Keeping Cursor Visible Above Keyboard in Jetpack Compose TextField

As Android developers, we strive to provide a seamless and intuitive user experience. One common challenge when working with input fields is ensuring the cursor and text remain visible above the on-screen keyboard in scenarios involving dynamic layouts or long forms. With Jetpack Compose, Google's modern UI toolkit for Android, managing this behavior has become more efficient and declarative.

In this blog post, we will explore how to keep the cursor visible above the keyboard when using Jetpack Compose's TextField. By the end of this guide, you'll understand why this issue occurs and how to implement an elegant solution.

Why Does This Issue Occur?

When a user interacts with a TextField, the on-screen keyboard (IME) pops up to facilitate text input. This can obscure the focused input field, leading to a suboptimal experience where users can no longer see what they’re typing. Traditional Android development addressed this problem using ScrollView with adjustPan or adjustResize in XML layouts. However, Jetpack Compose requires a different approach due to its declarative nature.

The Compose Approach: Key Components

Jetpack Compose offers tools and APIs to manage layout and interaction with the keyboard. Here are the key components we will use:

  1. Modifier.nestedScroll: Enables you to handle nested scroll events, ensuring smooth interaction between scrolling containers and their children.

  2. LazyColumn or Column: For vertical layouts, these containers adapt well to dynamic content.

  3. bringIntoViewRequester: Helps in scrolling the TextField into view when it gains focus.

  4. FocusRequester: Manages focus programmatically.

  5. LocalDensity and WindowInsets: Handle device-specific dimensions and insets caused by the keyboard.

Step-by-Step Solution

Here’s how to implement a solution to keep the TextField cursor visible above the keyboard in Jetpack Compose.

1. Add Required Dependencies

Ensure you are using the latest version of Jetpack Compose in your project. Add the following dependencies in your build.gradle:

dependencies {
    implementation "androidx.compose.ui:ui:<latest-version>"
    implementation "androidx.compose.foundation:foundation:<latest-version>"
    implementation "androidx.compose.material:material:<latest-version>"
    implementation "androidx.compose.runtime:runtime:<latest-version>"
}

2. Set Up LazyColumn and TextField

Wrap your input fields within a LazyColumn or Column to enable scrolling. This layout adjusts dynamically as content expands.

@Composable
fun TextFieldWithKeyboardHandler() {
    val focusRequester = remember { FocusRequester() }
    val bringIntoViewRequester = remember { BringIntoViewRequester() }
    val coroutineScope = rememberCoroutineScope()

    LazyColumn(
        modifier = Modifier
            .fillMaxSize()
            .padding(16.dp)
            .nestedScroll(remember { NestedScrollConnection() })
    ) {
        items(50) { index ->
            if (index == 25) { // Replace with your dynamic condition
                TextField(
                    value = "",
                    onValueChange = {},
                    modifier = Modifier
                        .focusRequester(focusRequester)
                        .bringIntoViewRequester(bringIntoViewRequester)
                        .onFocusChanged {
                            if (it.isFocused) {
                                coroutineScope.launch {
                                    bringIntoViewRequester.bringIntoView()
                                }
                            }
                        },
                    label = { Text("Enter text") }
                )
            } else {
                Text("Item #$index", Modifier.padding(vertical = 8.dp))
            }
        }
    }
}

3. Handle Keyboard Insets

To ensure proper adjustments when the keyboard is displayed, integrate WindowInsets.

val insets = LocalWindowInsets.current
val imeHeight = with(LocalDensity.current) { insets.ime.bottom.toDp() }

Box(
    modifier = Modifier.padding(bottom = imeHeight)
) {
    TextFieldWithKeyboardHandler()
}

This ensures that the layout accounts for the keyboard's height, keeping input fields accessible.

4. Combine with State Management

To manage focus across multiple TextField components dynamically, use rememberSaveable and FocusRequester for state persistence and control.

@Composable
fun DynamicForm() {
    val focusRequesters = remember { List(10) { FocusRequester() } }

    LazyColumn(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
        items(focusRequesters.size) { index ->
            TextField(
                value = "",
                onValueChange = {},
                modifier = Modifier
                    .focusRequester(focusRequesters[index])
                    .bringIntoViewRequester(bringIntoViewRequester)
                    .onFocusChanged {
                        if (it.isFocused) {
                            coroutineScope.launch {
                                bringIntoViewRequester.bringIntoView()
                            }
                        }
                    },
                label = { Text("Field #$index") }
            )
        }
    }
}

Best Practices for a Smooth UX

  • Minimize Layout Shifts: Use LazyColumn for large or dynamic forms to improve performance.

  • Provide Visual Feedback: Highlight the focused TextField to guide the user.

  • Test on Multiple Devices: Ensure your solution works seamlessly across different screen sizes and keyboard types.

  • Handle Edge Cases: Account for split keyboards or unusual input methods.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  1. TextField Still Obscured: Verify that the bringIntoViewRequester is triggered correctly when focus changes.

  2. Janky Scrolling: Check for conflicting Modifier combinations or heavy operations in the recomposition scope.

  3. Insets Not Applied: Confirm that WindowInsets is correctly retrieved and updated.

Conclusion

Keeping the cursor visible above the keyboard is an essential aspect of delivering a polished user experience in Android apps. Jetpack Compose simplifies this task with declarative APIs like bringIntoViewRequester and FocusRequester. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create responsive and user-friendly input forms that enhance usability.

Jetpack Compose continues to evolve, and mastering such techniques will make you a more effective Android developer. Start implementing these tips in your projects today, and share your feedback or questions in the comments below!