# Unexpected Keyboard

15 Hacker News commenters recommended Unexpected Keyboard and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a free Android virtual keyboard that adds Ctrl, Alt, Tab, Esc and function keys, which makes it useful for terminal work alongside Termux.

## Why people recommend it

- Adds Ctrl, Alt, Tab, Esc (3 comments): "I use Unexpected Keyboard, which supports ctrl, alt, tab, and other keys needed for Unix work." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46856299)) "software keyboard that has ctrl, alt, tab, and other important techy keys" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48178403)) "gives me most keys including Alt, Ctrl and Esc as well as F-keys" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46856118))
- Pairs well with Termux (3 comments): "I highly recommend using Unexpected Keyboard along with termux" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46856461)) "that does look like the perfect companion app to termux" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46864567)) "A unique keyboard that pairs nicely with Termux" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47047063))
- Good for Unix work (2 comments): "I use Unexpected Keyboard, which supports ctrl, alt, tab, and other keys needed for Unix work." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46856299)) "I recommend looking into Unexpected Keyboard for a virtual Qwerty with a control key." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48264312))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [iOS keyboard](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ios-keyboard.md): 28 recommend
- [Nintype](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nintype.md): 9 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Unexpected Keyboard", https://hackerapproved.com/p/unexpected-keyboard/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).