Windows 10, just like its predecessor, offers Narrator functionality. This feature helps people who need help with vision, hearing or dexterity problems. It can help seniors or those with dexterity and mobility issues at birth. In this guide, I will explain how to use the Narrator in Windows 10.
How to use the narrator in Windows 10
the Narrator is an integrated tool that can be used to read text aloud. This is an integrated accessibility feature. It can read text on the computer, documents, settings, events occurring on the computer, that is, when you turn off the volume or click the button. More information about it is given. This is useful for those who have a vision problem and who can help them use the computer.
- How to start Narrator in Windows
- How to disable Narrator in Windows
- What is the key of the narrator
- Narrator settings
- Startup options
- Customize the voices of narrators
- Choose what the narrator can read
- Choose what you mean by typing
- Create your commands using the keyboard settings
- Windows 10 Narrator Keyboard Shortcuts
1) How to start Narrator in Windows
If you often need Narrator, it is best to configure it to start correctly when Windows starts. It will ensure that it is not necessary to launch it every time you log on to the computer. However, if it's the first time, use Win + Ctrl + Enter to instantly launch the narrator and choose to start Narrator after login.
2) How to disable Narrator in Windows
To leave the narrator, press Caps Lock + Esc. If you only want to pause playback, you can press Ctrl and resume reading with Caps Lock + M.
3) What is the key of the narrator?
In Windows 10, the Caps Lock key or the INSERT key is the Narrator key.
4) Narrator settings
That said, since you will use the narrator, it is best to configure it to meet your requirements. The first thing to do is to make sure the narrator starts at a minimum. The option is available from the beginning in the windows of the narrator. Uncheck "Show the narrator's house when the narrator starts".
Then click on the Settings icon or use Windows Key + Control + N to open it directly. Then follow these instructions to configure:
a) Startup options
- Enable disable narrator shortcut
- Narrator start after connecting the logged in user or all users
- Show or hide the narrator
- Reduce the narrator in the system tray
b) Personalize the voices of narrators
The settings here allow you to configure the narrator for it to be effective. You can change the voice, speed, voice pitch, and default volume. You can choose to reduce the volume of other applications.
If you have more than one audio device, you can choose the device output. To control the volume of the narrator's use Caps Lock + Page Up to increase or Caps Lock + Page Down to decrease volume of the voice.
c) Choose what the narrator can read
Narrator by default reads everything you click, press the keyboard or move with the help of the keyboard. Although it's good to have all options enabled, but as you get used to it, be sure to turn off what you do not need.
You can choose from five levels.
- Text only
- Some control details
- All control details
- Some details of the text
- All the details of the text
You can switch between them by using the Narrator + V key to switch between them. You can then choose to focus on formatted text, phonetics, punctuation pause, advanced details, and so on.
In the same way, you can change the level of the popup provider buttons, tips on how to interact with certain things on Windows and audio signals.
d) Choose what you mean by typing
The narrator does not stop asking as you type. It can be annoying. If you master the keyboard, you can remove some features.
I would suggest turning off the option to pronounce each word and keep it for the only function keys, such as the function keys, Shift, Alt, and so on.
Create your commands using the keyboard settings
Use these settings to change the keyboard layout, lock the narrator's key, and finally create your commands. The last two options are very useful if you find several key combinations difficult to remember. Click the Create Your Orders link, and edit it accordingly.
Finally, you can use Braille with Narrator. You must install software that allows the computer to communicate with it.
5) Windows 10 Narrator keyboard shortcuts
- Ctrl: Stop reading.
- Caps Lock + M: Start reading.
- Caps Lock + Page Up: Increase the volume of the voice.
- Caps Lock + Page Down: Decrease the volume of the voice.
- Caps Lock + More: Increase the speed of the voice.
- Caps Lock + Minus: Decrease the speed of the voice.
- Caps Lock + C: Read the current date and time.
- Caps Lock + D: Read the article.
- Caps Lock + S: Read the article spelled.
- Caps Lock + V: Repeat the sentence.
- Caps Lock + W: Playback window.
- Caps Lock + H: Read the document.
- Shift + Ctrl + U: Read the current page.
- Caps Lock + U: Read the next page.
- Shift + Shift + U: Read the previous page.
- Shift + Ctrl + I: Read the current paragraph.
- Caps Lock + I: Read the next paragraph.
- Shift + Shift + I: Read the previous paragraph.
- Shift + Ctrl + O: Read a current line.
- Caps Lock + O: Read the next line.
- Shift + Shift + O: Read the previous line.
- Shift + Ctrl + P: Read the current word.
- Caps Lock + P: Read the following word.
- Shift + Shift + P: Read the previous word.
- Caps Lock + R: Read all items containing the area.
- Caps Lock + Q: Moves to the last element containing the zone.
- Caps Lock + Y: Go to the beginning of the text.
- Caps Lock + B: Move to the end of the text.
- Caps Lock + J: Go to the next section.
- Shift + Shift + J: Go to the previous section.
- Caps Lock + K: Go to the next table.
- Shift + Shift + K: Go to the previous table.
- Caps Lock + L: Go to the following link.
- Shift + Shift + L: Go to the previous link.
- Caps Lock + F3: Go to the next cell in the row.
- Shift + Shift + F3: Go to the previous cell in the row.
- Caps Lock + F4: Go to the next cell in the column.
- Shift + Shift + F4: Go to the previous cell in the column.
- Caps Lock + Space: Do a primary action.
- Lock Shift + Right Arrow: Move to the next item.
- Caps Lock + Left Arrow: Skip to the previous item.
- Caps Lock + Up / Down Arrow: Change of view.
- Capital Shift + F1: View the list of orders.
- Caps Lock + F2: Show commands for the current item.
- Caps Lock + F12: Switches the reading of characters.
- Caps Lock + Enter: Switch to search mode.
- Caps Lock + Num Lock: Switch to mouse mode.
- Caps Lock + A: Change the verbosity mode.
- Caps Lock + Esc: Narrator output.
- Caps Lock + Z: Lock the key of the narrator.
- Caps Lock + G: Moves the Narrator cursor to the system cursor.
- Caps Lock + T: Moves the narrator's cursor over the pointer.
- Shift + Backspace: Back 1 item.
- Caps Lock + Insert: Go to the related item.
- Caps Lock + F7: Read the current column.
- Caps Lock + F8: Read the current line.
- Caps Lock + F9: Read the current column header.
- Caps Lock + F10: Read the header of the current line.
- Caps Lock + F5: Read the line and column of the narrator.
- Caps Lock + F6: Go to the table cell.
- Shift + Shift + F6: Go to the contents of the cell.
- Lock Shift + Ctrl + Left Arrow: Access the parent.
- Lock Shift + Ctrl + Down Arrow: Navigate to the next brother.
- Lock Shift + Ctrl + Up Arrow: Navigate to the previous brother.
We are sure that Windows 10 users will find this accessibility feature very useful.
Related reading: New features of Windows 10 Narrator.