Meta just released a Surface Keyboard and Touchpad that could transform work within virtual reality. A new feature for the Meta Quest 3 allows you to use a virtual keyboard on any flat surface, such as a desk or table.
The new feature has nothing to do with Microsoft Surface, but it is a handy feature for those who want to get work done within VR.
Excited to share that Surface Keyboard & Touchpad is now available on Meta Quest 3 via the v85 PTC channel under Experimental Features! #MetaQuest #SpatialComputing #InputInteraction #InteractionDesign #VirtualReality #MixedReality #AugmentedReality #XR #Quest3 pic.twitter.com/iivLRhgrJrJanuary 31, 2026
A physical keyboard will still be better for typing in VR. The tactile feedback and ergonomics of a physical keyboard will beat typing directly on a desk or table in almost all circumstances. But the Surface Keyboard is a solid middle ground between a physical keyboard and an awkward floating digital one.
I would argue the touchpad functionality will make a bigger difference for those working in VR. Navigating the web or a virtual desktop by pinching your fingers in the air or swiping around your hands can be quite frustrating.
A video shared by Yoon Park, Principal Designer at Meta Reality Labs, shows smooth scrolling on the web with a gesture and navigating within Microsoft Word using the touchpad.
For context, take a look at the video below shared by my colleague Nicholas Sutrich. It was taken a couple of years ago to demonstrate the web versions of Office working on a Meta Quest 3.
Sutrich’s setup from back then had a physical keyboard on a desk. Near the end of the video, you’ll see a floating keyboard pop up.
Here’s how to sign up for Meta Quest PTC, as outlined in a Meta support document:
- On your phone, open the Meta Horizon app.
- Tap Menu at the top of your Horizon Feed.
- Tap Devices.
- Select the headset you want to find to join Meta Quest PTC with.
- Tap Headset settings, then tap Advanced settings.
- Tap the toggle next to Public Test Channel to try to join Meta Quest PTC.
- If the toggle doesn’t work, Meta Quest PTC is currently full and not available.
The Quest 3 is arguably the best consumer headset for gaming, but Meta is clearly pushing to make it a legitimate workstation. Does a virtual “Surface Keyboard” make you more likely to strap on a headset for work, or is VR destined to remain a gaming-only platform for you? Let us know in the comments.
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