Portable virtual keyboard with persistent settings, ideal for malfunctioning keyboards, keylogger protection, and IT professionals
Portable virtual keyboard with persistent settings, ideal for malfunctioning keyboards, keylogger protection, and IT professionals
Vote (196 votes)
Program license Free
Developer PortableApps
Version 2.1
Works under Windows
Vote
(196 votes)
Developer
PortableApps
Works under
Windows
Program license
Free
Version
2.1
Pros
- Virtual keyboard
- Small footprint
- Works on all Windows versions
Cons
- Windows has an accessibility keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard Portable for Windows is a virtual keyboard that fits on a USB flash drive.
On-Screen Keyboard Portable is an emulated keyboard. The program window is shaped like a keyboard and represents all the keys you’d find on a physical keyboard. These buttons are activated by hovering over them and clicking a mouse button. The program is portable, which means it doesn’t require installation. It also has a small footprint, so it easily fits on an SD card or a USB flash drive.
Virtual keyboards were once a niche PC tool, but those days are long gone. Most people use virtual keyboards everyday of their lives on their smartphones, tablets and other devices. While an emulated keyboard probably isn’t something you’d want to use with an actual keyboard present, it can be a big help when your keyboard is malfunctioning or damaged and you need an interim solution. It’s worth noting that most Windows versions do feature an accessibility keyboard that serves a similar purpose. It’s also worth noting that you can use a virtual keyboard to circumvent key loggers and similar programs.
A virtual keyboard also has a place in almost every IT professional’s toolbox. It’s just useful to have it on hand for when keyboard is missing or damaged or a special key is present or easily accessed. On-Screen Keyboard Portable supports Window’s and other special keys. The program also works on nearly all Windows versions, including Windows 95. You can move and resize the keyboard, and it has a number of other personalization options that will persist between uses.
The persistence is what sets On-Screen Keyboard Portable from many other virtual keyboards. Your preferences are on your USB flash drive or whatever and are with you wherever you go. For roaming IT professionals, this is particularly nice since you don’t have to adjust settings at each workstation. One key area where this app could be improved would be hotkey and macro support.
Pros
- Virtual keyboard
- Small footprint
- Works on all Windows versions
Cons
- Windows has an accessibility keyboard
Pros
- On-screen keyboard
- Portable and lightweight
- Supports most PCs, including Win 95
Cons
- Windows accessibility keyboard is similar
On-Screen Keyboard Portable is a virtual keyboard that you can take with you on the go.
On-Screen Keyboard Portable is a virtual keyboard, which means that it’s not a physical keyboard but rather one emulated by software and displayed on screen. Typing is achieved by clicking buttons using a mouse. The program is also portable and lightweight, which means that it doesn’t require installation; you can carry it around on a USB flash drive and the program takes up just kilobytes of space.
Virtual keyboards were once a solution to niche problems, but they’ve become more common as personal computers have begun to support touch-based interfaces. For home users, virtual keyboards can also be very helpful when you experience a broken or damaged keyboard and need to get by until you get a replacement. Virtual keyboards do not, however, defend against software key loggers, which are the most common kind, and it’s worth mentioning that outside of portability, On-Screen Keyboard Portable doesn’t do anything that the accessibility keyboard that comes with Windows can’t.
Nevertheless, On-Screen Keyboard Portable can be a very handy tool for IT professionals and the like. The keyboard supports most special keys, including Windows-specific keys. It is also supported by most Windows versions, going as far back as Windows 95. The keyboard is movable and resizable and has a number of other settings that you can use to dial it in to your preference.
However, what sets On-Screen Keyboard Portable apart from other options is configuration persistence. Any changes you make to the settings are stored alongside the program executable and available to you on the go. The increase to footprint that this has is negligible, and it ensures a consistent experience without having to change settings at each computer your work on. Perhaps the only thing that could make this program better would be support for hotkeys, macros and so forth.
Pros
- On-screen keyboard
- Portable and lightweight
- Supports most PCs, including Win 95
Cons
- Windows accessibility keyboard is similar
