Narrator Reads Password Aloud in Terminal Services Client

Microsoft Narrator is a synthesized text-to-speech utility for users who have low vision. When you are using Narrator, keystrokes that you type are read aloud. When you log on to a Terminal Services server in a Terminal Services client session, Narrator reads your user name, domain name, and password aloud.

Terminal Services simply sends bitmap images to the client computer. It does not send any code describing which fields for which it wants data, so Narrator does not know to mask the password keystrokes.

WORKAROUND

Many people who use Narrator use headphones so as not to disturb others. In this case, the password may not be heard by others. To work around the problem, you can turn down the volume on your speakers while you type the password.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

When you log on to a local computer, or in Microsoft Internet Explorer, Narrator masks password fields by calling out the word "password" instead of the keystrokes.