hidden software keyboard how to unhide?

Having the same issue here. It appears to be a bug with ios.
In the text app, I bring up a messaging string, and tap in the edit field. Then, I turn Voiceover off, and tap in the same place. This usually brings up the keyboard.

Strangely this only works in the Messages app. The keyboard stays, and works as expected in other apps, until I use Braille Screen Input again.

Hope this helps. ,

I've had this issue too. If you double tap and hold on the edit field you do evventually get it back although it is very hit and miss. another option is, if you have a Braille display, connect it to your phone and perform the command to show the on-screen keyboard (space with dots 1-4-6) and that usually gets it back, even after you've disconnected. I've no idea why this happens but interestingly, even if Voiceover is turned off the keyboard remains hidden. My sighted wife was unable to type on my phone when last it happened. thank goodness that even in this situation BSI always works. at least, that has been my experience so far.

Usually, it’s important to reset all settings. Not reset the whole phone to factory settings, but only the settings themselves. If you go to settings and then general and then reset there’s an option to reset all settings. If you can try that and see if the issue persists afterwards. It’s important to do this as a regular part of updating any software. If the issue persists, then there’s obviously a bug involved. Sometimes it’s also important to see if there’s any Bluetooth keyboards that are accidentally turned on and connected to your device. Either disconnected device or turn it off.

I did what the first comment said. Made sure I was somewhere with an edit field toggle off voiceover tap edit field the keyboard showed up and then I toggle the voiceover back on. It was crazy to me that it was such a simple fix and they were going to have me reset all settings, but the passcode to initiate resetting the settingS would not pop up.
Crazy, what a mess.

When it happened to me, at least from my testing, I had a bluetooth keyboard connected at the time to my iphone. I was in a text field, and turned off the keyboard. This made the text field, or software keyboard not show at all. It reverted back to normal after I turned the keyboard back on and switched devices that the keyboard was connected to. I switched the keyboard's connection to my mac, and that fixed it, hasn't happened since.

I reset all setting back at the end of last year because of the blasted Siri voices problem documented elsewhere. By that time I had also experienced the keyboard hiding itself issue. Well, the keyboard hiding itself issue has recurred since. I do have to say that if I reset all my settings every time I enocuntered something amiss I'd spend most of my life restoring settings.

I don't remember if this has been mentioned elsewhere, but has anyone tried disabling Bluetooth, upon experiencing this bug?

Just a thought. . . 🤨

I tried both suggestions, but with no luck. The phone does make sounds as though there were a bluetooth keyboard involved, but I don't use one with my iPhone. I turned off bluetooth, and that didn't work. Reset settings, and that didn't work.

I'll send Apple Accessibility a report. This is definitely a bug. I'm using ios 17.3. I'll let you all know if I hear anything helpful.

I read here that someone said that the sound the phone makes when the keyboard is hidden is the same sound as Quick Nav.
I don't use a bluetooth keyboard, so wouldn't need, nor check this setting. I decided to look in Voiceuver commands. There is no touch gesture assigned to Quick Nav. I assigned the 2-finger swipe right gesture since it's not one I use for anything else I do.

After 1 swipe, I opened my messages app. No on-screen keyboard. I did one double-tap and hold, and Voila, there it was. And the strange sound is gone.

This seems to be working for now. Maybe an update accidently set Quick Nav to on in our phones.

Hope this helps.

Well, The fix I posted above worked for about an hour, and then, when I was using BSI, it said "keyboard hidden" when I used the swipe up jesture to send. Now, nothing will bring it back.

I've reported to Apple. Let's see what they say.