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 7 and later.
Recommended Combinations of Browsers & Screen Readers
Mac | Safari + VoiceOver |
|---|---|
Windows: |
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Mobile |
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The Basics
Function | Keyboard Command |
Turn NVDA on | Control + Alt + N |
Turn NVDA off | Insert + Q |
Control | Mute |
Headings | H |
Go to next heading of level [1-6] | Num pad [1-6] |
Show all Headings | Insert + F7 |
Show all Links | Insert + F7 |
Goto next link | K |
Goto next unvisited links | U |
Goto Graphics | G |
Goto landmarks | D |
Go backwards: Headings, landmarks, table, focusable items | Shift + [H, T, D, Tab, etc] |
Toggle between:
| Up and down, left and right arrow keys |
Reading Text
Function | Keyboard Command |
Continuous reading whole page | Insert down arrow, or Num Pad + |
Read next line | Insert down arrow, or Num Pad + |
Read next focusable item(e.g link, button) | Tab |
Say prior line | Up arrow or Num Pad 7 |
Say previous line | Down arrow or Num Pad 7 |
Start of a line | Shift + Num Pad 1 |
End of line | Shift + Num Pad 9 |
Say previous sentence | Alt + up arrow |
Say next sentence | Alt + down arrow |
Go to next paragraph | Crt + up arrow, or Q |
Spell word | Num pad 5 Twice quickly |
Spell current line | Insert + up arrow twice quickly |
Navigating Tables
Function | Keyboard Command |
Go to Tables | T |
Go to next (previous) table | (Shift + T) |
Cell to right | Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow |
Cell to left | Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow |
Cell below | Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow |
Cell above | Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow |
Forms
Function | Keyboard Command |
Next form | F |
Next focusable item | Tab |
Next button | B |
Checkbox: Select and deselect | Spacebar |
Checkbox: Next | X |
Open combo box | Alt + down arrow |
Browse/Select option | Down arrow or first letter |
Select multiple options | Shift + down or up arrow |
Next combo box | C |
Radio buttons: Toggle buttons | Up or down arrow |
Next radio button | R |
Toggle between forms and browser mode | Insert + spacebar |