Android: show soft keyboard automatically when foc

Question

I'm showing an input box using AlertDialog. The EditText inside the dialog itself is automatically focused when I call AlertDialog.show(), but the soft keyboard is not automatically shown.

How do I make the soft keyboard automatically show when the dialog is shown? (and there is no physical/hardware keyboard). Similar to how when I press the Search button to invoke the global search, the soft keyboard is automatically shown.

Answer 1

To show keyboard, for me, I had to do the following

Android TextField : set focus + soft input programmatically

Essentially the solution is the following

@Override
public void onResume() {
    super.onResume();
    //passwordInput.requestFocus(); <-- that doesn't work
    passwordInput.postDelayed(new ShowKeyboard(), 325); //250 sometimes doesn't run if returning from LockScreen
}

Where ShowKeyboard is

private class ShowKeyboard implements Runnable {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        passwordInput.setFocusableInTouchMode(true);
        //passwordInput.requestFocusFromTouch(); //this gives touch event to launcher in background -_-
        passwordInput.requestFocus();
        getActivity().getWindow().setSoftInputMode(WindowManager.LayoutParams.SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE);
        ((InputMethodManager) getActivity().getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE)).showSoftInput(passwordInput, 0);
    }
}

After a successful input, I also make sure I hide the keyboard

getActivity().getWindow().setSoftInputMode(WindowManager.LayoutParams.SOFT_INPUT_STATE_HIDDEN);
((InputMethodManager) getActivity().getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE))
                    .hideSoftInputFromWindow(getView().getWindowToken(), 0);

Answer 2

Put these methods in your Util class and use anywhere.

Kotlin

fun hideKeyboard(activity: Activity) {
    val view = activity.currentFocus
    val methodManager = activity.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE) as InputMethodManager
    assert(view != null)
    methodManager.hideSoftInputFromWindow(view!!.windowToken, InputMethodManager.HIDE_NOT_ALWAYS)
}

private fun showKeyboard(activity: Activity) {
    val view = activity.currentFocus
    val methodManager = activity.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE) as InputMethodManager
    assert(view != null)
    methodManager.showSoftInput(view, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT)
}

Java

public static void hideKeyboard(Activity activity) {
    View view = activity.getCurrentFocus();
    InputMethodManager methodManager = (InputMethodManager) activity.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
    assert methodManager != null && view != null;
    methodManager.hideSoftInputFromWindow(view.getWindowToken(), InputMethodManager.HIDE_NOT_ALWAYS);
}

private static void showKeyboard(Activity activity) {
    View view = activity.getCurrentFocus();
    InputMethodManager methodManager = (InputMethodManager) activity.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
    assert methodManager != null && view != null;
    methodManager.showSoftInput(view, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT);
}

Answer 3

If anyone is getting:

Cannot make a static reference to the non-static method getSystemService(String) from the type Activity

Try adding context to getSystemService call.

So

InputMethodManager imm = 
(InputMethodManager) context.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
imm.toggleSoftInput(InputMethodManager.SHOW_FORCED,0);

Answer 4

This is good sample for you :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical" >

    <ScrollView
        android:id="@+id/scrollID"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="0dip"
        android:layout_weight="1" >

        <LinearLayout
            android:id="@+id/test"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:orientation="vertical" >
        </LinearLayout>
    </ScrollView>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:baselineAligned="true"
        android:orientation="horizontal"
        android:paddingBottom="5dp"
        android:paddingLeft="5dp"
        android:paddingRight="5dp"
        android:weightSum="1" >

        <EditText
            android:id="@+id/txtInpuConversation"
            android:layout_width="0dip"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="0.5"
            android:hint="@string/edt_Conversation" >

            <requestFocus />
        </EditText>

        <Button
            android:id="@+id/btnSend"
            android:layout_width="0dip"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="0.5"
            android:text="@string/btn_Conversation" />
    </LinearLayout>

</LinearLayout>

Answer 5

Snippets of code from other answers work, but it is not always obvious where to place them in the code, especially if you are using an AlertDialog.Builder and followed the official dialog tutorial because it doesn't use final AlertDialog ... or alertDialog.show().

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

Is preferable to

InputMethodManager imm = (InputMethodManager) getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
imm.toggleSoftInput(InputMethodManager.SHOW_FORCED,0);

Because SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE will hide the keyboard if the focus switches away from the EditText, where SHOW_FORCED will keep the keyboard displayed until it is explicitly dismissed, even if the user returns to the homescreen or displays the recent apps.

Below is working code for an AlertDialog created using a custom layout with an EditText defined in XML. It also sets the keyboard to have a "go" key and allows it to trigger the positive button.

alert_dialog.xml:

<RelativeLayout
android:id="@+id/dialogRelativeLayout"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" >

    <!-- android:imeOptions="actionGo" sets the keyboard to have a "go" key instead of a "new line" key. -->
    <!-- android:inputType="textUri" disables spell check in the EditText and changes the "go" key from a check mark to an arrow. -->
    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editText"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="4dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="4dp"
        android:layout_marginBottom="16dp"
        android:imeOptions="actionGo"
        android:inputType="textUri"/>

</RelativeLayout>

AlertDialog.java:

import android.app.Activity;
import android.app.Dialog;
import android.content.DialogInterface;
import android.graphics.drawable.BitmapDrawable;
import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
import android.support.v4.app.DialogFragment;
import android.support.v7.app.AlertDialog;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatDialogFragment;
import android.view.KeyEvent;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.WindowManager;
import android.widget.EditText;

public class CreateDialog extends AppCompatDialogFragment {
    // The public interface is used to send information back to the activity that called CreateDialog.
    public interface CreateDialogListener {
        void onCreateDialogCancel(DialogFragment dialog);    
        void onCreateDialogOK(DialogFragment dialog);
    }

    CreateDialogListener mListener;

    // Check to make sure that the activity that called CreateDialog implements both listeners.
    public void onAttach(Activity activity) {
        super.onAttach(activity);
        try {
            mListener = (CreateDialogListener) activity;
        } catch (ClassCastException e) {
            throw new ClassCastException(activity.toString() + " must implement CreateDialogListener.");
        }
    }

    // onCreateDialog requires @NonNull.
    @Override
    @NonNull
    public Dialog onCreateDialog(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        AlertDialog.Builder alertDialogBuilder = new AlertDialog.Builder(getActivity());
        LayoutInflater customDialogInflater = getActivity().getLayoutInflater();

        // Setup dialogBuilder.
        alertDialogBuilder.setTitle(R.string.title);
        alertDialogBuilder.setView(customDialogInflater.inflate(R.layout.alert_dialog, null));
        alertDialogBuilder.setNegativeButton(R.string.cancel, new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                mListener.onCreateDialogCancel(CreateDialog.this);
            }
        });
        alertDialogBuilder.setPositiveButton(R.string.ok, new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                mListener.onCreateDialogOK(CreateDialog.this);
            }
        });

        // Assign the resulting built dialog to an AlertDialog.
        final AlertDialog alertDialog = alertDialogBuilder.create();

        // Show the keyboard when the dialog is displayed on the screen.
        alertDialog.getWindow().setSoftInputMode(WindowManager.LayoutParams.SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE);

        // We need to show alertDialog before we can setOnKeyListener below.
        alertDialog.show();

        EditText editText = (EditText) alertDialog.findViewById(R.id.editText);

        // Allow the "enter" key on the keyboard to execute "OK".
        editText.setOnKeyListener(new View.OnKeyListener() {
            public boolean onKey(View v, int keyCode, KeyEvent event) {
                // If the event is a key-down event on the "enter" button, select the PositiveButton "OK".
                if ((event.getAction() == KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN) && (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_ENTER)) {
                    // Trigger the create listener.
                    mListener.onCreateDialogOK(CreateDialog.this);

                    // Manually dismiss alertDialog.
                    alertDialog.dismiss();

                    // Consume the event.
                    return true;
                } else {
                    // If any other key was pressed, do not consume the event.
                    return false;
                }
            }
        });

        // onCreateDialog requires the return of an AlertDialog.
        return alertDialog;
    }
}

Answer 6

I created nice kotlin-esqe extension functions incase anyone is interested

fun Activity.hideKeyBoard() {
    val view = this.currentFocus
    val methodManager = this.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE) as InputMethodManager
    assert(view != null)
    methodManager.hideSoftInputFromWindow(view!!.windowToken, InputMethodManager.HIDE_NOT_ALWAYS)
}

fun Activity.showKeyboard() {
    val view = this.currentFocus
    val methodManager = this.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE) as InputMethodManager
    assert(view != null)
    methodManager.showSoftInput(view, InputMethodManager.SHOW_IMPLICIT)
}