How to show keystrokes on screen in Windows
Quick answer
To show keystrokes on screen in Windows, install a small free app: KeyViz is the actively updated open-source pick. Windows has no setting for it that we could find. SHARA’s keystroke pill is free for 14 days and pauses in password fields, then it is a one-time upgrade.
Below, five Windows tools are compared on cost, what they show, how they treat password fields and when each was last released, then set up step by step. Every fact was read on the tool’s own page or repository on November 1, 2026.
Every way to show keystrokes on a Windows screen, compared
| Option | Cost | What it shows | Password fields | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KeyViz | Free, open source (GPL-3.0); a paid Pro tier is $9 on its site | Keystrokes, mouse clicks and scroll; filter by hotkey or per key | Not mentioned on its page | v2.1.1, April 1, 2026 |
| Carnac | Free, open source (MS-PL) | Keystrokes, as a presentation utility | Not mentioned on its page | 2.3.13, June 2020 |
| KeyCastOW | Free, build it yourself | Keystrokes, with many display settings | Not mentioned on its page | No release; last code change October 2019 |
| Key’n’Stroke | Free, open source (Apache-2.0) | Keystrokes, shortcuts, clicks and a key history | Not mentioned on its page | Exe 1.1.0 dated February 8, 2022 |
| SHARA | Free for 14 days, then a one-time upgrade | Shortcuts, typed words, command keys, clicks and scroll | Pauses completely | Updated through the Microsoft Store |
The short version: KeyViz is the one to try first if you only need keys on screen: it is free and was updated this year. The older tools still work but have no recent release. If you also type passwords or sensitive text while you present, check what each tool does in a password field before you start.
What Windows itself can show
We found no Windows setting, and no Microsoft page, for an on-screen keystroke display. Windows has an On-Screen Keyboard (Win+Ctrl+O, per third-party guides), but it is a typing aid, and we found no Microsoft source saying it mirrors the keys you press on a physical keyboard, so we don’t count it. Screen recorders such as OBS draw nothing on their own either: the keys have to be on screen before they are captured.
Unconfirmed: the On-Screen Keyboard shortcut comes from third-party guides, because Microsoft’s own page was not reachable when we checked.
How to show keystrokes with KeyViz (free)
Best when you want free, open-source keycaps and nothing else.
- Best for
- Free keycaps for recordings and tutorials
- Works on
- Windows and macOS
- Limit
- Its page doesn’t mention password fields; extra animations and mouse indicators are in its paid Pro
- Cost
- Free (GPL-3.0)
- Download keyviz_2.1.1_windows.msi from keyviz.org or the KeyViz releases page.
- Run the installer and follow its steps, then open KeyViz.
- Press a shortcut in any app. KeyViz draws the keys on screen as keycaps, and shows mouse clicks and scrolling next to your cursor.
- To keep the screen clean, use its key filter to show only chosen hotkeys or keys.
KeyViz says it processes keystrokes locally and never sends them over the internet. It doesn’t mention passwords, so pause it before you type one. Our KeyViz alternative page compares it with SHARA row by row.
Carnac, KeyCastOW and Key’n’Stroke: the older free tools
All three show keys and are free, but none has a recent release. Pick one only if you want to avoid a newer app.
Carnac
- Best for
- Presenters who already use Chocolatey
- Install
cinst carnac, or download the zip or Setup.exe- Limit
- Needs .NET 4.5.2; latest release June 2020
Carnac calls itself “a keyboard logging and presentation utility for presentations, screencasts”. Its code was last pushed in February 2023.
KeyCastOW
- Best for
- A tiny single program for screencasts
- Install
- No release: build it with msbuild from the source
- Limit
- Last code change October 2019
KeyCastOW is one executable of about 100 KB with a hotkey to switch the display on and off. With no release to download, it suits developers more than most presenters.
Key’n’Stroke
- Best for
- A portable app with a key history
- Works on
- Windows 10, per its page
- Limit
- Windows warns on first launch; its page says the code-signing certificate expired
Key’n’Stroke needs no install: you keep the exe and start it. It shows keystrokes, shortcuts, mouse clicks and a history of pressed keys, with adjustable opacity and click-through. Its page lists version 1.1.0 as the download and also mentions a v1.2.0, so check which one you get.
How to show keystrokes over any app with SHARA
One overlay shows keys, clicks and a halo over slides, a browser, an editor or a call, and it knows when you are typing a password.
- Best for
- Teaching and recording shortcuts across apps
- Shows
- Shortcuts, typed words, command keys, clicks and scroll
- Cost
- The pill is free for your first 14 days, then a one-time upgrade
- Limits
- Windows only; off until you turn it on
- Install SHARA from the Microsoft Store. There is no account, and it waits in the background for a hotkey.
- Press Ctrl+Win+T to turn the keystroke pill on, or select Keys on the docked toolbar. You can also hold Ctrl+Space and choose Screen › Keys on the Wheel.
- Press a shortcut in any app. The pill shows it near your pointer, or at one of three fixed positions on the screen.
- Type a sentence, then click into a password field. The pill hides completely and drops the keys until you leave the field.
- Recording or sharing? Capture the entire screen: an overlay sits above your windows, so a single-window source misses it. Run the screen share test if you are unsure what viewers see.
The keystroke visualizer page lists every setting. Recording a tutorial? SHARA for screen recording shows the full setup, and the free keystroke visualizer tool lets you preview how keys look without installing anything (it sees only keys typed in its own tab).
Which one should you use?
| You need | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Free, open source, updated this year | KeyViz | v2.1.1 came out April 1, 2026 |
| A tool you install from Chocolatey | Carnac | Works with cinst; latest release is from 2020 |
| Nothing to install | Key’n’Stroke | Keep the exe; expect a Windows warning |
| Keys plus halo, ink and zoom, and passwords handled | SHARA | Pauses in password fields; the pill is free for 14 days |
| To build from source | KeyCastOW | One small program, no release |
When SHARA isn’t the right fit
It is Windows only, and the keystroke pill needs the one-time upgrade after the 14-day trial. If you only want keycaps in a recording and are happy with a free tool, KeyViz does that and also runs on macOS. SHARA’s pen and halo stay free forever, but they don’t show keys.
Showing keystrokes on Windows: FAQ
Does Windows 11 have a built-in way to show keystrokes?
We found no Windows setting or Microsoft page for it. The On-Screen Keyboard is a typing aid, not a keystroke display, so use a small app such as KeyViz or SHARA.
What is the best free keystroke visualizer for Windows?
KeyViz is free, open source and had a release on April 1, 2026, so it is the safest free pick. Carnac, KeyCastOW and Key’n’Stroke work but have had no recent releases.
Is SHARA free for showing keystrokes?
The keystroke pill is a Pro tool: it is free for your first 14 days, with no card and no account, then a one-time purchase. The halo, click animation and Pen stay free forever.
Will my password show on screen?
SHARA’s pill hides completely in password fields and drops the keys. KeyViz, Carnac, KeyCastOW and Key’n’Stroke don’t mention passwords on their pages, so pause them before typing one.
Will viewers see my keystrokes in a recording or share?
Yes, if you capture the entire screen: an overlay sits above your windows, so a single-window source doesn’t include it. See the screen share test to check what viewers get.
None of these worked: what now?
Check that the app is running, that you captured the whole screen, and that you haven’t paused it. For SHARA, press Ctrl+Win+T again. Still stuck? Contact the team from the SHARA FAQ page.
Show your next shortcut on screen
Install SHARA, press Ctrl+Win+T and type a shortcut. No account, nothing sent online.
Sources
Mashyo makes SHARA. Windows is a Microsoft product; KeyViz, Carnac, KeyCastOW and Key’n’Stroke belong to their owners; none is affiliated with SHARA. Microsoft and competitor facts on this page were checked on November 1, 2026 on their official pages.
