diff --git a/AndroidManifest.xml b/AndroidManifest.xml
index 6670a6904..764058ed6 100644
--- a/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@
 
     <activity android:name=".NewConversationActivity"
               android:label="@string/AndroidManifest__select_contacts"
-              android:windowSoftInputMode="stateHidden"
+              android:windowSoftInputMode="stateVisible"
               android:configChanges="touchscreen|keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenLayout|screenSize"/>
 
     <activity android:name=".PushContactSelectionActivity"