How to use Key board in tablet mode Dell 2 in 1

Hi Welcome to Microsoft community. When using a Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 in tablet mode, Windows 10 typically disables the physical keyboard to avoid accidental key presses while handling the device as a tablet. However, you can enable the on-screen keyboard to type while in tablet mode. If you want to use the physical keyboard even in tablet mode, it might require some changes in settings or workarounds.

Enabling the On-Screen Keyboard in Tablet Mode

Enable the Touch Keyboard

Tap on the taskbar (usually at the bottom of the screen).

Right-click (or long-press) on the taskbar and select Show touch keyboard button.

A keyboard icon will appear in the system tray (bottom-right corner).

Tap this icon to open the on-screen keyboard whenever you need to type.

Use the On-Screen Keyboard Automatically

Go to Settings > Devices > Typing.

Scroll down to the Touch keyboard section.

Enable the option Show the touch keyboard when not in tablet mode and there's no keyboard attached.

Using the Physical Keyboard in Tablet Mode

If you want to use the physical keyboard while in tablet mode, this can be trickier since the device is designed to disable the keyboard in tablet mode. However, you can try the following workaround:

Disable Tablet Mode Automatic Switching

Go to Settings > System > Tablet.

Under When I use this device as a tablet, select Don't switch to tablet mode.

This setting will keep the device in desktop mode even when you fold it, allowing the physical keyboard to function.

Disable Sensor-Based Automatic Keyboard Disabling

This step involves modifying the registry or using third-party software, which is not generally recommended due to the risk of unintended consequences. Proceed with caution and create a system restore point before making changes.

Modify Registry:

Press Windows + R, type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AutoRotation

Change the value of Enable from 1 to 0.

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Supportto view the article.

Additional Tips

Use External Keyboard: If you need a physical keyboard in tablet mode, consider using a Bluetooth or USB keyboard.

Dell Support: For more specific instructions or support, consider reaching out to Dell support or checking the Dell Community forums.

Let me know if you need further assistance. Best regardsDerrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist