Where Does Windows Store On-Screen Keyboard Settings?
Where the On-Screen Keyboard keeps its display and behavior options in the registry on Windows.
Last updated
The On-Screen Keyboard keeps a small set of options in the registry under the Osk branch: click sound, hover dwell, scanning behavior and window position. Like the touch keyboard, no files are involved.
Prefer the Settings and Options dialog over regedit. The in-app Options button exposes every stored value without risking the branch. Accessibility shortcuts that launch the keyboard read the same keys at startup.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Osk
Display and behavior options in one small registry branch. Use the in-app Options dialog over regedit. Delete the branch to reset to defaults.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn the On-Screen Keyboard on?
Open Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard, and toggle the On-Screen Keyboard. The Settings switch writes the same registry values safely. Registry edits alone can leave the toggle and the keyboard out of sync.
How do I reset On-Screen Keyboard settings?
Export the Osk registry branch before changing anything. The keyboard reads a small set of values at launch, so a bad merge shows up immediately. Delete the branch to return to defaults.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.