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<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <title>WebAIM: Keyboard Shortcuts for NVDA</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/media/favicon.ico"> <link rel="home" href="/"> <link rel="search" href="/search/"> <link rel="alternate" href="https://webaim.org/blog/feed" type="application/rss+xml" title="WebAIM Blog"> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-Y41PF8WV9X"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-Y41PF8WV9X'); </script> <link href="/styles/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> <link href="/styles/print.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print"> <script src="/media/scripts/jquery.js"></script> <script src="/media/scripts/main.js"></script> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:400' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Kameron:400,700' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <link href="/styles/documents.css?ver=2" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400,400i,700" rel="stylesheet">  </head> <body> <div id="headcontainer" class="clearfix" style="background-image: url(/media/banners/resources.jpg)"> <header> <div id="skiptocontent"><a href="#maincontent">skip to main content</a></div> <h2><a href="/"><img src="/media/logo.png" width="315" height="83" alt="WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind"></a></h2> <nav> <h2 class="hidden">Main Navigation</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/services/">Services</a></li> <li><a href="/articles/">Articles</a></li> <li class="current"><a href="/resources/">Resources</a></li> <li><a href="/projects/">Projects</a></li> <li><a href="/community/">Community</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="search"> <form method="get" role="search" action="/search/" id="sitesearch"> <p class="search"><span><label for="q">Search:</label> <input type="text" name="q" id="q"><input type="image" src="/media/template/search.svg" alt="Submit Search"></span></p> </form> <p class="intro"><a href="/intro">Introduction to Web Accessibility</a></p> <p class="training"><a href="/services/training">WebAIM Training</a></p> </div> </header> </div> <main id="maincontainer" class="clearfix"> <article id="maincontent"> <h1>Keyboard Shortcuts for NVDA</h1> <p id="breadcrumbs"><span class="hidden">You are here: </span><a href="/">Home</a> > <a href="/resources/">Resources</a> > Keyboard Shortcuts for NVDA</p> <nav role="navigation"> <h2>Article Contents</h2> <ol> <li><a href="#intro">Introduction</a></li> <li><a href="#reading">Reading Text</a></li> <li><a href="#rate">Voice Rate</a></li> <li><a href="#headings">Headings and Lists</a></li> <li><a href="#tables">Tables</a></li> <li><a href="#dialog">Forms</a></li> <li><a href="#links">Links</a></li> <li><a href="#other">Other Commands</a></li> </ol> </nav> <div class="note"> <div class="title">Note:</div> <p>An article on <a href="http://www.webaim.org/articles/nvda/">Using NVDA to Evaluate Web Accessibility</a> is also available.</p> </div> <div class="section" id="intro"> <h2>Introduction</h2> <p>The following list of keyboard shortcuts should be helpful to a wide array of individuals and can be used as a quick reference guide. First, this guide will help NVDA users navigate within Mozilla Firefox. Second, this guide will be helpful to increase the awareness of web content developers regarding keyboard shortcuts that would conflict with NVDA. Finally, programmers will find the keyboard commands typical for NVDA users a helpful reference.</p> <div class="note"> <div class="title">Note</div> <p>The <strong>NVDA</strong> key is set to the <span class="keycap">Insert</span> key by default, but it can be <a href="/articles/nvda/#configuring">changed to the <span class="keycap">Caps Lock</span> key</a> while installing NVDA .</p> </div> </div> <div class="section" id="reading"> <h2>Reading Text</h2> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="col">Command</th> <th scope="col">Description</th> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">←</span> or <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">1</span></strong></td> <td>Say Prior Character </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">→</span> or <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">3</span></strong></td> <td>Say Next Character </td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">2</span></strong></td> <td>Say Current Character</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">5</span></strong></td> <td>Say Word</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">5</span></strong> twice quickly</td> <td>Spell Word</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">←</span> or <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">4</span></strong></td> <td>Say Prior Word</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">→</span> or <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">6</span></strong></td> <td>Say Next Word</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">↑ </span> or <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">7</span></strong></td> <td>Say Prior Line</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">↓</span> or <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">9</span></strong></td> <td>Say Next Line</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">↑</span> or <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">8</span></strong></td> <td>Say Current Line</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">↑</span> twice quickly</td> <td>Spell Current Line</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">↓</span> or <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">+</span></strong></td> <td>Read all starting at current position</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Shift</span> + <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">7</span></strong></td> <td>Top line</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Shift</span> + <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">9</span></strong></td> <td>Bottom Line</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Shift</span> + <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">1</span></strong></td> <td>Start of Line</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Shift</span> + <strong>Numpad <span class="keycap">3</span></strong></td> <td>End of Line</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div class="section" id="rate"> <h2>Voice Rate</h2> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="col">Command</th> <th scope="col">Description</th> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">↓</span></td> <td>Decrease Voice Rate</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">↑</span></td> <td>Increase Voice Rate</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">←</span>/<span class="keycap">→</span></td> <td>Change Voice Settings (Inflection, Pitch,etc.)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div class="section" id="headings"> <h2>Headings, Regions, and Lists</h2> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="col">Command</th> <th scope="col">Description</th> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">H</span></td> <td>Headings Quick Key </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">1-6</span></td> <td>Headings level 1-6</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">D</span></td> <td>Region/Landmark Quick Key </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">L</span></td> <td>List Quick Key </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">I</span></td> <td>List Item Quick Key </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div class="section" id="tables"> <h2>Tables</h2> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="col">Command</th> <th scope="col">Description</th> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">T</span></td> <td>Table Quick Key </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">Alt</span> + <span class="keycap">→</span></td> <td>Cell to Right</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">Alt</span> + <span class="keycap">←</span></td> <td>Cell to Left</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">Alt</span> + <span class="keycap">↓</span></td> <td>Cell Below</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">Alt</span> + <span class="keycap">↑</span></td> <td>Cell Above</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div class="section" id="dialog"> <h2>Forms</h2> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="col"> Command</th> <th scope="col"> Description</th> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">F</span></td> <td>Form Quick Key</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">B</span></td> <td>Button Quick Key</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Enter</span> or <span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">Space</span> (in a form element)</td> <td><p>Enter Focus/Forms Mode</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">Space</span></td> <td>Enter Browse Mode</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Tab</span></td> <td>Navigate to Next form Control </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Shift</span> + <span class="keycap">Tab</span></td> <td>Navigate to Previous Form Control </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Spacebar</span></td> <td>Select and Deselect Checkboxes</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Alt</span> + <span class="keycap">↓</span></td> <td>Open Combo Box/Jump Menu/Auto-complete Menu</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">↑</span>/<span class="keycap">↓</span></td> <td>Select Radio Button </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">↑</span>/<span class="keycap">↓</span> or the <strong>First letter</strong></td> <td>Select Element in Combo Box </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">X</span></td> <td>Checkbox</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">C</span></td> <td>Combo Box</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">R</span></td> <td>Radio Button</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Enter</span> (in forms mode) </td> <td>Submit Form </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <div class="section" id="links"> <h2>Links</h2> <table> <tr> <th scope="col">Command</th> <th scope="col">Description</th> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Tab</span></td> <td>Jump to next link/form element</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">K</span></td> <td>Next link</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycombo"><span class="keycap">Shift</span> + <span class="keycap">Tab</span></span></td> <td>Jump to previous link/form element </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycombo"><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">F7</span></span></td> <td>Elements List - lists page links, headings, and landmarks</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">U</span></td> <td>Unvisited link Quick Key </td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">V</span></td> <td>Visited link Quick Key </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div class="section" id="other"> <h2>Other Commands</h2> <table> <tr> <th scope="col">Command</th> <th scope="col">Description</th> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycombo"><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">F</span></span></td> <td>Search for a word or a phrase</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA </span>+ <span class="keycap">1</span></td> <td>Keyboard help</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">G</span></td> <td>Next graphic</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Ctrl</span> + <span class="keycap">↑</span>/<span class="keycap">↓</span></td> <td>Previous/Next paragraph</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">Q</span></td> <td>Blockquote</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">F2</span></td> <td>Next key you hit ignores NVDA and is a normal Windows key</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">2 </span></td> <td>Speaks characters typed</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">3</span></td> <td>Speaks words typed</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">B</span></td> <td>Reads the entire foreground window (useful for reading a dialog box)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">T</span></td> <td>Announces the title of the current foreground window</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="keycap">NVDA</span> + <span class="keycap">Q</span></td> <td>Quit NVDA</td> </tr> </table> </div> </article>  <aside id="articlemeta"> <div id="updated">Last updated: <time datetime="2020-09-25">Sep 25, 2020</time></div> <div id="translations"> <h2>Translations</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.vianos.de/barrierefreies-web.html"><img src="/media/common/flags/de.png" alt="">German</a> by <a href="http://www.vianos.de/">vianos webdesign</a></li> <li><a href="http://dostepny.joomla.pl/warsztat/dobre-praktyki/monitorowanie-i-badania-dostepnosci-serwisu/200-klawisze-skrotow-w-nvda"><img src="/media/common/flags/pl.png" alt="">Polish</a> by Stefan Wajda</li> </ul> </div> <div id="related"> <h2>Related Resources</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/articles/nvda">Using NVDA to Evaluate Web Accessibility</a></li> </ul> </div> </aside> </main> <footer> <div id="footerresources"> <div class="footerblock"> <h2 id="copyright">©2025 WebAIM</h2> <p id="contact"> Utah State University<br> 6807 Old Main Hill<br> Logan, UT 84322-6807<br> <a class="phone" href="tel:4357977024">435.797.7024</a></p> <div id="checkpage"> <h2>Check Your Accessibility</h2> <form action="https://wave.webaim.org/report" novalidate> <label for="waveurl">Web site address:</label> 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