Learn how to use Narrator, a screen-reading app built into Windows, with this complete guide and how-to articles.

This chapter explains Narrator keyboard navigation. This includes how to get around the screen, find and open apps, and change what Narrator reads. It also explains the basic details of adjusting Narrator speech rate, volume, and how to stop speech. Scan mode gives you even more navigation options.

Narrator lets you use your PC without a mouse to complete common tasks if you’re blind or have low vision. It reads and interacts with things on the screen, like text and buttons. Use Narrator to read and write email, browse the internet, and work with documents.

Read text by word. To read the current word, press Narrator + K or Narrator + Ctrl + 5 (numeric keypad). When you press either command twice in a row, Narrator will spell the word. To read the next word, press Narrator + L or Narrator + Ctrl + Right arrow key.

This chapter outlines how to customize Narrator so it works best for you, including changing how Narrator starts, how much feedback you hear when typing, whether the audio from other apps is decreased when Narrator is running, and changing Narrator commands to keyboard shortcuts of your choice.

To learn how to get started with Narrator, go to Complete guide to Narrator. To display the access keys (keyboard commands) on the classic ribbon in Word for the web, Excel for the web, PowerPoint for the web, and OneNote for the web, press Alt+Period (.).

The following is a list of keyboard shortcuts for assistive technologies in Windows 11, including Magnifier, high contrast, and others. To see a list of keyboard shortcuts and touch gestures for Narrator in Windows 11, see Narrator keyboard commands and touch gestures.

To quickly search for a setting, type your search term. When you stop typing, with Narrator, you hear: "Suggestions available." With JAWS, you hear the number of search results. With NVDA, the results are not announced, but you can browse them normally.

Get started with Narrator. For the latest version of Windows 10, press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter.

The Movies & TV app works with Narrator, a built-in screen reader that reads text on your screen aloud and describes events, so you can use your PC with partial or no vision. There are also keyboard shortcuts to help you do common actions.