[Solved] How do I Fix iPhone/iPad/iOS Keyboard App Missing, Not Appearing, Lag, Stuck, Frozen, or Not Working Properly

Is the iPhone/iPad on-screen keyboard not showing when you tap on the text field or does it disappear randomly? On-screen keyboard is not working properly and behaving weirdly including keyboard lag, types on its own, or dismiss randomly, etc.?

On-screen keyboard issues on iPhone/iPad commonly happen after software update and mostly happen to those users who connect bluetooth keyboards to iPad.

In this article, we have gathered different troubleshooting options to fix the iPhone/iPad on-screen keyboard app not working properly problem. Make sure to follow each one of these resolution method and check if the on-screen keyboard app shows up when you tap on a text field.

Content Summary

Potential Causes
Solution 1: Clean the iPhone/iPad’s screen display
Solution 2: Tap on a text field input area again
Solution 3: Rotate the screen
Solution 4: Diable Bluetooth Function
Solution 5: Disable Reachability Feature
Solution 6: Disable Zoom Feature
Solution 7: Disable Prefer Cross-Fade Transitions Feature
Solution 8: Disable Reduce Motion Feature
Solution 9: Disable AssistiveTouch Feature
Solution 10: Close all opened apps/running apps/background apps
Solution 11: Force restart iPhone/iPad
Solution 12: Reset Keyboard Dictionary
Solution 13: Uninstall and reinstall the latest version of the App
Solution 14: Install the latest iOS Software Update
Solution 15: Factory Reset All Settings
Solution 16: Erase All Content and Settings
Solution 17: Install third-party on-screen keyboard

Potential Causes

• Issues with the firmware
• Issues with on-screen keyboard app itself
• The app causing on-screen keyboard to crash
• Display unresponsive

Solution 1: Clean the iPhone/iPad’s screen display

Your keyboard may malfunction if something’s stuck on the screen display, tricking your iPhone into thinking that you’re tapping the screen, this usually cause the on-screen keyboard to go crazy and type letters on its own. Just use a microfiber cloth and wipe down the bottom of your iPhone’s display where the keyboard pops up.

Warning: Apple advises NOT to use cleaning liquids such as window cleaners, aerosol sprays, household cleaners, abrasives, ammonia, solvents, or anything containing hydrogen peroxide or acetone to wipe the device’s screen display.

Solution 2: Tap on a text field input area again

Double or triple tap on the text input area of the screen to check whether able to make the on-screen keyboard appear.

Solution 3: Rotate the screen

Step 1: Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open Contol Center.

Step 2: Tap the Portrait Orientation Lock button to make sure that it’s disable.

Step 3: Turn iPhone/iPad sideways to check whether able to make the on-screen keyboard appear after the screen rotate.

Reference: Rotate the screen on your iPhone or iPod touch

* If you don’t see the Rotation Lock button for iPad, check to see if iPad has a side switch, you can set the side switch to work as a rotation lock or mute switch, go to Settings > General > Use Side Switch To option.

Reference: Rotate the screen on your iPad

Solution 4: Diable Bluetooth Function

When pairing a Bluetooth keyboard with iPhone/iPad, the on-screen keyboard will disappear automatically. Disable bluetooth on iPhone/iPad can make sure that it is not connected to any nearby bluetooth device.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Bluetooth.

Step 2: Toggle Bluetooth function to off.

Reference: Apple Developer Forums > ios 14 keyboard not appearing

Solution 5: Disable Reachability Feature

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility.

Step 2: Locate and toggle off the Reachability option.

Solution 6: Disable Zoom Feature

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Zoom.

Step 2: Toggle off the Zoom feature.

Solution 7: Disable Prefer Cross-Fade Transitions Feature

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Motion.

Step 2: Toggle off the Prefer Cross-Fade Transitions feature.

Solution 8: Disable Reduce Motion Feature

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Motion.

Step 2: Toggle off the Reduce Motion feature.

Solution 9: Disable AssistiveTouch Feature

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Touch.

Step 2: Toggle off the AssistiveTouch feature.

Solution 10: Close all opened apps/running apps/background apps

Background apps are comprised of apps that you have previously opened and used but not closed. Those apps remain suspended and running in the background helps for the purpose of multitasking, but it can also cause trouble when any of the background apps crashes or goes rogue. Close all of the background apps on iPhone/iPad to ensure that an app crash isn’t what caused the on-screen keyboard to stop working.

Step 1: Double-pressing the Home button (iPhone 8 and earlier) or swiping up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone X) to open the app switcher.

Step 2: Swipe all the opened apps up on an app preview until nothing appears in the app switcher.

Solution 11: Force restart iPhone/iPad

Force restart the iPhone/iPad helps to deal with minor software errors and glitches that make certain apps including on-screen keyboard not working properly. Besides that, force restart will dump all the junk files that are stored as cache in the internal memory aids to refresh the device for smoother and better performance.

Force restart procedure for iPhone/iPad is different depending on the model, below mehtods apply for iOS 12, iOS 13 and iOS 14:

Force restart iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone/iPad with Face ID, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus

Step 1: Press and release the volume up button.

Step 2: Press and release the volume down button.

Step 3: Press and hold the side button (Power button).

Step 4: When the Apple logo appears, release the button.

Force restart iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus

Step 1: Press and hold both the volume down button and the Sleep/Wake/Power button.

Step 2: When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

Force restart iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, iPhone 5s, or iPhone SE (1st generation)

Step 1: Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake/Power button and the Home button.

Step 2: When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

Force restart any other kind of iPad

Step 1: Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake/Power button and the Home button.

Step 2: When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

Reference:

• iPhone User Guide > Force restart iPhone > iOS 12
• iPhone User Guide > Force restart iPhone > iOS 13
• iPhone User Guide > Force restart iPhone > iOS 14
• Business Insider > How to restart and force-restart any iPad model

Solution 12: Reset Keyboard Dictionary

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Reset.

Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom to locate Reset Keyboard Dictionary options then tap on it.

Step 3: Type in your passcode.

Solution 13: Uninstall and reinstall the latest version of the App

If it is a particular app that causing the on-screen keyboard issue, check to see if that app has an available update on the App Store. If it does, uninstall the app and then reinstall the latest version available from the official app store.

Step 1: Open the App Store.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap the Updates tab. A list of apps with pending updates will then show up.

Step 3: Tap the Update button next to an app to update individual app or tap the Update All button to install all app updates at once.

Solution 14: Install the latest iOS Software Update

The regular iOS software update will try to fix some bugs and issues in the earlier. Some users found the keyboard was disappearing happen on earlier versions of iOS but fixed after install the latest Software Update release.

Step 1: Backup your device.

Step 2: Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

Step 3: If there is a new update available, tap on Download and Install option to install it.

Solution 15: Factory Reset All Settings

Step 1: Backup your device.

Step 2: Go to Settings > General > Reset.

Step 3: Locate Reset All Settings options and tap on it.

Step 4: Enter your passcode, then tap Reset All Settings to confirm. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your device.

Solution 16: Erase All Content and Settings

Step 1: Backup your device.

Step 2: Go to Settings > General > Reset.

Step 3: Locate Erase All Content and Settings options and tap on it.

Step 4: Enter your passcode for confirmation, tap the option to confirm full system reset and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your device.

Step 5: When the reset is finished, it will reboots by itself and then loads the default options and values.

Step 6: Make sure that your device is connected to Wi-Fi, select Restore from iCloud Backup and choose on the Latest iPhone Backup option.

Solution 17: Install third-party on-screen keyboard

As alternative, you can use Google-developed ‘GBOARD’ or Swift key, Flesky, Minimum. Themeboard and Gokeyboard.

Step 1: Open the App Store.

Step 2: Search and install the keyboard you desire. Complete the installation.

Step 3: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.

Step 4: Tap on Add New Keyboard.

Step 5: Select the keyboard app you just installed.