Your laptop keyboard is cramped, your tablet has no keyboard at all, or a hand injury makes physical keys painful. You still have to answer e-mail and take notes. Free Virtual Keyboard puts a keyboard on your screen, with keys big enough to hit with a fingertip, a mouse, a stylus or a head pointer.
Quick facts
- Version: 6.0
- Platforms: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8 and 7, in 32-bit and 64-bit editions
- Price: free, for personal and commercial use
- Trial terms: none. The vendor lists no trials, watermarks, in-app ads or paid upgrades.
- Formats: portable EXE or ZIP (about 389 KB), installer EXE or ZIP (about 2.4 MB), or the Microsoft Store
Key features
Resize, recolor and make the keyboard transparent in one click
You can change the size, color and transparency of the keyboard at any time. Transparency lets you see the window underneath while you type.
A full-screen mode that fits the screen width
In full-screen mode the keyboard resizes to the width of the screen when it opens. That works in both landscape and portrait orientation, which suits tablets.
Held keys repeat like a real keyboard
The auto-repeat function works automatically. Hold Backspace to delete a long line, or hold an arrow key to scroll.
Run it from a USB stick with no installation
The program is fully portable. Copy FreeVK.exe to a flash drive and run it on any PC. Settings are saved in a FreeVK.ini file next to the program. If that folder isn't writable, they go to the registry.
Type in any layout installed in Windows
It supports every keyboard layout installed in Windows, including Dvorak and Colemak. Click the Settings key, then Language preferences, to add one.
Six keyboard styles and color themes
Styles range from a compact tablet-friendly layout to a full multimedia keyboard with extra keys. You pick a color theme to match your desktop.
Who it's for
- Owners of touchscreen Windows devices, such as Surface Pro, Tablet PCs and Panel PCs.
- People with mobility impairments who click keys with a mouse, trackball, head pointer or stylus.
- Anyone who wants a keyboard that travels on a USB stick to PCs where they can't install software.
- People who find the built-in Windows on-screen keyboard too plain. The vendor says this program adds auto-fit, skins, themes, transparency and proper auto-repeat.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with no trial limits and no in-app ads.
- Tiny, portable download that needs no installation.
- Large keys, resizing and transparency suit touch screens.
- Uses any layout you have installed in Windows.
Cons
- Windows only. On a Mac, Chromebook or phone you need a browser-based keyboard instead.
- It supports only Windows 7 and later, so older PCs are out.
- The vendor describes no typing aids beyond the keyboard itself, so don't expect extras such as word prediction.
FAQs
Is it really free?
Yes. It is freeware for personal and commercial use, with no paid upgrades.
Do I have to install it?
No. The portable EXE runs directly from any folder or USB drive. An installer package is also available if you prefer it.
Can I use it on a touchscreen?
Yes. The keys are sized for fingertips. In full-screen mode the keyboard fits the screen width.
How do I add another language?
Click the Settings key on the keyboard, then Language preferences. That opens the standard Windows language settings, where you install the layout.
Can it help if I can't use a physical keyboard?
Yes. You can type by clicking keys with a mouse, trackball, head pointer or stylus.
System requirements
- Operating system: Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8 or 7 (32-bit and 64-bit)
- Disk space: about 389 KB for the portable EXE, or 2.4 MB for the installer package