Quick Reference Guide: NVDA for Windows Keyboard Commands

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Getting Started Reading Text
Browse Mode: Browse mode is used when reading documents or Task Command
web pages. Say prior line Up Arrow or Numpad 7
Say next line Down Arrow or Numpad 9
Focus Mode: Focus mode is used when the user enters a form or Say current line Insert + Up Arrow or Numpad 8
other fields that require user input. NVDA automatically switches Start of line Shift + Numpad 1
between Browse and Focus modes, but the user can toggle them End of line Shift + Numpad 3
using Insert + Space Bar. Top line Shift + Numpad 7
Bottom line Shift + Numpad 9
Turn on Speech Viewer: Enabling Speech Viewer opens a window
Say prior character Left Arrow or Numpad 1
that shows everything NVDA states. This is useful for sighted users
Say next character Right Arrow or Numpad 3
learning NVDA for testing purposes. Enable it under Tools in the
Say current character Numpad 2
NVDA menu.
Say character phonetically Numpad 2 twice quickly
To install NVDA: Go to http://www.nvaccess.org/download/ . We Say prior word Ctrl + Left Arrow or Numpad 4
encourage you to donate if you can. If you can't, you can skip the Say next word Ctrl + Right Arrow or Numpad 6
donation and just download the software. Say current word Numpad 5
Say prior sentence Alt + Up Arrow
Note: These shortcut keys are for NVDA’s desktop keyboard layout Say next sentence Alt + Down Arrow
setting. Some shortcuts are different when using NVDA’s laptop Say current sentence Alt + Numpad 5
keyboard layout setting. Say prior paragraph Ctrl + Up Arrow
Say next paragraph Ctrl + Down Arrow
The Basics Spell word Numpad 5 twice quickly
Task Command Spell word phonetically Numpad 5 thrice quickly
Spell current line Insert + Up Arrow twice quickly
Turn NVDA on Control + Alt + N
Spell current line phonetically Insert + Up Arrow thrice quickly
Turn NVDA off Insert + Q
Stop reading Control Forms
Insert + Down Arrow Task Command
Start reading continuously from this point on
or Numpad Plus List all form elements Insert + F7
Read next item Down Arrow Next form field F
Next focusable item Tab
Read next focusable item (e.g. link, button) Tab
Next button B
Activate link Enter Select and deselect Space Bar
Activate button Enter or Space Bar Next checkbox X
Go to next heading H Open combo box Alt + Down Arrow
Browse/select options Down Arrow or First letter
Go to next heading of level [1-6] 1-6
Shift + Down Arrow
List all headings Insert + F7 Select multiple options
(or Up Arrow)
Go to next landmark/region D
Next <select> combo box C
Show list of all links, headings, form fields,
Insert + F7 Toggle selection Up/Down Arrow
buttons, and landmarks
Next radio button R
Go to next table T
Toggle between focus mode and
Navigate table cells Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys Insert + Space Bar
browse mode*
Go to next list L
* “Focus mode” allows you to enter data into form fields. Browse
Go to next list item I
mode allows you to navigate the page using standard screen reader
Go to next graphic G
shortcuts (e.g. to navigate headings, landmarks, links, etc.)
List all links Insert + F7
Go to next link K
Go to next unvisited link U
Tables
Go to next visited link V Task Command
Read entire foreground window (e.g. for Go to next (previous) table T (Shift + T)
Insert + B
dialogs) Cell to right Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow
Announce title of the current foreground Cell to left Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow
Insert + T
window
Cell below Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow
Toggle between: radio buttons, <select> list
Cell above Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow
items, tabs (ARIA widget), tree view items Arrow Keys
(ARIA widget), menu items (ARIA widget)
Go back to previous heading, landmark, table, Shift + [H, D, T, Tab,
focusable item, etc. etc.]

Full list of commands: http://tinyurl.com/commands-nvda

Copyright 2023 Deque Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Version 2023.08.23