Use the built-in screen reader on your Chromebook
Chromebooks have a built-in screen reader called ChromeVox, which enables people with visual impairments to use the Chrome operating system.
Turn screen reader on or off
You can turn ChromeVox on or off from any page by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z.
On tablets: Press and hold the Volume down + Volume up buttons for 5 seconds. While holding the buttons, you’ll hear a sound to indicate it’s working. Keep holding the buttons, then ChromeVox will start speaking.
Read a page
Tip: To hear a description of your cursor’s current position on a page, press Search + k. Or press Launcher 👁 Image
+ k.
- To open your ChromeVox options, press Search + o + o. Or press Launcher 👁 Image
+ o + o. - Turn on Speak text under the mouse.
- Move your cursor around the screen and hear text spoken aloud.
| Open a new window | Ctrl + n |
| Open a new window in Incognito mode | Shift + Ctrl + n |
| Open a new tab | Ctrl + t |
| Open a file in the browser | Ctrl + o |
| Close the current tab | Ctrl + w |
| Close the current window | Shift + Ctrl + w |
| Reopen the last tab or window you closed | Shift + Ctrl + t |
| Go to tabs 1-8 in the window | Ctrl + 1 through Ctrl + 8 |
| Go to the last tab in the window | Ctrl + 9 |
| Go to the next tab in the window | Ctrl + Tab |
| Go to the previous tab in the window | Shift + Ctrl + Tab |
| Switch quickly between windows | Press hold Alt, tap Tab until you get to the window you want to open, then release. |
| Open the window you used least recently | Press hold Shift + Alt, tap Tab until you get to the window you want to open, then release. |
| Go to previous page in your browsing history | Alt + Left arrow 👁 Image |
| Go to next page in your browsing history | Alt + Right arrow 👁 Image |
| Open the webpage in a new tab | Type a web address (URL) in the address bar, then press Alt + Enter |
| Dock a window on the left | Alt + [ (left square bracket) |
| Dock a window on the right | Alt + ] (right square bracket) |
| Maximize window | Alt + = |
| Minimize window | Alt + - (minus) |
| Switch windows between screens (when your Chromebook is connected to a monitor) |
Search + Alt + m (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Open tabs menu |
Press and hold Ctrl, tap Forward 👁 Image Then press Search + Shift + Volume up 👁 Image |
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search 👁 Image
key or Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| Next button |
Search + b (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous button |
Search + Shift + b (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next character |
Search + Shift + Right arrow 👁 Image |
| Previous character |
Search + Shift + Left arrow 👁 Image |
| Next checkbox |
Search + x (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous checkbox |
Search + Shift + x (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next combo box |
Search + c (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous combo box |
Search + Shift + c (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next editable text area |
Search + e (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous editable text area |
Search + Shift + e (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next focusable item | Tab |
| Previous focusable item | Shift + Tab |
| Next form field |
Search + f (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous form field |
Search + Shift + f (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next graphic |
Search + g (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous graphic |
Search + Shift + g (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next group |
Search + Ctrl + Down arrow 👁 Image |
| Previous group |
Search + Ctrl + Up arrow 👁 Image |
| Next heading |
Search + h (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous heading |
Search + Shift + h (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next Level 1 Heading |
Search + 1 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous Level 1 Heading |
Search + Shift + 1 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next Level 2 Heading |
Search + 2 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous Level 2 Heading |
Search + Shift + 2 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next Level 3 Heading |
Search + 3 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous Level 3 Heading |
Search + Shift + 3 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next Level 4 Heading |
Search + 4 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous Level 4 Heading |
Search + Shift + 4 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next Level 5 Heading |
Search + 5 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous Level 5 Heading |
Search + Shift + 5 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next Level 6 Heading |
Search + 6 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous Level 6 Heading |
Search + Shift + 6 (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next landmark |
Search + ; (semicolon) (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous landmark |
Search + Shift + ; (semicolon) (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next line |
Search + Down arrow 👁 Image |
| Previous line |
Search + Up arrow 👁 Image |
| Next link |
Search + L (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous link |
Search + Shift + L (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next object |
Search + Right arrow 👁 Image |
| Previous object |
Search + Left arrow 👁 Image |
| Next table |
Search + t (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous table |
Search + Shift + t (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next visited link |
Search + v (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Previous visited link |
Search + Shift + v (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next word |
Search + Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow 👁 Image |
| Previous word |
Search + Ctrl + Shift + Left arrow 👁 Image |
| Go to top of page |
Search + Ctrl + Left arrow 👁 Image |
| Go to bottom of page |
Search + Ctrl + Right arrow👁 Image |
| Start reading from current location |
Search + r (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Jump to details |
Search + a + j (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Next word | Two-finger swipe right |
| Previous word | Two-finger swipe left |
| Go to top of page | Two-finger swipe up |
| Start reading from current location | Two-finger swipe down |
| Click focused item | Tap twice |
| Stop speech | Two-finger tap |
| Next line | Swipe down |
| Previous line | Swipe up |
| Next character | Swipe right |
| Previous character | Swipe left |
| Next word | Two-finger swipe right |
| Previous word | Two-finger swipe left |
| Open most recently visited menu | Four-finger tap |
| Next menu item | Swipe down within menus |
| Previous menu item | Swipe up within menus |
| Next menu heading | Swipe right within menus |
You can move around tables using keyboard shortcuts. To start, make sure your cursor is in the table.
To move your cursor from its current location in a table, press Search + Ctrl + Alt or press Launcher 👁 Image
+ Ctrl + Alt and use the arrow keys to move one cell up, down, left, or right.
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key 👁 Image
or the Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| First cell in the table |
Search + Alt + Shift + Left arrow 👁 Image |
| Last cell in the table |
Search + Alt + Shift + Right arrow 👁 Image |
| First cell in current row |
Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Left arrow 👁 Image |
| Last cell in current row |
Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Right arrow 👁 Image |
| First cell in current column |
Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Up arrow 👁 Image |
| Last cell in current column |
Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Down arrow 👁 Image |
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key 👁 Image
or the Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| Move through selectable items, like links and tabs | Tab |
| Move backward through selectable items | Shift + Tab |
| Click |
Enter, or press Search + Space (or) Enter, or press Launcher 👁 Image |
| Select text |
Search + s. At the end of your selection, press Search + s again (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key 👁 Image
or the Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| Hear title of current page |
Search + a, then w (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Hear URL of current page |
Search + a, then u(or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Hear current date time |
Search + a, then d(or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Hear how much battery your Chromebook has left |
Search + o + b (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
Use ChromeVox to read a PDF file
You can use ChromeVox to read PDF files in your Chromebook:
- To turn on ChromeVox, press Ctrl + Alt + z.
- Open Files 👁 Image
.
Tip: If you encounter issues when you read a PDF file:
- Reload the page.
- Restart your Chromebook.
- Open a PDF file on Chrome browser.
Change the voice or language
When you first turn on ChromeVox, it automatically chooses a voice based on the language you’ve chosen for your Chromebook. Learn how to change your language and voice settings.
- Press and hold Search 👁 Image
, then press the letter o twice. Or press Launcher 👁 Image
, then press the letter o twice. - In the Voices section, select ChromeOS. Your default language shows on the button label.
- Choose another language from the list. You’ll hear the new language you’ve selected.
- When you’re done, press Ctrl + w.
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key 👁 Image
or the Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| Slow down |
Search + Shift + [ (left square bracket) (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Speed it up |
Search + [ (left square bracket) (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Stop speaking | Ctrl |
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key 👁 Image
or the Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| Higher frequency |
Search + ] (right square bracket) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Lower frequency |
Search + Shift + ] (right square bracket) Launcher 👁 Image |
Use ChromeVox keyboard shortcuts
To turn on Sticky Mode and avoid pressing the Search key 👁 Image
or Launcher key 👁 Image
for each shortcut, quickly press the Search or Launcher key twice. You'll know it's on when you hear "Sticky Mode enabled." It will stay on until you press it twice again.
To stop holding down the Search or Launcher key, press the Search or Launcher key again twice. ChromeVox will say "Sticky Mode disabled."
+ .(period). If you are on a touchscreen, you can tap the screen with 4 fingers.
- Search: Type into the bar to find a list of results from any of the ChromeVox menus.
- Jump: List of all of the ChromeVox shortcuts.
- Speech: List of speech shortcuts that includes how to increase or decrease the speech rate and pitch.
- Tabs: List of all your open tabs.
- ChromeVox: List of several ChromeVox shortcuts that includes the ChromeVox Tutorial and Learn Mode.
- Actions: List of touch-specific options
You can use the ChromeVox menu lists to navigate a web page.
- Heading: List of headings on the web page.
- Landmark: List of landmarks on the web page.
- Link: List of links on the web page.
- Form controls: List of buttons or forms on a web page.
- Table: List of tables on a web page.
Navigate the ChromeVox menu
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key 👁 Image
or the Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| Turn Braille captions on/off |
Search + a, then b (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Show spoken text as braille captions on connected (USB or Bluetooth) braille displays |
Search + O + C (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Hide the ChromeVox menus | Esc |
| Show Heading list |
Search + Ctrl + h (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Show Landmark list |
Search + Ctrl + ; (semicolon) (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Show Links list |
Search + Ctrl + L(or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Show Form list |
Search + Ctrl + f (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Show Table list |
Search + Ctrl + t (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
Change spoken feedback settings
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key 👁 Image
or the Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| Open Search options |
Search + o, then o (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Find in page |
Search + / (forward slash) (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Start reading from current location |
Search + r (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Turn earcons on or off |
Search + a, then e (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Hear punctuation marks as you type them |
Search + a, then p (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Hear letters as you type them |
Search + a, thent (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Ignore the next key press |
Search + Shift + Esc (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
Learn more about ChromeVox
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key 👁 Image
or the Launcher key 👁 Image
for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
| Open the ChromeVox context menu |
Search + m (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Open Search tutorial |
Search + o, then t (or) Launcher 👁 Image |
| Turn on Learn Mode (Hear the names of the keys on your keyboard) |
Search + o, then k. Your keyboard will say the name of any key or key combination you press, and explain what the keyboard shortcut does. (or) Launcher 👁 Image Note: You can also use this with connected braille displays and touch gestures on a touchscreen to hear the names of the functions. |
| Turn off Learn Mode | Ctrl + w |
| Open update notes |
Search + o, thenn(or) Launcher 👁 Image |
Read math with ChromeVox
To read math that is written in Mathematical Markup Language (MathML), use ChromeVox.
- On your Chromebook, to turn on ChromeVox, press Ctrl + Alt + z.
- Go to a math expression.
- To begin interaction with the math expression, press the down arrow.
- Once ChromeVox is in the math expression, to move into and out of terms, press the up and down arrow keys.
- To move a greater level of detail, press down arrow.
- To move a lesser level of detail, press up arrow.
- To move the previous item at the same level of detail, press left arrow.
- To move to the next item at the same level of detail, press right arrow.
- When you explore math expressions, for the best results, turn off "Sticky mode" in ChromeVox.
- To turn off "Sticky mode," press Search or the "Launcher" key twice.
Take screenshots or record your screen
- On your Chromebook, press Shift + Ctrl + 👁 Image
. - To choose to capture the full screen, part of the screen, or just a window, press Tab.
- Make your selection and follow the ChromeVox instructions.
Tip: If you don't select a folder, screenshots and recordings save to your “Downloads” folder by default.
Send feedback or get help using ChromeVox
- Chat with other people: Join the ChromeVox-Discuss group
- Send us feedback about ChromeVox: Turn on ChromeVox, press and hold Search, then press a + i. Or press and hold Launcher 👁 Image
, then press a + i.