How to Hide Android On-Screen Keyboard When Using External Keyboard

Quick Tips

• The virtual on-screen keyboard keeps popping at times even if you’re using the Bluetooth keyboard.
• This setting can easily be configured inside the Android Settings.
• Alternatively, you can use a third-party app to force Android not to pop up the on-screen keyboard when an external keyboard is connected.

Google understands that multiple users connect physical keyboards to their Android devices. This is why there is a native setting inside Android to hide the on-screen keyboard whenever the user is using an external keyboard. Here’s how to use it.

Method 1: From Android Settings

Hiding the on-screen keyboard directly from the Android settings is a straightforward process. Here’s how.

Step 1: On your Android device, navigate to Settings > System > Language & input.

Step 2: Here, tap on the Physical Keyboard. Finally, toggle off the option that says “Show virtual keyboard” or “Show on-screen keyboard.”

And that’s it. The on-screen keyboard should disappear whenever you connect your external keyboard.

Method 2: Using Third-Party App

If you’re using an old Android device that doesn’t have this option in settings, you can use a third-party app like AnySoftKeyboard to manage the on-screen keyboard behavior. Here’s how.

Step 1: Download the AnySoftKeyboard on your Android device.

Step 2: Once done, activate it as an additional keyboard on your device

Step 3: Now, head over to Settings > Language and keyboard > AnySoftKeyboard > Tweaks. Here, check the option next to Hide keyboard on physical key.

And that’s it. Whenever you touch the screen to input some text, the on-screen keyboard will still appear but will hide automatically when it detects a keypress event from an external keyboard.

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