Looking for an alternative on-screen keyboard for Ubuntu, Fedora or other Linux with GNOME? Try GJS OSK.

The built-in on-screen keyboard in Ubuntu and other Linux with GNOME is not so good. It lacks some keys, and does not raise up in most cases in Ubuntu 22.04.

In this tutorial, I’m going to introduce a new OSK application. It’s GJS OSK written in GNOME JavaScript. The application features on-screen keyboard with even more keys, such as F1 ~ F12, number 0,1,2,…9, Arrows, Ctrl buttons, and PrintScreen.

And, without sticking to the screen bottom, user can move the keyboard anywhere around the screen. Just click on quadruple arrow icon (see screenshot below) in the OSK, then you can drag moving it just like normal applications.

GJS OSK, allows to move around the screen

Also, it has an indicator applet on panel allows to one mouse click to show or hide the keyboard.

Click show/hide the on-screen keyboard

Other features of GJS OSK include:

• Both Wayland and X11 support.
• Support changing landscape and portrait size, font size, but sadly can NOT change the keyboard size.
• Allow changing keyboard color.
• Support QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, Dvorak layout.

GJS OSK with different background color

How to Install GJS OSK

NOTE: GJS OSK is a stand-alone on-screen keyboard. You need to disable system built-in on-screen keyboard first from Settings to avoid conflict.

Option 1: Install GJS OSK from Source

At the moment of writing, the on-screen keyboard supports GNOME from version 42 to 45. Meaning, you can install it in Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 23.04, Ubuntu 23.10, Debian 12, Fedora 38/39, and other Linux with recent GNOME.

1. First, go to link below to download the source from Github release page:

2. Then, extract and move the “[email protected]” sub-folder into .local/share/gnome-shell/extensions directory.

NOTE: .local folder is hidden by default, press Ctrl+H to show/hide it.

3. Finally, log out and back in. Then, use either “GNOME Extensions” or “Extension Manager” app to configure the new on-screen keyboard.

Option 2: Install from EGO

For GNOME 43/44, meaning Ubuntu 23.04, Fedora 38 and Debian 12, the extension is also available to install via extensions.gnome.org.

1. For Ubuntu 23.04 user, first search for and install “Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04+

2. Then, launch “Extension Manager” and navigate to “Browse” tab. Finally, use it to search and install “GJS OSK” extension.

Once installed, an indicator applet should appear in top-right corner allows to toggle display or hide the on-screen keyboard.

To change the keyboard color, layout, etc, go back “Installed” tab in Extension Manager and click on the gear button for that extension to open the configuration page.

For Fedora 38 and other Linux, go to the extension web page and use ON/OFF switch to install it. Finally, install “Gnome Extensions” app either from Gnome Software or system package manager to access the extension’s configuration page.