Imagine you picked up your phone to respond to a text message only to find that the Android keyboard is not showing up.
You close the app and reopen it, but the Android keyboard still does not appear. Nothing seems to work, and you’re getting frustrated. Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
In this guide, you’ll learn why your Android keyboard is not showing up and what to do to get your keyboard back on your Android. Let’s get started.
Why Is the Android Keyboard Not Showing?
The reason why your Android keyboard is not showing up is because of a recent bug or a cache problem. Luckily this is an easy problem to fix.
There are other reasons why your Android keyboard could stop showing up, including:
- An incompatible keyboard app update
- Low storage on the Android device
- A filled-up keyboard app cache
How to Fix the “Android Keyboard Not Showing” Issue
To fix the “Android keyboard not showing” issue, make sure to clear the cache of the keyboard you’re using.
To do this, go to Settings > Apps > search for your keyboard > storage > clear cache.
Below you’ll find all the fixes for the “Android Keyboard Not Showing” problem. Try these fixes in order until you find the one that helps you get your keyboard back on your phone.
1. Restart Your Device
When your Android keyboard is not showing up, the first thing to do is restart your device. Restarting your device clears your RAM and starts it on a clean slate which can fix the keyboard issue.
To restart your device, follow these steps:
- Long-press the ON/OFF button on the side of your device until you get a prompt like the one below. (Depending on your android device brand, it may look different.)
- Click on the Restart button and wait for your phone to power off and then on.
Try using your keyboard. It should appear now. If it still doesn’t show up, try the other fixes below.
2. Clear Cache of Your Keyboard App
Clearing cache for your specific keyboard can help fix it when your keyboard is not showing on your Android mobile.
This fix works across different keyboards. Search for the Keyboard you currently use. It could be the Google Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, the Microsoft SwiftKey, or any other keyboard that comes with your Android device.
To clear the cache of the keyboard, follow these simple steps:
- Go to Settings and click on the Apps panel.
- Scroll and search for the keyboard application you use. For example, I will search for Gboard.
- Click on Storage.
- Click on the Clear Cache button.
You have now cleared the cache of your keyboard app. This should fix your problem and your keyboard should appear now.
3. Clear Data of Your Keyboard App
If the last fix didn’t work, you would have to go further and clear the data of the app. To do this, follow these steps:
- Go back to the Storage of the app and click on Clear Data.
- You will get a prompt asking if you are sure about clearing the data. Confirm the action by clicking OK.
The “Android keyboard not showing” error should be fixed now. If it isn’t, please move on to the next step.
4. Force Stop the Keyboard
Force-stopping your keyboard is one way of restarting it. And restarting your keyboard can help you get rid of bugs that prevent your keyboard from showing up.
Follow these steps to force stop your keyboard:
- Go to Settings and select your keyboard app from the Apps panel.
- At the bottom of the screen, click on the Force Stop button.
- Click on OK if a caution prompt pops up.
Test your keyboard now. It should be working properly now.
5. Clear App Cache
The “Android keyboard not showing” error could be caused by low memory space. Clearing unused app cache and junk files can free up space on your Android device.
To clear up cache, please follow these simple steps:
- Go to Settings and click on the Apps panel.
- Select an app, go to its storage, and click on Clear Cache.
It is advisable to clear cache of apps with high storage.
6. Update Your Keyboard App
If your keyboard app is outdated, updating it can fix the error that causes your android keyboard not to appear.
Follow these steps to update your keyboard app:
- Open the Google Play Store app and click on your account icon at the top right.
- Now, click on Manage Apps and Device.
- If there, are updates available, you will see that. Click on “Updates Available” to select the keyboard app update.
- Click on Update to update your keyboard app.
Your Android keyboard should be showing now. If it isn’t, don’t give up! The other fixes are bound to work.
7. Leave the Beta Program of Your Keyboard App
Most apps have a beta program where updates are tested out before release to the general public.
If you use a third-party keyboard app like Gboard and are part of the beta program, you should leave the program and download the normal version from Play Store.
1. Open the Google Play Store and click on your account icon at the top right.
2. Go to Manage Apps and Device.
3. Click on the Manage panel and select your keyboard app.
4. Leave the Beta program.
5. Install the app normally and restart your phone. Your Android keyboard should be showing now.
8. Reset Your Keyboard Settings
Resetting your keyboard app takes it back to its original settings. This can fix the bug causing the “Android Keyboard not showing” error.
To reset your keyboard, follow these steps:
- Open Settings and go to the General Management panel.
- Go to Language and Input.
- Select On-screen Keyboard.
- Select your default keyboard from the list provided.
- Click on Reset to default settings.
- Reset your keyboard settings
Restart your phone and try using your keyboard. It should appear and work properly now.
9. Install a New Keyboard Using Voice Search
If the fixes above do not work, you might have to install a new keyboard. Since you cannot type, we advise using the voice search option in the Google Play Store search bar.
10. Factory Reset Your Device
You may need to factory reset your Android device. This should always be the last resort, but if all fails, this might be your only option.
Please ensure that you back up all your important files and data in the cloud storage service of your choice as a factory reset will clear all your data, files, and downloaded apps. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to safely back up your Android phone.
To factory reset your phone, follow these simple steps:
- Open Settings and go to General Management.
- Click on Reset.
- Choose Factory Data Reset. This will wipe out your phone and erase all of your data.
- Click on the Reset button to completely reset your phone to the factory settings.
After resetting your phone, restart your phone. Your Android keyboard should start showing now.
Final Thoughts on Android Keyboard Not Showing
There are plenty of different reasons why your Android keyboard is not showing. Luckily you can try each of these proven fixes to get your keyboard back on your phone:
- Restart your Android phone
- Clear the cache of your specific keyboard
- Clear data of the keyboard you’re using
- Force stop the keyboard app
- Clear apps cache to make space on your phone
- Update your keyboard app to get rid of bugs
- Leave the Beta program of your keyboard app
- Reset your keyboard settings
- Install a new keyboard using Voice Search
- Factory reset your device
We hope you found these fixes useful in helping you fix your Android keyboard not showing issues.
Did you manage to get the keyboard back on your phone? Did you find other ways to troubleshoot this issue? Leave us a comment down below.
