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.

Narrator reads text, buttons, and other elements aloud on your Xbox console or Windows device. Learn how to activate it and adjust options, including choosing a voice and more.

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.

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.

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.

Narrator is the built-in screen reader in Windows that reads aloud what's on your screen so you can use that information to navigate your PC. To start or stop Narrator, press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter .

The Narrator key is referred to as simply “Narrator” in commands. You can change your Narrator key by going into your Narrator settings: Windows logo key + U > Accessibility > Vision > Narrator. To get the full list of Narrator keyboard shortcuts, go to: Narrator keyboard commands and touch gestures.

Keyboard shortcut for Narrator. For the latest version of Windows 10, press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter. For some earlier versions of Windows, you may need to press Windows logo key + Enter. Get started with Narrator.