There are seldom reports about the Android keyboard not showing or suddenly disappearing when users tap on the text field. Users say that the keyboard worked without issues until it abruptly stopped appearing. Also, this seemingly applies to a few stock keyboards (Samsung Keyboard) and Gboard, as well. We have a few ideas on what caused this and how to fix it. You can find them along with detailed instructions below.
Table of contents:
- Start with a simple restart
- Clear local data from the keyboard
- Uninstall updates from the keyboard
- Disable fullscreen gestures
How do I fix my Android keyboard not appearing?
If your Android keyboard is not appearing, you can try with a simple restart. That usually deals with temporary system issues that appear out of nowhere.
If that doesn’t help, reset the keyboard app or disable fullscreen gestures and try again.
1. Start with a simple restart
Begin with a restart. Reboot your device and try typing. If the keyboard won’t appear, make sure that you’ve chosen the default digital keyboard in Settings > General or System > Language and input. Set Gboard as the default keyboard or don’t — it all depends on what keyboard you use.
If that doesn’t help, make sure to disable all third-party launchers you use and stick with the system option, the stock one. We run into some issues with Nova Launcher on Android 10 and Android 11 concerning gestures and there’s a possibility that this affects the keyboard disappearing, too.
If none of these solutions help, try clearing local data from the keyboard.
2. Clear local data from the keyboard
Whatever keyboard you use, be that Gboard or some built-in solution like Samsung Keyboard or Mint keyboard by Xiaomi, it can stop working. It’s an app just like all else with a few distinctive differences. And like any other app, it can run into issues. The best way to tackle app issues is to clear local data. That should reset the app and, hopefully, resolve the issue.
Here’s how to clear local data from the keyboard on your Android:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps.
- Expand all apps.
- Look for the keyboard in the list of available apps and open it.
- Force stop the keyboard.
- Tap Storage.
- Clear data and restart your device.
3. Uninstall updates from the keyboard
If the previous step didn’t work, you should uninstall updates from the keyboard. If Gboard is a third-party keyboard, you can completely uninstall it but, if it’s the stock option, you can only remove updates and restore it to its default values. This applies to all. You can’t uninstall Samsung Keyboard or Xiaomi Mint Keyboard but you can reset them.
Here’s how to uninstall updates from the default keyboard on Android:
- Navigate to Settings > Apps > Keyboard again and tap on the 3-dots menu.
- Select Uninstall updates.
- Uninstall updates and restart your Android.
- Update the app to get the latest version and check for improvements.
- Alternatively, you can navigate to the Play Store and uninstall the app/remove updates there.
4. Disable fullscreen gestures
Finally, we can only recommend disabling fullscreen navigation gestures for the time being. Some users report that the Android keyboard is not showing only when the gestures are enabled instead of on-screen navigation buttons. To disable Navigation gestures, navigate to Settings > System > Gestures and select System navigation. Switch to 3-button navigation and check if the keyboard is working properly or if the issue persists.
Of course, ensure your device is up to date, and don’t skip on available updates (Settings > Software updates). Also, reporting the problem to your OEM or Google is a good idea and there’s a good chance they’ll provide a fix.
That should conclude it. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to tell us if these steps fixed the problem for you or not. You can do that in the comments section below or on Twitter or Facebook.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in January 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
