The genuine osk.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Windows Operating System by Microsoft Corporation. "OSK.exe" is Microsoft's On-Screen Keyboard, part of its Ease of Use options for users with disabilities. Introduced in Windows 7, it remains available in Windows 8.1 and 10, although each version has changed how to turn it on. It resides in "C:\Windows\System32". On 64-bit systems there are two versions with the same name, with the one in "C:\Windows\SysWoW64" allowing interaction with 32-bit apps. It is not the same as the Touch Keyboard in "TabTip.exe" and "TabTip32.exe". (Some online articles and forum posts equate or confuse them.) It presents a virtual keyboard layout in an actual resizable window on the screen. It allows hovering, scanning, or clicking with a mouse or game joystick to select and activate keys, but not touch. It offers features the Touch Keyboard lacks, including 101-key, 102-key, and 106-key layouts. It is convenient for users but developers trying to make code interact with it often report problems.
OSK stands for Accessibility On-Screen Keyboard
The .exe extension on a filename indicates an executable file. Executable files may in some cases harm your computer. Therefore, please read below to decide for yourself whether the osk.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you should remove, or whether it is a file belonging to the Windows operating system or to a trusted application.
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Description: The original osk.exe from Microsoft is an important part of Windows, but often causes problems. The file osk.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 646,144 bytes (46% of all occurrences), 673,792 bytes and 7 more variants.
Osk.exe is a Windows core system file. The osk.exe file is a trustworthy file from Microsoft.
Osk.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs.
Therefore the technical security rating is 11% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.
Is osk.exe a virus? No, it is not. The true osk.exe file is a safe Microsoft Windows system process, called "Accessibility On-Screen Keyboard".
However, writers of malware programs, such as viruses, worms, and Trojans deliberately give their processes the same file name to escape detection. Viruses with the same file name are for example Virus.Win32.Virut.ce (detected by Kaspersky), and W32.Virut.CF (detected by Symantec).
To ensure that no rogue osk.exe is running on your PC, click here to run a Free Virus Scan.
How to recognize suspicious variants? If osk.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder, the security rating is 64% dangerous. The file size is 272,476 bytes.
The program has a visible window. The application starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: DEFAULT\Runonce, User Shell Folders).
It is not a Windows system file. The file is a file with no information about its developer.
Important: Some malware disguises itself as osk.exe, particularly when not located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the osk.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
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User Comments
On Screen Keyboard, it appears in the task manager if you open On Screen Keyboard jun
It's the built in On Screen Keyboard that can be accessed from Ease of Access. It's not essential but it is not dangerous. ShadowCX11
Es handelt sich lediglich um das OnSceenKeybord. Absolut ungefährlich. Ralph. N.
es geht nicht auf dem imac ): awkugrh
Summary: Average user rating of osk.exe:
based on 7 votes with 4 user comments.
3 users think osk.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.
2 users think it's probably harmless.
One user thinks it's neither essential nor dangerous.
One user thinks osk.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it.
3 users don't grade osk.exe ("not sure about it").
Best practices for resolving osk issues
A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with osk. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.
Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.
To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.
To help you analyze the osk.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.
Score
User Comments
jun
ShadowCX11
Ralph. N.
awkugrh
Summary: Average user rating of osk.exe: based on 7 votes with 4 user comments. 3 users think osk.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 2 users think it's probably harmless. One user thinks it's neither essential nor dangerous. One user thinks osk.exe is dangerous and recommends removing it. 3 users don't grade osk.exe ("not sure about it").