NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) is a screen reader for Microsoft Windows that is totally free, yet fully functional and portable; you can download it to your PC or to portable media such as a USB stick.
Browser Compatibility:
NVDA works well with Firefox and Chrome. NVDA also has good support for Internet Explorer and Edge, but the best browse testing combinations are NVDA + Firefox and NVDA + Chrome.
NVDA Keystrokes
- Basics:
On/Off: Turn NVDA on Control + Alt + N
Turn NVDA off: Insert + Q
Reading: Stop Reading Control
Start reading continuously from this point on: Insert + or Numpad +
Read next focusable item (e.g. link, button): Press Tab
Activate Link: Press Enter
Activate Button: Press Enter or Spacebar
Headings: Go to next heading H
Go to next heading of level [1-6]: 1 – 6
List all headings: Insert + F7
Landmarks: Go to next landmark/region D
Elements list: Show list of all links, headings, form fields, buttons, and landmarks Insert + F7
Tables: Go to next table T
Navigate table cells Ctrl + Alt +
Lists: Go to next list L
Go to next list item: I
Graphics: Go to next graphic G
Links: List all links Insert + F7
Go to next link Press K
Go to next unvisited link: U
Go to next visited link: V
Navigate: Toggle between:
Go backward: To previous heading, landmark, table, focusable item, etc. Shift + [H, D, T, Tab, etc.]
- Tables
Table: Go to next (previous) table T (Shift + T)
Cell: Cell to right Ctrl + Alt +
Cell to left: Ctrl + Alt +
Cell below: Ctrl + Alt +
Cell above: Ctrl + Alt +
- Forms
List all: List all form elements Insert + F7
Navigate: Next forms F
Next focusable item: Tab
Next button: B
Checkboxes: Select and deselect Spacebar
Next checkbox: X
Next combo box: Press C
Radio buttons: Toggle selection /
Next radio button: Press R
Focus mode Toggle between focus mode and browse mode: Insert + Spacebar
* “Focus mode” allows you to enter data into form fields. Browse mode allows you to navigate the page
Search for a word or a phrase: NVDA + Ctrl + F
Keyboard help: Press Insert + 1
Next blockquote: Press Q
Next key you hit ignores NVDA and is a normal keystroke: Press Insert + F2
Speak characters typed: Press Insert + 2
Speak words typed: Press Insert + 3
Read entire foreground window (e.g. for dialogs): Press Insert + B
Announce title of the current foreground window: Insert + T
