How to resize the on-screen keyboard on Windows 10?

Windows 10, like many Windows versions before it, comes with a built-in on-screen keyboard. This keyboard is valuable mostly in times of emergency. You might be a typing wizard or be just used to the physical keyboard, but there are situations that may force you to improvise, and the on-screen keyboard will be the most viable option.

Some reasons that may cause you to use the on-screen keyboard include:

• A damaged physical keyboard.
• Damaged keys that restrict your typing flow.
• Faulty USB ports on desktop computers.
• Corrupt drivers.

However, with the introduction of two-in-one PCs where a user can easily convert their computer to a tablet by flipping it, the on-screen keyboard has become more valuable. Using the touch screen feature enables the user to type with the on-screen keyboard with ease.

That said, there are cases where the virtual keyboard takes up too much screen real estate or is too small to use. Both issues can make typing with the on-screen keyboard uncomfortable and annoying.

For users facing the on-screen keyboard size issue, we’ve put together a guide to show you how to resize a virtual on-screen keyboard in Windows 10.

How to Make My On-Screen Keyboard Smaller

You can simply resize your on-screen keyboard by using the resize utility. First, you have to launch the keyboard by clicking Start and searching for On-Screen Keyboard, or you can go to the Settings app, click Ease of Access, select Keyboard, and then turn On-screen Keyboard on. When the on-screen keyboard opens, move your mouse to the corner of the keyboard, and when an arrow appears, use it to resize your keyboard.

Apart from this simple trick, there’s a registry hack you can use to change the size of your on-screen keyboard. Please note that using the Registry application is an advanced method. So, it’s recommended that you make a backup of your registry before you continue.

Follow these steps to change the size of your on-screen keyboard through the Windows registry:

1. Press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard simultaneously to open Run.
2. Type regedit in the Run dialog box and press enter.
3. Before the Registry Editor program launches, you’ll be prompted for permission.
4. Click Yes in the window that pops up.
5. Now, the Registry Editor will open.
6. In the left pane of the Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and expand it.
7. Click the arrow beside Software to expand it.
8. Expand Microsoft.
9. Expand the Windows folder.
10. Go to CurrentVersion and open it.
11. Now, locate Explorer, right-click it, hover your mouse over New, and then select Key.
12. Rename the new key to Scaling.
13. You should now see the newly created Scaling folder under Explorer.
14. Right-click the Scaling folder, hover your mouse over New, and then select String Value.
15. Change the name of this new value to “monitorsize” (without quotes.)
16. After this, double-click MonitorSize and set its string value to 25, which is the default value for a keyboard that takes up half the screen.
17. Close the Registry Editor program and restart your Windows 10 PC.

What If On-Screen Keyboard Is Too Big?

Whether your on-screen keyboard is too big or too small, the guide above will help you fix the problem. You can also assign a different string value in the Registry Editor program to resize your keyboard how you want.

It’s also important to note that your computer needs to be in fine shape for you to enjoy your on-screen keyboard. This is why we recommend that you install Auslogics BoostSpeed. The program will ensure optimum performance and get rid of junk files, corrupt registry keys, and other problems that may cause glitches. The tool works perfectly with Windows 10 and doesn’t interfere with anti-virus software.

Do you have thoughts on the Windows 10 on-screen keyboard?

Share them with us in the comments section below!