Share via

My menu disappears and the virtual keyboard will not open

Cheryl Waters 5 Reputation points
2026-01-07T11:35:11.9733333+00:00

When I open a Word document on my iPad Pro, the onscreen virtual keyboard native to the iPad does not come up when I tap in the document. Moreover, even when I connect my bluetooth keyboard to the iPad, it does not type. Strangely, both keyboards work in every other app on my iPad. This phenomenon only happens in MS Word. Hence, I am completely unable to edit or type in a Word document on my iPad. I have Googled this issue and have seen that others have experienced it, but have not seen any fixes. Any help or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | iOS

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Alexis-NG 16,185 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-01-07T16:14:40.0466667+00:00

    Hi @Cheryl Waters,

    Thank you for posting your question to Microsoft Q&A Forum.

    You're encountering an issue specific to Microsoft Word on iPadOS, where text input becomes completely unresponsive, even though keyboards work everywhere else. What’s really happening is that the issue isn’t with your keyboard, it’s with Word’s editing session. When the iPad’s on-screen keyboard and Bluetooth keyboard both work fine in other apps but fail only in Microsoft Word, and tapping in the document does nothing, it usually means Word is stuck. Common causes include a layout or rendering glitch, a corrupted app cache, a document opened in a non-editable or confused state, or a background Word process that didn’t fully load input services.

     

    Before attempting to troubleshot this issue, please ensure your document is not in read-only mode or a 'Compatibility Mode' document. If they are, please convert it the latest version (ideally via PC, saved to OneDrive). Sometimes Word thinks the file is read-only even if it isn’t.

    1. Tap three dots (···) at the top
    2. Look for:
    • Turn off Protected View
    • Enable Editing
    • Edit Document

    If present, select it, even if you think it’s already editable.

    You can also verify if the documents are damaged by following this article: How to troubleshoot damaged documents in Word - Microsoft 365 Apps | Microsoft Learn

     

    Next, verify if you Microsoft Word is fully activated. This could happen when Microsoft Word is not fully activated. Microsoft Word for Windows, Mac and mobile would give you the same problem if the app is not fully activated. Please make sure that you're signed in to your Microsoft account associated with your Microsoft 365 subscription. Please check on the upper left or right side of Word if you are signed or not.

    You may also consider uninstalling and reinstalling Word from the App store and see if it'll prompt you to sign to activate Office. You can use this article as reference: Install and set up Office on an iPhone or iPad

    Furthermore, here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

    Option 1: Force close Word:

    1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause
    2. Find Microsoft Word
    3. Swipe the app completely off the screen
    4. Reopen Word and try again

    This works if Word’s input engine is frozen.

    Option 2: Open the document from inside Word

    Instead of opening it from Files, email, or OneDrive preview:

    1. Open Microsoft Word
    2. Tap Open
    3. Browse to the file from within Word
    4. Open it there

    I hope these steps help resolve the issue. Please try them and let me know how it goes. If the result isn’t what you expected, just let me know and we can work together to find the right solution.

    Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.

    I look forward to continuing the conversation.

     If the answer is helpful, click "Accept Answer" and vote positively.

    Note: Follow the steps in our documentation to enable email notifications if you want to receive email notifications related to this topic.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  2. AI answer

    2026-01-07T11:35:25.1533333+00:00

    It seems like you are experiencing a specific issue with Microsoft Word on your iPad Pro where neither the virtual keyboard nor the Bluetooth keyboard is functioning properly. This could be due to a few reasons:

    1. App Glitch: Sometimes, apps can behave unexpectedly due to temporary glitches. Try closing the Word app completely and then reopening it. You can also restart your iPad to see if that resolves the issue.
    2. Software Update: Ensure that both your iPad and the Microsoft Word app are updated to the latest versions. Updates often fix bugs and improve compatibility.
    3. Keyboard Settings: Check your keyboard settings in the iPad settings. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and ensure that the settings are configured correctly.
    4. Reinstall the App: If the issue persists, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling the Microsoft Word app. This can often resolve persistent issues that are not fixed by other means.
    5. Check Accessibility Settings: Sometimes, accessibility features can interfere with keyboard functionality. Check the settings under Settings > Accessibility to ensure nothing is affecting keyboard input.

    If none of these solutions work, you may want to reach out to Microsoft Support for further assistance, as this could be a more specific issue with the app itself.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.