Appendix B: Narrator keyboard commands and touch gestures

This appendix lists the keyboard commands and touch gestures available in the latest version of Windows.

To view a list of all other keyboard shortcuts in Windows, see Keyboard shortcuts in Windows. To view a list of keyboard shortcuts in Windows apps, see Keyboard shortcuts in apps.

Narrator key

You can choose what modifier key you want to use in Narrator commands. Both the Caps lock and Insert keys serve as your Narrator key by default. You can use either of these keys in any command that uses the Narrator key. The Narrator key is referred to as simply "Narrator" in commands. You can change your Narrator key in Narrator settings.

Note: If you're using a Japanese 106 keyboard, Insert and NonConvert are your default Narrator keys.

Narrator keyboard commands

Narrator has two possible keyboard layouts: Standard and Legacy. Commands for each are listed below. For the scan mode commands, go to Chapter 3: Using scan mode.

Note: The commands that include the plus sign (⁠+⁠) and the minussign (⁠-⁠) refer to the physical key and don't require Shift as a modifier. Unless explicitly called out, it isn't necessary to include Shift before the equal key to make it the plus sign as you would when typing the plus sign. Using the Narrator volume command above as an example, Narrator+Ctrl+equal (=) is the literal command, not Narrator+Ctrl + Shift+equal (=).

Standard keyboard layout

General commands

Press these keys	To do this
Windows Key+Ctrl+Enter	Start or stop Narrator
Narrator+Esc	Exit Narrator
Narrator+1	Toggle input learning
Narrator+Right arrow	Move to next item
Narrator+Left arrow	Move to previous item
Narrator+Page up Ctrl+Narrator+Up arrow Narrator+Page down Ctrl+Narrator+Down arrow	Change view
Narrator+F1	Show commands list
Narrator+F2	Show commands for current item
Narrator+Enter	Do primary action
Narrator+Ctrl+Enter	Toggle search mode
Narrator+\	Read contents of status bar in Apps such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc
Narrator+F12	Read current time and date
Narrator+Shift+B	Read Battery and Network status
Narrator+Alt+B	Toggle braille viewer
Narrator+Ctrl+C	Toggle Screen curtain
Narrator+Ctrl+D	Describe image using an online service or get the webpage source of a link
Narrator+S	Get a webpage summary
Narrator+S twice quickly	Get webpage summary and popular links dialog box
Narrator+Shift+S	Speech off
Narrator+Alt+F	Provide Narrator feedback
Narrator+Z	Lock Narrator key
Narrator+Ctrl+F12	Toggle developer mode
Narrator+3	Pass keys to application
Narrator+4	Change capitalization reading mode
Narrator+Alt+M	Toggle mouse mode
Narrator+H	Turn on or off Outlook column header reading

Adjust speech

Read and work with text

Navigate tables

Narrator focus commands

Numeric keypad commands

Narrator touch gestures

Next: Appendix C: Supported braille displays

Go back to the Table of Contents

This appendix lists the keyboard commands and touch gestures available in the latest version of Windows.

To view a list of all other keyboard shortcuts in Windows, see Keyboard shortcuts in Windows. To view a list of keyboard shortcuts in Windows apps, see Keyboard shortcuts in apps.

Narrator key

You can choose what modifier key you want to use in Narrator commands. Both the Caps lock and Insert keys serve as your Narrator key by default. You can use either of these keys in any command that uses the Narrator key. The Narrator key is referred to as simply "Narrator" in commands. You can change your Narrator key in Narrator settings.

Note: If you're using a Japanese 106 keyboard, Insert and NonConvert are your default Narrator keys.

Narrator keyboard commands

Narrator has two possible keyboard layouts: Standardand Legacy. Commands for each are listed below. For the scan mode commands, go to Chapter 3: Using scan mode.

Note: The commands that include plus (+) and minus (-) refer to the physical key and don't require Shift as a modifier. Unless explicitly called out, it isn't necessary to include Shift before the equal key to make it the plus sign as you would when typing the plus sign. Using the Narrator volume command above as an example, Narrator + Ctrl + equal (=) is the literal command, not Narrator + Ctrl + Shift + equal (=).

Standard keyboard layout

General commands

Press these keys	To do this
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter	Start or stop Narrator
Narrator + Esc	Exit Narrator
Narrator + 1	Toggle input learning
Narrator + Right arrow	Move to next item
Narrator + Left arrow	Move to previous item
Narrator + Page up Ctrl + Narrator + Up arrow Narrator + Page down Ctrl + Narrator + Down arrow	Change view
Narrator + F1	Show commands list
Narrator + F2	Show commands for current item
Narrator + Enter	Do primary action
Narrator + Ctrl + Enter	Toggle search mode
Narrator + F12	Read current time and date
Narrator + Ctrl + D	Describe image using an online service or get the webpage source of a link
Narrator + S	Get a webpage summary
Narrator + S twice quickly	Get webpage summary and popular links dialog box
Narrator + Alt + F	Provide Narrator feedback
Narrator + Z	Lock Narrator key
Narrator + Ctrl + F12	Toggle developer mode
Narrator + 3	Pass keys to application
Narrator + Alt + M	Toggle mouse mode
Narrator + H	Turn on or off Outlook column header reading

Adjust speech

Read and work with text

Navigate tables

Narrator focus commands

Numeric keypad commands

Legacy keyboard layout

General commands

Adjust speech

Read and work with text

Navigate tables

Narrator focus commands

Narrator touch gestures

Next: Appendix C: Supported braille displays

Go back to the Table of Contents