Support for Windows Phone 8.1 has ended Microsoft ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 on July 11, 2017. This change has affected your software updates and security options.
Narrator is a screen reader that reads text aloud to allow users who are visually impaired, blind, or otherwise have trouble reading to use a Windows Phone. Once Narrator is turned on, you'll need to use Narrator-specific gestures to navigate your phone. See the full list of gestures in the Narrator gestures on Windows Phone 8.1 table below.
This feature is only available on Windows Phone 8.1, and is not available in all countries or regions at this time. Check to see which software version you have and find out if an update is available.
To turn on Narrator
Turn on Narrator by doing one of the following on your phone:
- In the App list, tap Settings > Ease of access, and then turn on Narrator.
- If Narrator quick launch is turned on, press and hold the Volume Up button, and then press the Start button. (If Narrator quick launch is turned off, this button combo won't turn on Narrator. This is to prevent Narrator from being turned on accidentally.)
You'll know Narrator has started when your phone starts speaking to you and a yellow box appears wherever you tap your phone's screen.
To turn on Narrator quick launch
-
In the App list, tap Settings
> Ease of access, and then turn on Narrator. -
Under Narrator quick launch, double-tap to turn it on or off
.
This option is only available when Narrator is turned on.
To turn off Narrator
Turn off Narrator at any time by pressing and holding the Volume Up button, and then pressing the Start button. Don't release the Volume Up button until Narrator tells you that it's turning off.
This button combo will turn off Narrator even if Narrator quick launch is turned off.
To change the Narrator voice
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In the App list, tap Settings
> Ease of access, and then turn on Narrator. -
Under Voice, tap Female with one finger to select the picker box.
-
Double-tap with one finger to open the voice options.
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Swipe right with one finger to select the Male voice as your screen reader, and swipe left to return to Female.
-
Double-tap with one finger to confirm your choice.
This option is only available when Narrator is turned on.
To change the talking speed
-
In the App list, tap Settings
> Ease of access, and then turn on Narrator. -
Under Speed, double-tap to increase the talking speed by 5%, or triple-tap to decrease the talking speed by 5%.
This option is only available when Narrator is turned on.
To use touch typing
Touch typing, lets you activate the keys on the touch keyboard simply by lifting your finger off the keyboard.
-
In the App list, tap Settings
> Ease of access, and then turn on Narrator. -
Tap Touch typing to place the yellow Narrator box around the Touch typing option, and then double-tap it to turn it on or off
.
To use Narrator to read hints for controls and buttons
Narrator can read hints for using the controls and buttons on your phone.
-
In the App list, tap Settings
> Ease of access, and then turn on Narrator. -
Tap Read hints for controls and buttons to place the yellow Narrator box around the Read hints for controls and buttons option, and then double-tap it to turn it on or off
.
Narrator gestures on Windows Phone 8.1
| Gesture | What it does |
|---|---|
| Swipe left/right with one finger | Move to next or previous item |
| Swipe up/down with one finger | Change navigation mode (for more info, see below) |
| Tap or drag a single finger | Read what's under your finger |
| Double-tap with one finger, or hold with one finger and tap with a second | Activate primary action |
| Triple-tap with one finger, or hold with one finger and double-tap with a second | Activate secondary action |
| Swipe left/right/up/down with two fingers | Scroll |
| Tap with two fingers | Stop Narrator from reading |
| Double-tap with two fingers | Show context menu |
| Swipe up with three fingers | Read from top |
| Swipe down with three fingers | Start reading explorable text |
Navigation modes
Navigation modes refer to the different chunks of content you can select to have read to you. Here's a full list of navigation modes: items, containers, headings, links, characters, words, lines, and paragraphs. Most of the time, you'll only cycle between two navigation modes: items and containers. The other navigation modes listed above will become available when you're editing text or reading web pages.
Items and containers
Everywhere outside of editing text and reading web pages, you'll switch between two navigation modes: items and containers. Items mode will let you move through each individual item on a screen, such as navigating down through your email inbox to find an email you're looking for. Containers mode lets you jump to different sections on a screen—letting you skip over a long list of emails so you can go straight to Folders or Search to find an email located in a different folder.
Editing text and reading web pages
Whether you're spicing up a noun by adding an adjective before it or deleting an entire line of text between paragraphs, you need the ability to move anywhere on the screen, down to the letter. The links, characters, words, lines, and paragraphs modes give you more control and detail where and when you need it.
Restarting Narrator if it's unresponsive
If Narrator is unresponsive and you can't navigate your phone, you may need to restart the phone. To do so, press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time for 10–15 seconds. When you feel a vibration, release the Volume Down and Power buttons immediately. This will restart your phone with Narrator already turned on. (Sometimes your phone will vibrate right away when you press the Volume Down and Power buttons—this is probably due to your ringer changing to Vibrate. Wait to release the buttons until a second vibration after 10–15 seconds.)
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Narrator will restart automatically, but your volume settings may not—press Volume Up until you can hear Narrator again.
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If you don't let go of the Volume Down and Power buttons right after the vibration at 10–15 seconds, your phone may show a black screen and not restart normally. If this happens, just repeat the button combo to try again.
Not all phones support the ability to restart your phone this way, so check with your phone's manufacturer to find out how to force a restart.