Introduction to using a screen reader in Word
Applies To
Word for Microsoft 365 Word 2024 Word 2021 Word 2019 Word 2016If you use a screen reader, like Narrator or JAWS in Windows, use your keyboard to navigate Word, and the screen reader will announce to you where you are.
Open a recent document
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Press Alt+F, and then O.
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Press Tab once to go to the list of recent documents, and then press Tab twice more to open the list.
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Press the Down arrow key until you hear the name of the document you want, and then press Enter.
Create a new blank document
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Press Ctrl+N.
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You will hear the default name of the document (like, "Document 1"), followed by "Editing."
Save a document
Press Ctrl+S.
Tips:
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Save to a different location by pressing Shift+Tab three times, and then pressing the Up or Down arrow until you hear the location you want. Then press Enter.
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Save the file with a new name by pressing Tab until you hear, "File name," and the name of the file. Type the name you want, and press Enter.
Read a document
With the focus in the main document, use the following keyboard combinations. To stop reading the document, press Ctrl.
|
To read this... |
Press this |
|
From the cursor location to the end |
Caps Lock+M |
|
Current paragraph |
Caps Lock+Ctrl+L |
|
Next or previous line |
Down or Up arrow key |
|
Next or previous word |
Ctrl+Right or Ctrl+Left arrow key |
Search for a word
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Press Ctrl+F. You hear: "Navigation, Search a document."
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Type your search words. The list of search results is updated as you type.
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Press Tab until you hear, "Search results list," followed by the first result.
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Press the Down arrow key to move through the list.
Print documents
Press Ctrl+P. To print with the default settings, press Enter.
Tips: To change the print settings, press Tab to move through the options.
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Within each list of options, press Tab and use the Down and Up arrow keys to move from one option to the next. To select an option, press Enter.
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To print with the new settings, press Tab until you hear, "Print button," and then press Enter.
Explore more
For more screen-reader instructions, including steps for using Word in Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, see Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word
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