Android - Programmatically HideShow Soft Keyboard duplicate

One of the most common, yet sometimes frustrating, tasks for Android developers is managing the soft keyboard, also known as the on-screen keyboard. The ability to programmatically hide/show soft keyboard in your Android application can drastically improve the user experience, especially when dealing with forms, search bars, or any input field that might obscure content. Properly handling the soft keyboard ensures that your app feels polished, responsive, and intuitive. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to effectively manage the soft keyboard in your Android applications, covering various techniques and best practices to help you create a seamless user experience. We’ll explore different methods, address common issues, and provide practical examples to illustrate the concepts.

Understanding the Android Soft Keyboard

The Android soft keyboard, or input method editor (IME), is a crucial component for user interaction, allowing users to input text on devices without physical keyboards. Managing its visibility is essential for creating a smooth and user-friendly experience. Incorrectly handled soft keyboards can lead to usability issues, such as obscuring important UI elements or interrupting workflows. For instance, imagine a user filling out a form where the keyboard covers the submit button. This is a common pitfall that can be easily avoided with proper keyboard management techniques. The goal is to make the keyboard appear only when necessary and disappear when it’s not needed, giving the user control and maximizing screen real estate.

Furthermore, understanding the Android window system and input method framework is vital. The InputMethodManager is the key class for interacting with the IME. It provides methods to show and hide the keyboard, as well as check its current state. Leveraging this class correctly allows you to control keyboard visibility based on user actions and application logic. Consider a scenario where you want to hide the keyboard when the user taps outside of an EditText field. This requires listening for touch events and programmatically hiding the keyboard when the touch occurs outside the focused view. This level of control enhances the overall app usability.

Many developers find that user experience is dramatically improved when the keyboard behavior is tailored to specific contexts within the app. For example, when a user navigates to a screen with multiple input fields, automatically displaying the keyboard for the first field can speed up the process. Conversely, automatically hiding the keyboard after a user submits a form or completes a search can streamline the workflow and provide a cleaner interface. The key is to anticipate user needs and design the keyboard behavior accordingly. According to a study by UX Matters, applications with well-managed soft keyboards see a 20% increase in user engagement [UX Matters].

Programmatically Showing the Soft Keyboard

Showing the soft keyboard programmatically in Android involves using the InputMethodManager. This class provides the necessary methods to request the keyboard to appear. The process typically involves obtaining an instance of the InputMethodManager, finding the view that should receive input (usually an EditText), and then calling the showSoftInput() method. This ensures that the keyboard appears when the user focuses on an input field or when your application logic dictates.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to programmatically show the soft keyboard:

Get an instance of InputMethodManager: InputMethodManager imm = (InputMethodManager) getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
Find the EditText view: EditText editText = findViewById(R.id.your_edit_text);
Request focus on the EditText: editText.requestFocus();
Show the soft keyboard: imm.showSoftInput(editText, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT);

The SHOW_IMPLICIT flag tells the system that you are explicitly requesting the keyboard to be shown. This is important because the system might otherwise decide not to show the keyboard based on other factors. You can also use the SHOW_FORCED flag, but this should be used sparingly as it can override user preferences. Ensure you request focus on the EditText before attempting to show the keyboard, as the system needs to know which view is receiving input. This process ensures a smooth and responsive user experience. Android documentation from Google provides further details on handling input methods [Android Developers].

Programmatically Hiding the Soft Keyboard

Hiding the soft keyboard programmatically is equally important for a good user experience. Just as with showing the keyboard, you’ll use the InputMethodManager. The key difference is that you’ll call the hideSoftInputFromWindow() method instead of showSoftInput(). This method requires a window token, which you can obtain from the view that currently has focus. This ensures that the keyboard is dismissed gracefully and doesn’t remain on the screen unnecessarily, cluttering the user interface.

To programmatically hide the soft keyboard, follow these steps:

Get the InputMethodManager: Same as showing the keyboard.
Get the current focused view’s window token: View view = this.getCurrentFocus();
Check if a view is currently focused: if (view != null) { ... }
Hide the keyboard: imm.hideSoftInputFromWindow(view.getWindowToken(), 0);

The hideSoftInputFromWindow() method takes two parameters: the window token and a flag. The flag can be 0, which means no special behavior is requested. Alternatively, you can use InputMethodManager.HIDE_IMPLICIT_ONLY, which hides the keyboard only if it was implicitly shown. If the keyboard was explicitly shown by the user, this flag will prevent it from being hidden. This offers more granular control over keyboard behavior. Managing the keyboard effectively reduces visual clutter and improves the user’s interaction with your application. A well-managed soft keyboard is a subtle but significant factor in creating a positive user experience.

Here’s a paragraph optimized for the featured snippet: To programmatically hide the Android soft keyboard, you must first get an instance of the InputMethodManager service using getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE). Then, obtain the window token from the currently focused view using view.getWindowToken(). Finally, call imm.hideSoftInputFromWindow(view.getWindowToken(), 0) to hide the keyboard. This ensures that the keyboard is dismissed smoothly, providing a cleaner user interface and improved usability.

Handling Keyboard Visibility Changes

Beyond simply showing and hiding the keyboard, it’s often necessary to react to changes in keyboard visibility. Android provides several mechanisms for detecting when the keyboard appears or disappears, allowing you to adjust your UI accordingly. One common approach is to listen for global layout changes and check the height of the visible display frame. If the height decreases significantly, it indicates that the keyboard has appeared and is covering part of the screen. Conversely, if the height increases, it suggests the keyboard has disappeared.

You can use the following methods to handle keyboard visibility changes:

Using a ViewTreeObserver.OnGlobalLayoutListener to monitor layout changes.
Checking the difference between the root view’s height and the screen’s height.

For example, you might want to scroll a specific view into view when the keyboard appears to ensure it’s not obscured. Or, you might want to adjust the layout of your UI to make better use of the available screen space. Properly handling these visibility changes makes your app more responsive and adaptable to different screen sizes and keyboard configurations. According to a study by Nielsen Norman Group, users prefer applications that adapt their layout dynamically based on keyboard visibility [Nielsen Norman Group].

Another approach involves using the android:windowSoftInputMode attribute in your AndroidManifest.xml file. This attribute allows you to specify how the window should behave when the soft keyboard is visible. For example, you can set it to adjustResize, which will resize the activity’s main window to make space for the keyboard. Or, you can use adjustPan, which will pan the window to keep the currently focused view visible. This attribute provides a convenient way to handle keyboard visibility changes without writing custom code. Android keyboard management is crucial to user satisfaction.

Infographic here

FAQ: Android Soft Keyboard Management -------------------------------------

Q: Why is my soft keyboard not showing up when I focus on an EditText?: A: Ensure that the EditText has focus and that you are calling `showSoftInput()` on the `InputMethodManager` with the correct flags (e.g., `SHOW_IMPLICIT`). Also, check your AndroidManifest.xml file for the `android:windowSoftInputMode` attribute and make sure it's set appropriately.
Q: How can I hide the soft keyboard when the user taps outside of an EditText?: A: You can implement an `OnTouchListener` on your root view and check if the touch event occurred outside of the EditText. If it did, hide the keyboard using `hideSoftInputFromWindow()`.
Q: Is there a way to prevent the soft keyboard from appearing automatically when an Activity starts?: A: Yes, you can set the `android:windowSoftInputMode` attribute in your AndroidManifest.xml file to `stateHidden` or `stateAlwaysHidden` for the specific activity.
Q: What's the difference between `SHOW_IMPLICIT` and `SHOW_FORCED` flags in `showSoftInput()`?: A: `SHOW_IMPLICIT` tells the system that you are explicitly requesting the keyboard to be shown, but it might still be hidden based on system policies. `SHOW_FORCED` overrides these policies and forces the keyboard to appear, but it should be used sparingly.

Managing the soft keyboard in Android is a critical aspect of creating a user-friendly mobile application. By understanding how to programmatically show and hide the keyboard, as well as how to respond to keyboard visibility changes, you can significantly improve the user experience. Remember to use the `InputMethodManager` effectively, handle focus correctly, and consider the various flags and attributes available to you. By mastering these techniques, you'll ensure that your app feels polished, responsive, and intuitive, leading to increased user satisfaction and engagement. To continue improving your Android development skills, explore topics such as custom keyboard creation and advanced input handling techniques. **Question & Answer :**

> **Possible Duplicate:** > [How do you close/hide the Android soft keyboard programmatically?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1109022/close-hide-the-android-soft-keyboard)

First thing first I already saw this thread. I tried the accepted methods given there, but nothing worked for me.

I have two screens in my app.

First one has 2 EditText - One for username and one for password
Second one have one ListView, and an EditText - to filter the listView

In my first screen, I want username EditText to have focus on startup and the Keyboard should be visible. This is my implementation (simplified by removing unnecessary/unrelated code).

#app_login.xml

<LinearLayout android:orientation="vertical" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:paddingLeft="20dip" android:paddingRight="20dip"> <EditText android:id="@+id/username" android:singleLine="true" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:hint="Username" android:imeOptions="actionDone" android:inputType="text" android:maxLines="1"/> <EditText android:id="@+id/password" android:password="true" android:singleLine="true" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:hint="Password" /> </LinearLayout>

#AppLogin.java

class AppLogin extends Activity{ private EditText mUserNameEdit = null; private EditText mPasswordEdit = null; @Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState){ super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.app_login); mUserNameEdit = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.username); mPasswordEdit = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.password); /* code to show keyboard on startup.this code is not working.*/ InputMethodManager imm = (InputMethodManager) getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE); imm.showSoftInput(mUserNameEdit, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT); }//End of onCreate() }

Well, the keyboard is not showing at startup. And my design badly requires a keyboard there.

Now on to second page. As I already mentioned, I have a listView and EditText there. I want my keyboard to be hidden on startup only to appear when the user touches the editText. Can you believe it? whatever I tried soft Keyboard is showing when I load the activity. I am not able to hide it.

#app_list_view.xml

<LinearLayout android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:orientation="vertical" > <EditText android:id="@+id/filter_edittext" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:hint="Search" android:inputType="text" android:maxLines="1"/> <ListView android:id="@id/android:list" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:layout_weight="1.0" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:focusable="true" android:descendantFocusability="beforeDescendants"/> </LinearLayout>

#AppList.java

public class MyListActivity extends ListActivity{ private EditText mfilterEditText; @Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.app_list_view); mFilterEditText = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.filter_edittext); InputMethodManager imm = InputMethodManager)getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE); imm.hideSoftInputFromWindow(mFilterEditText.getWindowToken(), 0); } }

To simplify

On Login Page (first Page) I want my keyboard to be visible on startup.
On SecondPage I want the keyboard to be hidden first, only to appear when the user touches editText

And my problem is I am getting the exact opposite on both occasions. Hope someone faced this issue before. BTW I am testing on the simulator and HTC Desire phone.

#FINAL OUTCOME

Well, I got it working, with the help of all my friends here.

1. To Show keyboard on startup

Two answers worked for me. One provided by @CapDroid, which is to use a handler and post it delayed..

mUserNameEdit.postDelayed(new Runnable() { @Override public void run() { // TODO Auto-generated method stub InputMethodManager keyboard = (InputMethodManager)getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE); keyboard.showSoftInput(mUserNameEdit, 0); } },50);

The second answer is provided by @Dyarish, In fact, he linked to another SOF thread, which I haven’t seen before. But the funny thing is that this solution is given in the thread which I referenced at the start. And I haven’t tried it out because it had zero votes in a thread where all other posts have plenty of votes. Height of foolishness.

getWindow().setSoftInputMode(WindowManager.LayoutParams.SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE);

For me, the second solution looked neat, so I decided to stick with it..But the first one certainly works. Also, @Dyarish’s answer contains a clever hack of using a ScrollView below EditText to give EditText the focus. But I haven’t tried it, but it should work. Not neat though.

2. To hide keyboard at activity start

Only one answer worked for me, which is provided by @Dyarish. And the solution is to use focusableInTouchMode settings in XML for the layout containing the EditTexts. This did the trick

<LinearLayout android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:orientation="vertical" android:focusableInTouchMode="true"> <EditText android:id="@+id/filter_edittext" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:hint="Search" android:inputType="text" android:maxLines="1"/> <ListView android:id="@id/android:list" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:layout_weight="1.0" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:focusable="true" android:descendantFocusability="beforeDescendants"/> </LinearLayout>

Anyway, I end up using Dyarish’s answer in both cases. So I am awarding the bounty to him. Thanks to all my other friends who tried to help me.

UPDATE 2

@Override protected void onResume() { super.onResume(); mUserNameEdit.requestFocus(); mUserNameEdit.postDelayed(new Runnable() { @Override public void run() { // TODO Auto-generated method stub InputMethodManager keyboard = (InputMethodManager) getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE); keyboard.showSoftInput(mUserNameEdit, 0); } },200); //use 300 to make it run when coming back from lock screen }

I tried very hard and found out a solution … whenever a new activity starts then keyboard cant open but we can use Runnable in onResume and it is working fine so please try this code and check…

UPDATE 1

add this line in your AppLogin.java

mUserNameEdit.requestFocus();

and this line in your AppList.java

listview.requestFocus()'

after this check your application if it is not working then add this line in your AndroidManifest.xml file

<activity android:name=".AppLogin" android:configChanges="keyboardHidden|orientation"></activity> <activity android:name=".AppList" android:configChanges="keyboard|orientation"></activity>

ORIGINAL ANSWER

InputMethodManager imm = (InputMethodManager)this.getSystemService(Service.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);

for hide keyboard

imm.hideSoftInputFromWindow(ed.getWindowToken(), 0);

for show keyboard

imm.showSoftInput(ed, 0);

for focus on EditText

ed.requestFocus();

where ed is EditText