No keyboard input in Multiplayer (Gear VR Edition)

I know I'm just making a general announcement because not many people know how to vote 🙂

This issue works as intended. If you have a request for Minecraft Pocket Edition, please go to the Minecraft Forums -> MCPE: Suggestions.

There is no keyboard support for the Gear VR. You must use a controller.

Thank you for the response, but I think you misinterpreted the issue. I was not concerned over the lack of external keyboard support, but rather the in game keyboard used for chat and text input.

Sorry about that.

No problem!

Happening to my me and my friend too. Can't join multiplayer server's because the keyboard wont open for us to type /register. Minecraft pocket edition VR keyboard is broken.

I am afraid we can not reproduce this bug in the recent version. Please update affected versions if this bug still occurs.

When we ask players to update the affected version it means that we need to know if the bug was fixed for them or not in the new release. We have no way of testing each bug on all devices. So when you report a bug, you can kindly reply to the question if it still affects current (now 0.15.0) release. Bugs do not occur for everybody on each device in the same way.
We have a limited number of devices (as moderators, so people who you call MissMarenia & co. We are not the QA team)
Bugs occur and recur unexpectedly due to software regression.

I will report this bug to internet tracker for test and investigation. Please keep in mind that we do not update on each and every bug, as the moderation of this and other tracker is not simultaneous to bug fixing process. Moderators of this tracker do not actively fix the bugs either so they are not able to update you on the progress.

+1 to this issue. I confirmed this occurs in the GearVR version 0.15.2 which was just recently updated; other android clients with this version do not exhibit the same issue on the servers (0.15.0) that I'm using. This bug is stupid-easy to reproduce, guys. You don't need any more info (I'm a professional software dev, I know a well-triaged bug when I see one.) Please update us with info on the back-end ticket or at least let us know if the devs acknowledge it – this is a major hinderance of online play as chat is necessary to activate various server functions so you're cutting the experience off at the knees with this bug.

Reopened and added 0.15.2.

I've had a similar problem on my Samsung tablet when using a bluetooth controller. I've found a way around this, so I'm hoping this will work for VR users too!

I'm going by the settings on my Samsung TabPro, but hopefully you'll be able to find similar settings on your respective devices.

Steps:

1. Connect your VR device

2. Go to Settings

3. Choose Controls

4. Under Keyboards and input methods select your keyboard

5. Under Choose Input Method - Switch on "Use on-screen keyboard"
   See screenshot:

   [media]

Hopefully this should enable the on screen keyboard function in game.

Please let me know if this works for you.

I don't see that option in the GearVr edition. Even after yesterdays update I still have this issue. The onscreen keyboard never gets displayed when you select it in the chat window. Makes it really hard to play with other folks that aren't in the same room with you.

This happens on my Galaxy S7 with Android Marshmallow when trying to connect to online servers with Gear VR on 0.15.4 while using a Steel Series Stratus XL. The chat window will work on single player maps, but it will not pop up in multiplayer games. Mega_Spud's options menu is non existent in the Gear VR- when under keyboards, there's some kind of options for QWERTY and variations of that, but no apparent way to change input methods.

Hi, I still have the problem of not being able to chat in multiplayer, this was solved?

Sorry this is still an issue. I wonder if typing via an external bluetooth keyboard would help?

even if typing with a bluetooth keyboard would work.. you guys @ the support don't really think we gonna type in VR ⚠️ with a bluetooth keyboard.. or? i mean.. we have the gearvr in front of our faces..we can't even see the keyboard if we had one.. it's not really helpful this way. fixing this bug would be helping. but it seems like no one gonna fix this bug ever..

I wouldn't be willing to spend money on one if it didn't, and I'd have to remove the headset every time someone wanted my attention if I can't find the keyboard. Not to mention, the virtual keyboard DOES work in single player for some reason.

I agree with all the above comments. The keyboard does open on the singe player but not in realms where we need it to open. The chat interface opens but not the keyboard. Please fix. Can't talk to anyone in realms and they think I'm being rude.

Also, on my galaxy note 5, I don't have the above option of enabling on screen keyboard. And like I said, it works in single player but not realms where we need it.

OK thanks for the responses. Of course using an external keyboard isn't going to be practical with the headset on, I just wanted to try and ascertain where the problem lies here, in case anyone had tried it. That's interesting that the keyboard pops up in single player but not otherwise.

Yeah, can't go in realms. They don't understand the bug and keep trying to communicate. I can't respond and just had a guy try to kill me. Lol, It's just a game but they think we're rude. Please fix it.

this is a huge problem. I want to play in realms with others. Then, when I have to tell them I can't communicate with them until the Gear VR bug is fixed they don't invite me. So, I have to wait till this is fixed before I can play in realms with others. Bogus since it's a paid subscription.

In an effort to rule out any other causes, could the users affected please check that your XBL settings are set so that you have permission to chat with other players? (This will mostly affect those with child xbox live accounts, but worth checking out nonetheless). I'm wondering if it is a permission issue similar to MCPE-15988.

This Bug have nothing to do with XBL Settings. In the normal MCPE Edition on the Phone i can chat without Problems. It's just the GearVR Version + i am not even logged in into a Xbox Account (you can play without, no need for a xbox account).

• normal MCPE Edition = chatting works without Problems

• GearVR Edition = chatting works on Singleplayer, but not Online on Servers.

Both (MCPE normal edition & GearVR Edition) are NOT logged in in an Xbox Live Account. If the Xbox Live Account would be the Problem, we would not be able to chat on the normal MCPE Edition. But we can chat with the normal Edition.

@unknown Thanks for the info. Have you been able to test this on realms also?

to log in gear vr have to open before the Xbox on the phone?

I went in and set everything to allowed and public. Keyboard still doesn't work. I am grateful you are trying. If you're in southern CA, I will let you use my gear VR so you can see. Cy Cy has explained exactly the problem. I don't know of anyone with a gear VR that doesn't have this problem. Even when I tweeted it, I had people liking it. Hopefully soon. For now, I talk to the people in my realm by taking off my gear VR, chatting in xbox on my computer, then of course I exit the realm because that's what happens when you take the gear vr off your head, then I have to go back in. I see they respond, repeat. They have a sign on the board explaining that I'm not being rude, but I'm left empty not being able to respond to them. It really sucks.

Also, the servers are the realms. That's where the bug is. Chat will open, keyboard does nothing when you click on it, no matter with what button. Works in single player, not realms.

It's not only the realms server where the bug can be replicated- even connecting via IP can produce the same result.

So I spend everyday in a super cool realm. I'm learning so much stuff but I can't communicate because of this keyboard not engaging. I'm the Hellen Keller in the realm and it sucks. To respond to what people say in chat, I have to remove my gear vr and put on my glasses to type on the computer in xbox chat, which causes me to leave the realm. Now I hear they have a problem of lagging when they open xbox for the sole reason of seeing how I respond to what they said. I have to send messages. So now I'm the burden of the realm. It really sucks and I'm the only one out of everyone who can't even say hi when people jump in. I hate it!!!!!!!
PLEASE TELL MOJANG TO FIX THIS!!!! IT'S BEEN MONTHS.

I'm now tweeting @MojangSupport. Hopefully they will get it that it really is a bug that can be duplicated every time and single player/realm playing are not the same. Works in single player not realms. They check single player, see that it's fine then close the problem. WELL THE PROBLEM IS NOT THERE. IT'S IN THE REALMS CHAT WHERE THE KEYBOARD WON'T OPEN. Can't populate signs either! Not being able to communicate in daily play gets real old. People want to avoid me, say hi and get silence in return. So sucks!!!! Since we pay for this service, it should work!

Make sure that you guys vote on the issue, I think it's pretty well confirmed by now. There's a number of duplicate bugs being opened by other users so at least this bug has someone's attention enough to know that it is still an issue and not allow duplicates of it. But if this issue also has a few bazillion votes.... maybe that's a good way to signal the devs that we give a **** about it so they can use the numbers to help their dev leads prioritize it? 😉 Not sure how their team does things, but it wouldn't hurt if everyone watching this voted on the issue too.

@unknown Please make sure that comments are related to reported bug and written respectfully towards other players and development team. Offtopic, arguments and insults will be removed and author will be banned.

Few users who continue to spam this bug's comment section will be banned if they do not stop. Please post ONLY bug related comments. We are not a forum, we are also not people who fix the bugs, we can report them and assess severity of this issue. Which we did already and we have to simply wait for resolution. Please be civil and respectful to the moderators and staff of this bug tracker. We are also players and would like to see all bug fixed.

PLEASE, if you do not have bug related comment - do not post.

A reminder:
This is a public tracker, we do not assign the bugs to developers in here, we have a separate tool for that that is internal and can not be viewed publicly. The bugs which were submitted to the internal tracker are usually marked as such in the comment by me or Adrian. However, this is by no means a rule and if a bug was submitted in internal tracker first and later reported by player we will not report that here. It is just too much work and a lot of our time, that we could spend in a more productive way.

Update: After an investigation with one of the PE developers, we concluded that - for now, this issue is Working as Intended

The virtual keyboard was disabled in multiplayer because with current time limitations game can be suspended, it will kicks you out when you attempt to type a message. Virtual Keyboard also does not support international and special characters, as well as Gamertags, etc.

What does it mean?
The development team is currently working on solutions for better functioning keyboard that would fulfill ALL the requirements, like for example: support international characters, special characters (ASCII) or 3D overlay to render associated input screens in-game.

When will it be fixed?
This is a complex task and I am afraid I can not provide any dates for the implementation. I will however raise this issue with the team and see if the task should be prioritized more.

Small disclaimer:
You may have noticed that some comments that were posted before, were removed. They are actually still there but hidden and only visible to moderators and staff for future reference.

We aim to keep this tracker spam and abuse free. We are not robots, who mindlessly click buttons, we are your fellow Minecraft players. All of your PE and PC moderators came from the community, they work for free trying to make your game bug free. If you repeatedly violate rules of courtesy and try to flame comment section, blame or abuse staff, hoping that it will resolve any issue faster - your account will be deactivated and comments hidden.

HUGE THANK YOU, to all players that submitted relevant info in a civil and informative way. Please keep contributing so we can make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

Thank you for the informative update MissMarzenia. For myself, and others I am sure, it is frustrating to not be able to communicate with others in the game especially when we can see the keyboard works in single player. So for us, the uneducated, it seems like it should be an easy fix, like maybe someone just forgot this part of the game. However, this detailed explanation reveals it is much more than that and it's working as intended "for a reason." Now we know it's not a bug and we just need to be more patient. I can do that. It is very hard to communicate with others, but not all together impossible. I talk through xbox messages. I can see what the others say in the realm through their minecraft chat and can send them a message through xbox messages and they get notified. In vr, I can also see a notification when they respond. It's a lot of going out and in the game because removing the headset takes us out of the game, but it is possible. We can also shake our head no and nod yes. I jump to show joy. Others have posted signs for me in the realm telling them I can only communicate through xbox messages and the word is getting out that I'm not being rude. So that's the workaround I've used. I already know through my programmer son who has it, in the next update it is not fixed so maybe soon. I am very grateful that you are raising the issue with the team to see if the task can be prioritized more. FOR THAT I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL!!!!! My comments were meant to bring more light to the difficulty the lack of the keyboard is bringing to the player, especially since removing the headset removes us from the game, then I have to put my glasses on to read the computer screen, etc. But I also realize I started venting and whining and I apologize for that. The feedback you've given shows me you know it's not working properly in realms while the first feedback didn't share with us that detail. So we wait. I check this daily and will continue to do so. Thanks again. However, marking this "resolved" and "working as intended" doesn't appropriately categorize the issue and looks to no longer identify a bug as a bug. It is like removing tires off a car because putting them on renders the car unusable, resulting in the user being forced to only walk, and then saying the car is working as intended. The keyboard is NOT working as intended and the bug is still a bug and not fixed. To label it "resolved" and "working as intended" is disingenuous and you won't be able to see how many of us are affected by it.

@unknown Your comment was hidden for a reason. I accept your objection but there is no other category this can and will have for now. When the issue is fixed, we will change the status accordingly.

I understand you hiding my comment and expect this one to be hidden as well and am very grateful for you reaching out to explain. I am only trying to help and truly am not trying to be difficult. The way it is classified is important for consumers and the way it is now just adds to confusion. A player finds they cannot use the keyboard so they know it must be a bug and in their effort to find relief, they end up here. They see the issue marked as resolved and can't figure out why theirs is still not working, as they've just updated to 15.7! They look at the flow chart and see it's been reopened and resolved again and their's is still not working. So they are frustrated, and like Silvio on 9/2/16, haven't read through all the comments and find in that one little part of yours that it's been disabled because it causes us to get kicked out. So they are frustrated. I just wish they'd fix it since we are loners in the realms while we watch everyone else having fun together and it's been that way for 6 months now. This is the only place where we can see what's happening to a very important issue in our minds, and it looks like it will be a very long time until it is fixed. My son works for Oculus and I myself am trying to find out if the keyboard works on the Rift, that's how much it bugs me and how important it is for me to be able to communicate with others! And that's a very expensive fix as the Rift and the computer needed to run the Rift will cost me close to $2K. I am a 60 year old woman, semi retired who loves Minecraft and the people I meet in the realm. Perhaps there is a way to adjust this page under the header so people can see your input as the first thing they see so they aren't out there buying new stuff thinking it's their phone or Gear VR that's broken since being marked resolved and working as intended would leave the younger or consumer who didn't read through all the comments to believe there is something wrong with their personal equipment.

@unknown Thank you for your feedback. We can not keep your comments in here, this is not a forum, we are trying to keep this bug tracker conversation free.
Please join our Reddit community at https://www.reddit.com/r/MCPE

Due to limited number of moderators and administrators on this tracker we can't address all the issues. This is a tool to collect bugs and push them for a test and fix, not deal with frustrated players. And it might sound harsh but it is intended to be as kind and informative way I can put it. We simply can not reply or help you in any way. We WILL reply if we have any relevant updates on upvoted issues. This does not mean we do not care. We care a lot, we just can't reply to every comment and every bug. They are acknowledged and we read them daily.

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