Customize Your Windows 11 Taskbar: Show or Hide the Touch Keyboard Button

Updated: 12 Apr, 2025 • 0 • 8 min read

Table of Contents

Methods to Show or Hide the Touch Keyboard Button¶
Conclusion¶

Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems are equipped with a Touch Keyboard feature designed to enhance user interaction, particularly on devices with touchscreens. This virtual keyboard is especially useful for tablets or PCs operating in Tablet mode, automatically appearing when text input is required. Even on traditional desktop computers, users can access the touch keyboard, although interaction is primarily through a mouse pointer rather than direct touch. This article will guide you through the process of customizing your Windows experience by showing you how to either hide or display the touch keyboard button within the taskbar notification area, also known as the system tray, for your user account in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Methods to Show or Hide the Touch Keyboard Button¶

There are several straightforward methods available to manage the visibility of the Touch Keyboard button on your taskbar in Windows 11 and Windows 10. These methods cater to different user preferences and levels of technical comfort, ensuring that you can easily customize your taskbar to suit your needs. The primary approaches include utilizing the Taskbar Context Menu, navigating through the Settings app, and employing the Registry Editor for a more direct system modification. Each method offers a unique way to control the Touch Keyboard button’s appearance, allowing for flexible customization.

Via Taskbar Context Menu
Via Settings app
Via Registry Editor

Let’s delve into each of these methods in detail, providing step-by-step instructions to help you effectively manage the Touch Keyboard button on your Windows taskbar. Understanding each approach will enable you to choose the method that best aligns with your technical proficiency and desired level of customization.

This method offers the quickest and most intuitive way to manage the Touch Keyboard button, particularly in Windows 10. It leverages the context menu, which is accessed by right-clicking the taskbar, providing a direct toggle for the button’s visibility. This approach is user-friendly and requires no navigation through settings panels or system utilities.

Step-by-step instructions for Windows 10:

Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar. Alternatively, if you are using a touchscreen device, press and hold on the taskbar to simulate a right-click action. This action will bring up the context menu, presenting a list of options related to taskbar customization.
Within the context menu, look for the option labeled “Show touch keyboard button”. This option acts as a toggle switch. If a checkmark is displayed next to it, the Touch Keyboard button is currently visible on your taskbar. If there is no checkmark, the button is hidden.
Click or tap on the “Show touch keyboard button” option. This action will toggle the setting. If the button was previously shown, clicking the option will hide it, and vice versa. The checkmark will appear or disappear accordingly, reflecting the current visibility status of the Touch Keyboard button.

This method is particularly convenient for users who frequently switch between using the touch keyboard and needing a cleaner taskbar. The context menu approach provides immediate visual feedback, allowing you to quickly confirm whether the Touch Keyboard button is visible or hidden.

2] Hide or Show Touch Keyboard Button via Settings app¶

The Settings app in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 provides a more centralized interface for managing various system settings, including taskbar customization options. This method is slightly more involved than the context menu approach but offers a comprehensive way to control the Touch Keyboard button along with other taskbar elements. The steps vary slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, reflecting the evolution of the operating system’s interface.

Windows 10 Settings App Method¶

Step-by-step instructions for Windows 10:

Right-click on the taskbar. Similar to the context menu method, initiate by right-clicking on any empty space on the taskbar. This action will bring up the taskbar context menu.
Select “Taskbar settings” from the context menu. Among the options presented, choose “Taskbar settings”. This selection will open the Taskbar settings page within the Windows Settings app, providing access to a range of taskbar customization options.
In the Settings window, navigate to the “Turn system icons on or off” link. Within the Taskbar settings page, you will typically find related settings and links on the right-hand pane. Scroll down until you locate and click on the “Turn system icons on or off” link. This link will direct you to a page specifically for managing the visibility of system icons in the notification area.
Locate the “Touch keyboard” option and toggle the switch. On the “Turn system icons on or off” page, scroll through the list of system icons until you find the “Touch keyboard” option. You will see a toggle switch next to it. Toggle the switch to “On” to show the Touch Keyboard button on the taskbar or to “Off” to hide it. The switch’s position will visually indicate the current setting.

Windows 11 Settings App Method¶

Step-by-step instructions for Windows 11:

Open the Settings app. The most common way to open the Settings app in Windows 11 is by pressing the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut. Alternatively, you can find the Settings app in the Start Menu or by searching for “Settings” in the taskbar search box.
Navigate to Personalization > Taskbar. Within the Settings app, click on “Personalization” from the left-hand menu. Then, in the Personalization settings, select “Taskbar”. This navigation path will take you to the Taskbar customization settings page in Windows 11.
Toggle the switch against “Touch keyboard”. On the Taskbar settings page, you will find various options related to taskbar behaviors and items. Locate the “Touch keyboard” option. It will be accompanied by a toggle switch. Toggle this switch to the desired position: “On” to display the Touch Keyboard button on the taskbar, or “Off” to hide it. The switch’s state will immediately reflect your chosen setting.

The Settings app method provides a more structured and comprehensive approach to taskbar customization. It is particularly useful for users who prefer managing system settings through a graphical interface and want to explore other taskbar options alongside the Touch Keyboard button visibility.

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3] Hide or Show Touch Keyboard Button via Registry Editor¶

The Registry Editor provides the most direct and powerful method to customize system settings in Windows, including the visibility of the Touch Keyboard button. This method involves modifying the Windows Registry, a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the operating system and applications. While offering precise control, using the Registry Editor requires caution, and it is crucial to follow instructions carefully to avoid unintended system issues. It is highly recommended to back up the registry or create a system restore point before making any changes.

Precautionary Measures:

Before proceeding with Registry Editor modifications, it is essential to take precautionary steps to safeguard your system.

Back up the Registry: Creating a registry backup allows you to restore the registry to its previous state in case of errors during modification. To back up the registry, open Registry Editor (regedit), go to File > Export, choose a location and filename, and click Save.
Create a System Restore Point: A system restore point captures your system’s state at a specific time, including registry settings. If issues arise after registry modifications, you can use System Restore to revert your system to the restore point. To create a restore point, search for “Create a restore point” in the taskbar search box, open System Properties, click Create, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step-by-step instructions for using Registry Editor:

Open Registry Editor. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type “regedit” in the dialog box and press Enter. Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control to allow Registry Editor to make changes to your device.
Navigate to the correct registry key. In the Registry Editor window, use the left-hand pane to navigate through the hierarchical structure. Locate and open the following path by expanding the folders:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\TabletTip\1.7

You can also copy and paste this entire path into the address bar of the Registry Editor for quicker navigation.
Modify the TipbandDesiredVisibility entry. Once you have navigated to the 1.7 key, look for an entry named “TipbandDesiredVisibility” in the right-hand pane.
- If the entry exists: Double-click on “TipbandDesiredVisibility” to open the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window.
- If the entry does not exist: You need to create it. Right-click in an empty space in the right-hand pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name the new entry “TipbandDesiredVisibility”. Then, double-click on the newly created entry to open the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window.
Set the Value data. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window, you will see a “Value data” field.
- To hide the Touch Keyboard button, set the Value data to 0 (zero).
- To show the Touch Keyboard button, set the Value data to 1 (one).
Ensure that the “Base” is set to “Hexadecimal” or “Decimal”; both will work for these values.
Click OK to save changes. After entering the desired value data (0 or 1), click the “OK” button to save the changes.
Exit Registry Editor. Close the Registry Editor window.
Restart your computer or restart Explorer. For the changes to take effect, you may need to restart your computer. Alternatively, you can restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes more quickly. To restart Explorer, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find “Windows Explorer” in the Processes tab, right-click on it, and select “Restart”.

The Registry Editor method provides a system-level modification to control the Touch Keyboard button’s visibility. It is generally used by advanced users who are comfortable with registry modifications and prefer a direct control mechanism. Remember to exercise caution and always back up your registry before making changes.

Conclusion¶

These three methods – Taskbar Context Menu, Settings app, and Registry Editor – offer flexible ways to manage the visibility of the Touch Keyboard button on your Windows 11 and Windows 10 taskbar. The Context Menu provides the quickest toggle, the Settings app offers a user-friendly graphical interface, and the Registry Editor allows for direct system-level control. Choose the method that best suits your needs and technical comfort level to customize your Windows experience.

Do you frequently use the touch keyboard on Windows, or do you prefer to keep the button hidden? Share your experiences and preferences in the comments below!

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