How to Set Up a Raspberry Pi On-Screen Keyboard: Installation, Configuration, and Best Alternatives
Oct 10th,2025
Raspberry Pi On-Screen Keyboard: Complete Setup and Practical Guide
A Raspberry Pi on-screen keyboard is a great solution, since while Raspberry Pi devices are often used with a physical keyboard and mouse, many projects require a different approach.While Raspberry Pi devices are often used with a physical keyboard and mouse, many projects require a different approach. When building touchscreen-based systems, kiosks, or portable devices, having an on-screen keyboard becomes essential. This software-based input method allows users to type directly on the display without connecting external peripherals.
The most popular choice in the Raspberry Pi ecosystem is wvkbd-mobintl Keyboard… — see wvkbd on GitHub for source code and releases.
In earlier Raspberry Pi projects, Matchbox Keyboard was the most common choice for virtual input, but today many users prefer wvkbd-mobintl because it is lightweight, actively maintained, and better optimized for modern touchscreen setups.
However, there are also alternatives such as the Matchbox keyboard Raspberry Pi option and the Onboard keyboard Raspberry Pi package, which provide additional customization and accessibility features.
Why Use an On-Screen Keyboard on Raspberry Pi?
1. Accessibility for touchscreen displays
Many Raspberry Pi projects use small touchscreens, often in the 3.5–10 inch range (see Get Started with Raspberry Pi guides for hardware setup).A physical keyboard is impractical in these setups. An on-screen keyboard makes it possible to type Wi-Fi passwords, search queries, or input commands directly, and in such cases a Raspberry Pi touchscreen keyboard is the most practical choice.
2. Essential for kiosks and public terminals
If you’re deploying a Raspberry Pi in a kiosk, museum information stand, or even a DIY ATM, you can’t rely on users having access to an external keyboard, so using a Raspberry Pi kiosk keyboard becomes essential.A touch-enabled interface with a virtual keyboard ensures seamless interaction.
3. Eliminates the need for external peripherals
In embedded projects, every USB port and every centimeter of space counts. By using a virtual keyboard for Raspberry Pi projects, you remove the dependency on a keyboard and mouse, keeping the system compact and more power-efficient.
4. Optimized for performance
Solutions like the Matchbox keyboard Raspberry Pi option are extremely lightweight, designed to run smoothly even on low-powered hardware such as the Raspberry Pi Zero. This ensures responsiveness without adding unnecessary overhead.
Installing an On-Screen Keyboard on Raspberry Pi
Installing a Raspberry Pi virtual keyboard is straightforward.
There are multiple ways to add an on-screen keyboard to your Raspberry Pi, but the most common method involves using the package manager; the Quick User Guide also covers OS setup and virtual keyboard basics.
1. Install wvkbd-mobintl Keyboard
on your Raspberry Pi. To do this, run:
sudo apt install wvkbd-mobintl -y
First, once installed, you can start it from the terminal and show the options:
wvkbd-mobintl -h
Then, we can run wvkbd-mobintl with our customization, example:
wvkbd-mobintl -L 200
Configuring the On-Screen Keyboard
A default installation is functional, but configuration makes it practical.
1. Resizing and repositioning
When configuring a Raspberry Pi on-screen keyboard, resizing and repositioning are important steps. The keyboard can be resized and moved across the display. This is especially useful for small screens where every pixel counts. You can drag it manually or edit configuration files for permanent settings.
2. Auto-launch at startup
If your project requires the Raspberry Pi touchscreen keyboard at all times, set it to run automatically. Edit the GNOME Wayland autostart file
mkdir -p ~/.config/autostart
nano ~/.config/autostart/wvkbd.desktop
Add the following line at the end:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Exec=wvkbd-mobintl -l es -L 280
Hidden=false
NoDisplay=false
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
Name=wvkbd-mobintl
Save and reboot. Now, the keyboard will appear every time your Raspberry Pi boots.
3. Adjusting appearance and layout
For usability, you can tweak key sizes and layouts. This is especially helpful in kiosk projects where only numeric input or PIN codes are needed. Minimalist layouts improve user experience and reduce errors, making the setup act more like a Raspberry Pi kiosk keyboard
Use Cases & Real-Life Applications
The real value of an on-screen keyboard becomes clear when looking at practical IoT and embedded use cases:
• Smart Home Control Panels
Imagine a wall-mounted Raspberry Pi running a home automation dashboard. The on-screen keyboard makes it easy to type Wi-Fi passwords during setup or adjust settings without connecting peripherals. This kind of setup works best with a virtual keyboard for Raspberry Pi projects.
• Public Information Kiosks
Museums, libraries, or transport terminals can run touch interfaces powered by Raspberry Pi. An on-screen keyboard allows visitors to search, enter queries, or validate information securely.
• Portable Devices
DIY handheld consoles, portable IoT testers, or even custom tablets built on Raspberry Pi benefit from not requiring a bulky keyboard.
• Business Applications
In small retail stores, Raspberry Pi systems often serve as point-of-sale terminals or check-in kiosks. The on-screen keyboard is an integral part of keeping the hardware minimal and user-friendly.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Like any software, virtual keyboards may run into problems. Here are frequent issues and solutions:
1. Keyboard not appearing on boot
If your Raspberry Pi on-screen keyboard is not appearing on boot, check that the autostart entry was added correctly. Ensure no typos exist in the configuration file.
2. Keyboard too large or too small
Resolution mismatches can cause scaling problems. Adjust your display settings via raspi-config (see the official Raspberry Pi documentation for display configuration) or tweak the keyboard’s configuration files.
3. Touchscreen not responding properly
If touch input is inaccurate, run a calibration tool such as xinput_calibrator to align the touchscreen.
4. Conflicts with desktop environments
Some lightweight desktops like XFCE or Mate may handle autostart differently. In such cases, you’ll need to add the keyboard command to the respective session manager’s startup settings.
Alternatives to wvkbd-mobintl Keyboard
While wvkbd-mobintl is the default recommendation for most Raspberry Pi users, there are alternatives worth exploring:
Matchbox
Matchbox Keyboard is a lightweight, touchscreen-friendly virtual keyboard that integrates seamlessly with the Raspberry Pi OS desktop environment. Its minimal resource usage makes it ideal for devices with limited CPU and memory, such as the Raspberry Pi Zero or Pi 3.
Install with:sudo apt install matchbox-keyboard -y
Onboard
Originally developed for Ubuntu, Onboard offers a more customizable interface with advanced input options. It supports themes, floating windows, and integration with accessibility services.
Install with:sudo apt install onboard -y
Conclusion
A Raspberry Pi on-screen keyboard greatly enhances flexibility, especially for touchscreen projects, kiosks, and embedded applications where physical peripherals are not practical. By setting up a reliable virtual keyboard for Raspberry Pi projects, you can make your system more compact, user-friendly, and accessible to a wider audience.Using an on-screen keyboard on Raspberry Pi greatly enhances flexibility, especially for touchscreen projects, kiosks, and embedded applications where physical peripherals are not practical. Lightweight options like wvkbd-mobintl or Matchbox Keyboard provide smooth performance even on low-powered devices, while more feature-rich tools such as Florence or Onboard offer advanced customization and accessibility support.
By setting up an on-screen keyboard, you can make your Raspberry Pi projects more compact, user-friendly, and accessible to a wider audience. Whether you’re building a smart home control panel, a public information kiosk, or a portable IoT device, having a reliable virtual keyboard ensures seamless interaction and a better overall experience.
