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The shortcuts and gestures you actually need to test your site with NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. Want to know why testing with a real screen reader matters? It catches problems automated tools miss — landmark structure, live-region politeness, focus order, label clarity.
Modifier: NVDA = Insert (or CapsLock if remapped)
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| NVDA + N | Open the NVDA menu |
| NVDA + Q | Quit NVDA |
| NVDA + Ctrl + S | Cycle synthesizer / speech mode |
| NVDA + S | Cycle speech mode (talk / beeps / off) |
| NVDA + 1 | Toggle Input Help (announces what each key does) |
| NVDA + F1 | Show NVDA Help |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| NVDA + Down Arrow | Read from current location to end |
| NVDA + Up Arrow | Read current line |
| NVDA + Left/Right Arrow | Read previous / next word |
| NVDA + Tab | Read currently focused element |
| NVDA + T | Read the title bar |
| NVDA + B | Read the entire window |
| Ctrl | Stop speech |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| H / Shift + H | Next / previous heading |
| 1 – 6 | Next heading at level 1–6 |
| K / Shift + K | Next / previous link |
| F / Shift + F | Next / previous form field |
| T / Shift + T | Next / previous table |
| L / Shift + L | Next / previous list |
| I / Shift + I | Next / previous list item |
| B / Shift + B | Next / previous button |
| G / Shift + G | Next / previous graphic |
| D / Shift + D | Next / previous landmark |
| R / Shift + R | Next / previous radio button |
| X / Shift + X | Next / previous checkbox |
| C / Shift + C | Next / previous combo box |
| NVDA + F7 | Open the Elements List (links / headings / landmarks / buttons) |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Enter / Space | Activate the focused control |
| NVDA + Space | Toggle focus / browse mode |
| NVDA + F5 | Reload current document |
| Tab / Shift + Tab | Move focus to next / previous control |
Official docs: NVDA User Guide
Modifier: JAWS = Insert (Desktop layout). Laptop layout uses CapsLock.
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| JAWS + F1 | Open JAWS context-sensitive help |
| JAWS + J | Bring focus to the JAWS application window |
| JAWS + F4 | Close JAWS |
| JAWS + Z | Toggle echo (off / words / characters / both) |
| Ctrl | Stop speech |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| JAWS + Down Arrow (Insert + Down) | Say all (read continuously) |
| JAWS + Up Arrow | Read current line |
| JAWS + Left / Right Arrow | Previous / next word |
| JAWS + Tab | Speak focused control |
| JAWS + T | Read the title bar |
| JAWS + B | Read the entire window |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| H / Shift + H | Next / previous heading |
| 1 – 6 | Next heading at level 1–6 |
| Insert + F6 | List of headings |
| Insert + F7 | List of links |
| Insert + F5 | List of form fields |
| Insert + Ctrl + R | List of regions / landmarks |
| F / Shift + F | Next / previous form field |
| B / Shift + B | Next / previous button |
| T / Shift + T | Next / previous table |
| L / Shift + L | Next / previous list |
| G / Shift + G | Next / previous graphic |
| R / Shift + R | Next / previous region |
| Q / Shift + Q | Next / previous main region |
| Tab | Next focusable element |
Official docs: Freedom Scientific — JAWS Keystrokes Reference
Modifier: VO = Control + Option
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Cmd + F5 | Toggle VoiceOver on / off |
| VO + ; | Lock the VO keys (so you don't have to hold them) |
| VO + F1 | Open the VoiceOver menu |
| VO + H, H | Open VoiceOver Help |
| Control | Pause / resume speech |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| VO + A | Read everything from VO cursor to the end |
| VO + L | Read current line |
| VO + W | Read current word (press again to spell it) |
| VO + Right / Left Arrow | Move VO cursor right / left |
| VO + Down / Up Arrow | Interact with item below / above |
| VO + Shift + Down | Interact with the current item (enter group) |
| VO + Shift + Up | Stop interacting (exit group) |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| VO + U | Open the Web Rotor (headings, links, form controls, landmarks…) |
| VO + Cmd + H | Next heading |
| VO + Cmd + Shift + H | Previous heading |
| VO + Cmd + L | Next link |
| VO + Cmd + J | Next form control |
| VO + Cmd + G | Next graphic / image |
| VO + Cmd + T | Next table |
| VO + Cmd + X | Next list |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| VO + F2 | Speak the focused window's title |
| VO + F2, F2 | Window chooser |
| VO + F1, F1 | Application chooser |
| VO + M | Move VO cursor to the menu bar |
| VO + Space | Activate the item under the VO cursor |
Official docs: Apple — VoiceOver User Guide
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Single tap | Speak the touched item (do not activate) |
| Double tap (anywhere) | Activate the selected item |
| Two-finger tap | Pause / resume speech |
| Two-finger swipe up | Read everything from the top of the screen |
| Two-finger swipe down | Read everything from current position |
| Three-finger swipe up / down | Scroll the screen |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Swipe right / left (one finger) | Next / previous element |
| Two-finger Z (scrub) | Dismiss / go back |
| Three-finger triple-tap | Toggle Screen Curtain (hide screen visually) |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Two fingers, twist on screen | Open the Rotor and pick navigation mode |
| Swipe up / down (one finger) | Move by current Rotor unit (e.g. heading) |
| Settings → VoiceOver → Rotor | Customize available Rotor items |
Official docs: Apple — VoiceOver gestures on iPhone
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Single tap | Read the touched item (do not activate) |
| Double tap | Activate the focused item |
| Drag one finger | Explore by touch — read items as you go |
| Two-finger tap | Pause / resume speech |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Swipe right / left | Next / previous item |
| Swipe up + right | Open TalkBack menu |
| Swipe down + left (back) | System back |
| Swipe down + right (home) | Go home |
| Two-finger swipe | Scroll |
| Keys / gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Swipe up / down (one finger) | Move by current Reading Control unit |
| Swipe right + up / left + up | Cycle Reading Control (headings, links…) |
| Settings → Accessibility → TalkBack → Customize | Configure Reading Control items |
Official docs: Google — TalkBack gestures