On-screen keyboard does not display in tablet mode - Surface Pro

Anonymous
2013-02-13T07:57:49+00:00

I am having trouble getting the onscreen keyboard to display when my Surface Pro is not connected to its type cover.

I noticed this when I was in the Metro UI.  The issue occurs when I select the search option from the charms menu.  Once I do this, the onscreen keyboard does not appear, so, I am unable to type anything into the search box.

This also occurs when I attempt to access the Surface Pro from sleep mode.  The password box appears, but, I cannot input into it without the onscreen keyboard.

I have already tried the refresh option - it did not work.

Any thoughts on a fix for this issue?

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2016-09-19T15:45:17+00:00

I am having trouble getting the onscreen keyboard to display when my Surface Pro is not connected to its type cover.

I noticed this when I was in the Metro UI.  The issue occurs when I select the search option from the charms menu.  Once I do this, the onscreen keyboard does not appear, so, I am unable to type anything into the search box.

This also occurs when I attempt to access the Surface Pro from sleep mode.  The password box appears, but, I cannot input into it without the onscreen keyboard.

I have already tried the refresh option - it did not work.

Any thoughts on a fix for this issue?

Hi. I had the same problem and it was really bugging me but I finally got it sorted. Basically, while your in laptop mode press the little keyboard icon (at the bottom right of the screen where the time is) and the on-screen keyboard should come up. Without pressing 'x' on the on-screen keyboard, un-clip your real keyboard so it turns into tablet mode. Now you can press 'x' and go onto the internet or something to test out whether it worked or not. Press on the search bar and it should come up. I had to do it twice but it worked. Hope this helped someone.

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Anonymous
2013-02-13T09:11:34+00:00

when waking it from sleep, only remove the keyboard when the lockscreen is displayed. Thus is also a bug with the surface rt when waking from connected standby.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-02-15T21:23:45+00:00

    I am curious if this behavior can be reproduced.

    I can reproduce the problem by following these steps:

    While logged in, open the On-Screen Keyboard (from Charms bar, search for keyboard.)

    While the keyboard is on-screen, press the power button to goto sleep.

    Press the power button to wake up the Surface.

    The on-screen keyboard should still be visible, and (for me), the Windows key is highlighted.

    I can log in using both the typepad keyboard or the on-screen keyboard, but the main keyboard that slides up from the bottom in inaccessible.

    From there I can detach the keyboard, wait a few seconds, attach the keyboard, wait a few seconds, tap the Windows key a couple of times, and see the Windows Key disengage on the on-screen keyboard.

    If I lock using Win-l or the account picture everything seems to work ok, BUT, if I log out, then press the Power button to turn off the display, THEN the problems comes back.

    So bottom, line, the Windows Key getting stuck seems to be strongly related to using the power button.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-02-15T21:11:41+00:00

    when i lock the surface, I usually just press the power button or use the Account Picture.

     

    I'll try using the keyboard shortcut.

    ok, i have tried locking the surface 3 ways.

    Pressing the power button while logged in.

    Clicking on the Account Picture

    Using the Win-L shortcut.

    It appears the Windows Key is getting messed up when locking the Surface by pressing the power button.

    When I press the power button I very briefly see a flash of text on the screen - similar to the shut down options you get on a desktop unit when restarting the machine.

    I also had the on-screen keyboard up at the time I pressed the power button and I saw a whole bunch of keys light up briefly before the screen when dark. EDIT: The keys are CONTROL-ALT-DELETE.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-02-15T21:00:05+00:00

    when i lock the surface, I usually just press the power button or use the Account Picture.

    I'll try using the keyboard shortcut.

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