Use a braille device with your Chromebook

ChromeVox automatically chooses a type of braille based on your Chromebook’s language setting, but you can change the type.

1. Press Search 👁 Image
   + o + o. Or press Launcher 👁 Image
    + o + o.
2. Press and hold the Search key 👁 Image
    or the Launcher key 👁 Image
   .
3. Press the right arrow key until you hear "Switch to 6-dot braille" or "Switch to 8-dot braille."
4. Press Enter.
5. Optional: You’ll hear your braille language, and sometimes also your grade level. To change it, press Enter, then use the arrow keys to move through the list. When you hear the option you want, press Enter.
6. To close, press Ctrl + w.

Tip: Use 8-dot braille to enter text if:

• You’re using uncontracted braille, and your cursor is inside a word
• You’re entering text into a web form, like your email address or phone number

When ChromeVox is on, speech captions are on automatically. To turn braille captions on or off, press Search 👁 Image
+ a + b. Or press Launcher 👁 Image
 + a + b.

1. Press Search 👁 Image
   + o + o. Or press Launcher 👁 Image
    + o + o.
2. Press and hold the Search key 👁 Image
    or the Launcher key 👁 Image
   .
3. Press the right arrow key until you hear "Current display style is interleave" or "Current display style is side by side."
   • To show captions first, then braille, press the right arrow key until you hear "Change display style to side by side." Then press Enter.
   • To alternate captions and braille, press the right arrow key until you hear "Change display style to interleave." Then press Enter.
4. To close, press Ctrl + w.

1. Press Search 👁 Image
   + o + o. Or press Launcher 👁 Image
    + o + o.
2. Press and hold the Search key 👁 Image
    or the Launcher key 👁 Image
   .
3. Press the right arrow key until you hear "Virtual braille display."
4. Enter the number of rows and columns you’d like to show.
5. To close, press Ctrl + w.

If a word doesn’t fit on your refreshable braille display, word wrapping moves the word to the next line. To turn word wrapping on or off:

1. Press Search 👁 Image
   + o + o. Or press Launcher 👁 Image
    + o + o.
2. Press and hold the Search key 👁 Image
    or the Launcher key 👁 Image
   .
3. Press the right arrow key until you hear "Enable word wrap."
4. Check or uncheck the box.
5. To close, press Ctrl + w.

Jump to the bottom of the page	Space + dots 4-5-6
Jump to the top of the page	Space + dots 1-2-3
Next button	Space + dots 1-2
Next character	Space + dot 6
Next editable text area	Space + dots 1-5
Next form field	Space + dots 1-2-4
Next group	Space + dots 5-6
Next heading	Space + dots 1-2-5
Next link	Space + dots 4-5
Next object	Space + dot 4
Next table	Space + dots 2-3-4-5
Next word	Space + dot 5
Previous button	Space + dots 1-2-7
Previous character	Space + dot 3
Previous editable text area	Space + dots 1-5-7
Previous form field	Space + dots 1-2-4-7
Previous group	Space + dots 2-3
Previous heading	Space + dots 1-2-5-7
Previous link	Space + dots 4-5-7
Previous object	Space + dot 1
Previous table	Space + dots 2-3-4-5-7
Previous word	Space + dot 2
Quiet/unquiet	Space + 1-2-3-4-5

If you’re using U.S. English, you can type the @ sign by pressing dots 4-7 together.

Note: When you type in an email or URL text field, your braille device will use 8-dot (computer) braille automatically.

You can enter keyboard shortcuts with your braille device by entering a sequence of dots that mimic some keys on your keyboard.

Ctrl	Space + dots 2-5
Alt	Space + dots 3-6
Shift	Space + dots 3-7
Ctrl + Shift	Space + dots 2-5-7
Alt + Shift	Space + dots 3-6-7
Backspace	Space + dot 7
Tab	Space + dots 3-5
Escape	Space + dots 1-3-5-6
Enter	Space + dots 4-6

Click current item	Space + dot 8
Open context menu	Space + dots 1-3-4
Start/end selection	Space + dots 2-3-4
Find in page	Space + dots 3-4
Complete description of current position	Space + dots 1-4
Open ChromeVox menus	Space + dots 1-4-5-6
Open the status area (where your account photo is)	Space + dots 3-6-7, then dots 2-3-4

Try these steps on the device:

• Make sure USB support is turned on.
• If you’re using a braille notetaker, make sure it’s in terminal mode.
• Check for and apply any firmware updates.
• Try using a different emulation mode or protocol.
• Try using your braille device with a different computer and operating system, like a Mac or PC. If it works with the second computer but not your Chromebook, try using a different braille device with your Chromebook.
• Reset your braille device to factory settings.
  Caution: This step will erase all settings on the device, so make sure you save important information first.

For more info, check the device’s manual or contact the manufacturer.

If you plug in a braille device and ChromeVox doesn’t turn on automatically:

• Unplug the braille device, then plug it back in.
• Turn on ChromeVox by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z.

To see if your braille device is compatible with Chromebooks, check your device’s manual or contact the manufacturer.