Screen Reader Navigating Webpages Using NVDA
Below you can find keyboard commands for navigating and testing web page accessibility using the NVDA screen reader, a free download compatible with PCs using Windows 10 and later.
Recommended Combinations of Browsers & Screen Readers
🖱️ Basic Navigation
Action | Windows (NVDA) | Mac (VoiceOver) | Phone (iOS/Android) |
|---|---|---|---|
Move by line | ↑ / ↓ | VO+↑ / VO+↓ | Swipe left/right (Rotor → “Lines” if needed) |
Move by word | Ctrl+→ / Ctrl+← | VO+W / Shift+VO+W | Rotor → “Words,” swipe up/down |
Move by heading | H / Shift+H, 1–6 | VO+Cmd+H / VO+Cmd+Shift+H | Rotor → “Headings,” swipe up/down |
Move by link | K / Shift+K | VO+Cmd+L / VO+Cmd+Shift+L | Rotor → “Links,” swipe up/down |
Move by button | B / Shift+B | VO+Cmd+B / VO+Cmd+Shift+B | Rotor → “Buttons,” swipe up/down |
Move by landmark/region | D / Shift+D | VO+Cmd+R / VO+Cmd+Shift+R | Rotor → “Landmarks/Regions,” swipe up/down |
📖 Reading Content
Action | Windows (NVDA) | Mac (VoiceOver) | Phone (iOS/Android) |
|---|---|---|---|
Read all | NVDA+↓ | VO+A | 2-finger swipe down |
Stop reading | Ctrl | Ctrl | 2-finger tap |
Read current line | Insert+↑ | VO+L | Rotor → “Lines,” swipe up/down |
Read word by word | Insert+→ / Insert+← | VO+W | Rotor → “Words,” swipe up/down |
📝 Forms & Interaction
Action | Windows (NVDA) | Mac (VoiceOver) | Phone (iOS/Android) |
|---|---|---|---|
Next/prev form field | F / Shift+F | VO+Cmd+J / VO+Cmd+Shift+J | Rotor → “Form Controls,” swipe up/down |
Activate link or button | Enter / Space | VO+Space | Double-tap |
Switch to typing mode | NVDA+Space (Browse ↔ Focus) | Auto-switch | Auto-switch |
Elements list (links, headings, landmarks) | NVDA+F7 | VO+U (Rotor menu) | Rotor twist → choose element type |
📊 Tables
Action | Windows (NVDA) | Mac (VoiceOver) | Phone (iOS/Android) |
|---|---|---|---|
Move cell (row/col) | Ctrl+Alt+Arrows | VO+Cmd+Arrows | Rotor → “Tables” (limited), swipe up/down |
Announce table title | Insert+T | VO+T | Limited support |
✅ Testing Accessibility
Test Action | Windows (NVDA) | Mac (VoiceOver) | Phone (iOS/Android) |
|---|---|---|---|
Tab through page (focus order) | Tab / Shift+Tab | Tab / Shift+Tab | Swipe right/left |
Check heading structure | H, 1–6 | VO+Cmd+H | Rotor → “Headings” |
Check landmark navigation | D | VO+Cmd+R | Rotor → “Landmarks” |
Review forms and labels | NVDA+Space + F | VO+Cmd+J | Rotor → “Form Controls” |
Gather page outline | NVDA+F7 | VO+U | Rotor twist menu |