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Quick Answer

Press Windows Key + Ctrl + Enter to turn Narrator on or off. Narrator will immediately begin reading the text on your screen and announce buttons and menus as you navigate with the keyboard.

How to Use Narrator (Screen Reader) in Windows ​

Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09

Summary ​

Narrator is a built-in screen reader in Windows that reads on-screen text aloud, describes UI elements, and helps you navigate your computer without relying on a visual display. This article shows how to start, navigate with, and configure Narrator — useful for users with visual impairments or those who occasionally prefer audio-guided navigation.

Prerequisites ​

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  • Speakers or headphones connected.
  • No admin rights required.

Instructions ​

1. Start and Stop Narrator ​

Turn the screen reader on and off.

  1. Press Win+Ctrl+Enter to start Narrator.
  2. Narrator announces "Narrator is on" and begins reading the active window.
  3. Press Win+Ctrl+Enter again to stop Narrator.

Alternatively:

  1. Press Win+I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Accessibility > Narrator (Windows 11) or Ease of Access > Narrator (Windows 10).
  3. Toggle Narrator on or off.

2. Navigate with Narrator ​

Use keyboard shortcuts to move around the screen.

ActionShortcut
Read the current itemCaps Lock + Tab
Move to the next itemCaps Lock + Right Arrow
Move to the previous itemCaps Lock + Left Arrow
Read from current positionCaps Lock + R
Stop readingCtrl
Open Narrator settingsCaps Lock + Ctrl + N
Get list of all commandsCaps Lock + F1

3. Change the Narrator Voice and Speed ​

Customise how Narrator sounds.

  1. Press Caps Lock + Ctrl + N to open Narrator settings (or go to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator).
  2. Under Narrator's voice, select a different voice from the dropdown.
  3. Adjust the Speed slider to make Narrator speak faster or slower.
  4. Adjust the Pitch slider to change the voice tone.
  5. Adjust the Volume slider to control how loud Narrator speaks.

4. Use Scan Mode for Quick Navigation ​

Read through web pages and documents efficiently.

  1. Press Caps Lock + Space to turn on Scan Mode.
  2. In Scan mode, use the Up/Down Arrow keys to move between lines and elements.
  3. Press Enter to activate a link, button, or other interactive element.
  4. Press Caps Lock + Space again to exit Scan Mode.

5. Configure What Narrator Reads ​

Control the level of detail Narrator provides.

  1. Open Narrator settings (Caps Lock + Ctrl + N).
  2. Under Verbosity, choose how much detail Narrator provides:
    • Level 1 — Text only.
    • Level 5 — Full detail (text, controls, formatting, layout).
  3. Adjust to your comfort level — lower verbosity for faster navigation, higher for more detail.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

Use Caps Lock + F1 at any time to open the full list of Narrator keyboard commands. This is the quickest way to find the action you need.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Narrator does not start with Win+Ctrl+EnterShortcut may be disabledGo to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator and enable the keyboard shortcut toggle.
Narrator voice is too fast or too slowDefault speed needs adjustingOpen Narrator settings and adjust the Speed slider.
Narrator interferes with other applicationsNarrator reads unintended elementsPress Ctrl to stop reading, then navigate to the desired element manually.