How to Enable and Use Narrator for Screen Reading

Introduction

Narrator is a built-in screen reading feature in Windows operating systems that reads text and describes on-screen events to assist users with visual impairments. In this tutorial, we will guide you on how to enable and effectively use Narrator to enhance your computing experience.

Prerequisites

A computer running Windows operating system (Windows 10 or later).
User account with administrative privileges.

Enabling Narrator

Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Click on "Ease of Access", then select "Narrator" from the left-hand menu.
Toggle the switch under "Use Narrator" to the "On" position.
Narrator will start automatically once enabled.

Once Narrator is enabled, you can use various commands to navigate and interact with your computer.

Keyboard Shortcuts:

Press Caps Lock together with another key (e.g., Caps Lock + Esc) to exit Narrator.
Ctrl key: hold to temporarily silence Narrator (mute output).
Windows logo key + Enter: toggle Narrator launch on startup.
Ctrl + Windows logo key + N: start or stop Narrator.

Caps Lock + Up Arrow: read previous paragraph or line.
Caps Lock + Down Arrow: read next paragraph or line.
Caps Lock + Left Arrow or Right Arrow: read previous or next character.
Caps Lock + Page Up: read from the top of the document.
Caps Lock + Page Down: read from the current cursor position.
Caps Lock + H: read the current heading.
Caps Lock + Home: jump to the beginning of the document.
Caps Lock + End: jump to the end of the document.

Customizing Narrator Settings

Narrator provides several customization options to tailor the reading experience to your preferences. Follow these steps to access the settings:

Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I.
Click on "Ease of Access", then select "Narrator" from the left-hand menu.
Under the "Change how much content you hear" section, you can adjust the verbosity and speed of Narrator.
To configure more advanced settings, click on "Narrator settings".
In the Narrator settings, you'll find options to control voice settings, page summary, cursor control, scan mode, and more.

Using Narrator with Common Applications

Narrator works well with a variety of commonly used applications. Here are a few tips for using Narrator with popular apps:

Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge

After launching the browser, press Ctrl + L to focus on the address bar.
Use the Narrator navigation commands to read web pages, links, headings, and other elements.
To navigate through web page controls, use Tab, Shift + Tab, and arrow keys.

Microsoft Word

Open a Word document.
Use the Narrator navigation commands to read the text, move between paragraphs, lines, characters, etc.
Press Ctrl + F to enable the Find feature and search for specific words or phrases.
Use Ctrl + H to access the Find and Replace feature.

File Explorer

Open File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E.
Use the Narrator navigation commands to read folder and file names, navigate through directory structures, etc.
Press Enter to open a selected file or folder.
To rename a file or folder, select it and press F2.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to enable and use Narrator for screen reading in Windows. By familiarizing yourself with the navigation commands and customizing the settings, you can now navigate and interact with your computer using this powerful accessibility tool. Remember to practice using Narrator regularly to become more proficient and make the most of its capabilities.

Note: Narrator may have additional features and functionalities depending on the Windows version you are using. This guide is based on Windows 10 and later versions.

How to enable and use Narrator for screen reading.