Quick Reference Guide: NVDA for Windows Keyboard Commands

Recommended browser: Firefox or Microsoft Edge

Getting Started Reading Text
Task Command
Browse Mode: Browse mode is used when reading documents or
Say prior line Up Arrow or Numpad 7
web pages. 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
Start of line Shift + Numpad 1
other fields that require user input. NVDA automatically switches
End of line Shift + Numpad 3
between Browse and Focus modes, but the user can toggle them
Top line Shift + Numpad 7
using Insert + Space Bar. Bottom line Shift + NumPad 9
Turn on Speech Viewer: Enabling Speech Viewer opens a window Say prior character Left Arrow or Numpad 1
Say next character Right Arrow or Numpad 3
that shows everything NVDA states. This is useful for sighted users
Say current character Numpad 2
learning NVDA for testing purposes. Enable it under Tools in the
Say character phonetically Numpad 5 twice quickly
NVDA menu. Say prior word Ctrl + Left Arrow or Numpad 4
To install NVDA: Go to http://www.nvaccess.org/download/ and Say next word Ctrl + Right Arrow or Numpad 6
select ‘skip donation this time’ to proceed with the installation. Say current word Numpad 5
Say prior sentence Alt + Up Arrow
The Basics Say next sentence Alt + Down Arrow
Say current sentence Alt + Numpad 5
Task Command Next paragraph Ctrl + Up Arrow or Q
Turn NVDA on Control + Alt + N Spell word Numpad 5 twice quickly
Spell current line Insert + Up Arrow twice 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 + F5
Read next item Down Arrow Next form F
Read next focusable item (e.g. link, button) Tab Next focusable item Tab
Activate link Enter Next button B
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
Go to next heading of level [1-6] 1-6 Browse/select options Down Arrow or First letter
List all headings Insert + F7 Shift + Down Arrow
Select multiple options
Go to next landmark/region D (or Up Arrow)
Show list of all links, headings, form fields, Next <select> combo box C
Insert + F7
buttons, and landmarks Toggle selection Up/Down Arrow
Go to next table T Next radio button R
Navigate table cells Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys Toggle between focus mode and browse
Insert + Space Bar
Go to next list L mode*
Go to next list item I * “Focus mode” allows you to enter data into form fields. Browse mode
Go to next graphic G allows you to navigate the page using standard screen reader shortcuts (e.g.
List all links Insert + F7 to navigate headings, landmarks, links, etc.)
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 dialogs) Insert + B Go to next (previous) table T (Shift + T)
Announce title of the current foreground
Insert + T Cell to right Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow
window
Toggle between: radio buttons, <select> list Cell to left Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow
items, tabs (ARIA widget), tree view items (ARIA Arrow Keys Cell below Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow
widget), menu items (ARIA widget) Cell above Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow
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 2018 Deque Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Version 2018.10.24