This chapter describes a navigation and reading mode called scan mode. Scan mode lets you navigate apps, email, and webpages using the arrow keys along with common keyboard shortcuts to read text and jump directly to headings, links, tables, and landmarks.
Scan mode basics
To turn scan mode on and off, press Caps lock + Spacebar.
When turned on, use the Up arrow key and Down arrow key to navigate apps and webpages. Press the spacebar to activate an item that you want to use, such as a button in an app, a link in a webpage, or a text box.
Scan mode turns on automatically when you use Microsoft Edge to browse the web. It also turns on automatically when you open any Windows app where you turned it on before.
If you turn scan mode off for an app, it will remain off for that app until you turn it on again.
Navigation
When scan mode is turned on, use the following keys to navigate apps and webpages.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
| Up arrow and Down arrow | Move to the next or previous paragraph of text in an app or webpage Note Scan mode automatically turns off in edit fields so you can enter text. Press up or down arrow again to leave the edit field and resume scan mode.
|
| Right arrow and Left arrow | Move to the next or previous character in an app or webpage |
| Spacebar | Activate an item that you want to use, such as a button or text box |
| Enter | If supported, do secondary action on an item |
| Home and End | Move to the start or end of a line of text in an app or webpage |
| Ctrl + Home and Ctrl + End | Move to the beginning or end of text |
| Ctrl + Left arrow and Ctrl + Right arrow | Move to the next or previous word |
| Ctrl + Up arrow and Ctrl + Down arrow | Move to the next or previous line |
| B or Shift + B | Move to the next or previous button |
| C or Shift + C | Move to the next or previous combo box |
| D or Shift + D | Move to the next or previous landmark |
| E or Shift + E | Move to the next or previous edit field Note Scan mode won’t turn off automatically when navigating by edit field. Narrator will tell you to press space to edit if you want into type into the edit field.
|
| F or Shift + F | Move to the next or previous form field |
| H or Shift + H, and Alt + Down arrow or Alt + Up arrow | Move to the next or previous heading |
| I or Shift + I | Move to the next or previous item |
| K or Shift + K, and Alt + Right arrow or Alt + Left arrow | Move to the next or previous link |
| R or Shift + R | Move to the next or previous radio button |
| X or Shift + X | Move to the next or previous check box |
| T or Shift + T | Move to the next or previous table |
| P or Shift + P | Move to the next of previous paragraph |
| Number keys 1 to 9 or Shift + number keys 1 to 9 | Move to the next or previous heading level 1 through 9 |
Scan mode will turn off when you switch to a different app. You'll hear a sound from your PC indicating that scan mode is turned off. Press Caps lock + Spacebar to turn it on again.
Working with tables
Scan mode can help make moving through tables easier and supports common keys found in other screen readers for table navigation. Press T or Shift + T to locate a table using scan mode and then use the following keys to interact with the table.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+ Alt + Right arrow or Left arrow | Move to the next or previous cell in a row |
| Ctrl+ Alt + Up arrow or Down arrow | Move to the next or previous cell in a column |
| Caps Lock + F5 | Announce location in table |
| Caps Lock + F9 | Announce column header |
| Caps Lock + F10 | Announce row header |
| Caps Lock + F7 | Read the current table column from start to finish |
| Caps Lock + F8 | Read the current table row from start to finish |
You can also use these keys to interact with tables when scan mode is turned off.
Next: Chapter 4: Reading text
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