Android "keypad" fail

[Old Grumpy]

Dear Helpdesk

My Android phone was fully functional yesterday. Turned off overnight. Today when I powered it up it there was I was able to enter the PIN to start it. I was however unable to enter any alphanumeric data as although the "cursor bar" was in the text window, no touch keypad popped up. This was the same across the internet, all apps I tried and SMS. I was however able to use the telephone number pad when making a call. I tried several restarts, but to no avail. Has this happened to anyone else? Any ideas what I might try to retrieve the keypad?

Thanks

OG

[Old Grumpy]

Now miraculously back on somehow...

...I am writing this on my phone.

Strange!

OG

[Bryn]

Now miraculously back on somehow...

...I am writing this on my phone.

Strange!

OG

Did you, perchance, "switch it off and switch it on again", as in reboot the system?

[Old Grumpy]

Not in this case, no. Though I did earlier in the day, to no avail!

[AndrewAfresh]

Hi OG
In case it happens again, you could check your list of installed apps in the play store to see if your phone has a keyboard app installed - if so, uninstall or update it; if not, your phone must be using the built-in one, so try installing an alternative one and see if it works. I have used gboard and swiftkey in the past.