on your Chromebook: Make sure none of them are using your microphone.
• If you have more than one microphone input: At the bottom right, select the time and select the icon next to the volume slider. Make sure the correct microphone input is checked.

Apply or turn off personal info suggestions

Add personal info suggestions

You can quickly add personal info, like your phone number or address, with suggestions.

1. When you type a key phrase, like "my name is" or "my address is," your suggested personal info will appear.
2. To add your personal info, select the suggestion that appears in the bar.

Update your personal info suggestions

1. On the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings   
3. On the left, select Advanced  Languages and input. 
4. Select Suggestions. 
5. Select Manage personal information.
6. Choose an option:
   • To add your personal contact info, next to "Addresses," select Add.
   • To edit your personal contact info, select More   Edit.
7. In the box that appears, fill out your preferred info.

Turn off personal info suggestions

1. On the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings . 
3. On the left panel, select Advanced  Languages and input. 
4. Select Suggestions.
5. Turn off Personal information suggestions.

Insert emoji or other images

To insert emoji into documents, emails, and chat sessions:

1. Open your Chromebook's on-screen keyboard.
2. At the bottom, select Emoji .
3. Select the emoji or graphic you want to insert.

Handwrite text

1. Select any text box to show the on-screen keyboard.
2. Select Handwrite .
3. In the pad that appears, write text with your fingertip or touchscreen stylus.

Swipe to type

You can enter words by sliding your finger from letter to letter.

1. Open your Chromebook's on-screen keyboard.
2. Select the location where you want to type.
3. Slide your finger across the letters of the word you want to type.
4. Lift your finger when you finish the word.
   • You don't need to select the space key. When you lift your finger, a space is added automatically.
   • Optional: To change a word, select the word to review other choices.

Gesture typing is turned on automatically. To turn it off:

1. At the bottom right, select the time Settings .
2. At the bottom, select Advanced  Languages and input Inputs.
3. Under "Input method," next to your enabled keyboard, tap New tab .
4. Uncheck the box for Enable glide typing.

Paste from your clipboard

1. Open your Chromebook's on-screen keyboard.
2. Select the location where you want to paste.
3. Select Clipboard .
4. When the clipboard appears, tap the items you want to paste.
   • Optional: To delete an item from your clipboard, long press on the item to select it and then tap Delete .

Adjust or turn off the keyboard

Adjust keyboard settings

1. Open your Chromebook's on-screen keyboard.
2. Select Settings .
3. At the bottom, select Advanced  Languages and input.
4. Under "Input method," next to your enabled keyboard, select New tab .
5. Decide which settings to change:
   • Adjust keypress sound.
   • Set the level of automatic correction you'd like.
   • Change auto-capitalization settings.
   • Choose whether a double space automatically adds a period.
   • Edit your dictionary entries.

Move or dock the on-screen keyboard

1. Open your Chromebook’s on-screen keyboard.
2. Tap one of the following:
   1. To dock the keyboard, select Dock .
   2. To float the keyboard, select Float .
3. To move the floating keyboard, at the bottom, hold and drag the Direction pad .

Tip: If Dock or Float aren't visible, at the top left of the keyboard, select the Right arrow .

Resize the floating keyboard

1. Open your Chromebook's on-screen keyboard.
   • Tip: If your keyboard is docked, at the top, select the Right arrow , then Float .
2. Select the Direction pad . A blue outline will appear.
3. To resize the keyboard, hold and drag a blue corner.

Turn off the on-screen keyboard

1. At the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings   Accessibility. 
3. Under "Keyboard and text input," turn off On-screen keyboard.

Get more help

For more Accessibility help, contact the Disability Support team.