What are the steps to enable and use the Narrator in Windows?

Navigating the digital world can be challenging for those with visual impairments, but Windows' built-in Narrator feature is a valuable tool that can help. This screen-reading app reads text on your screen aloud and describes events, such as notifications or calendar appointments, making it easier for you to use your PC if you're unable to see the screen. Whether you're looking to use Narrator for yourself or assisting someone else, understanding how to enable and utilize this feature is essential for a more accessible computing experience.

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1 Enable Narrator

To start using Narrator, you'll need to enable it first. Press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter simultaneously to turn it on. Alternatively, you can activate Narrator through the Settings app by navigating to 'Ease of Access' and then to 'Narrator'. Here, you can toggle the 'Use Narrator' switch to 'On'. It's important to familiarize yourself with these keyboard shortcuts, as they provide a quick way to access the Narrator without having to navigate through menus visually.

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Pramod Jagannath

Windows | IBM Cloud | Vmware Administration | Azure
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To enable and use Narrator in Windows: 1. Press "Windows + Control + Enter" to activate Narrator. 2. Alternatively, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Narrator, and toggle it on. 3. Customize settings like voice, pitch, and speed in the Narrator settings menu. 4. Use Narrator commands for navigation, such as "Caps Lock + Left Arrow" to read previous item. 5. Experiment with various features like Scan Mode for easier navigation. 6. Press "Windows + Control + Enter" again to turn off Narrator when not needed.

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Chaitanya Kurhe

🚀 Sr. TSE | AI Enthusiast | Virtual Assistant Developer | Conversational AI Developer | Prompt Expert | Elevating Customer Experiences | Former TSE @_VOIS | Technical Writer | Computer Science Grad | VIT'22 Alumnus
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To enable and use Narrator in Windows: 1. Press `Windows key` + `Ctrl` + `Enter` to enable Narrator. 2. Alternatively, go to `Settings` > `Accessibility` > `Narrator` to turn it on. 3. Customize Narrator settings for voice, speed, etc. 4. Use keyboard shortcuts for navigation and commands: - `Caps Lock` + `Space` to start or stop reading. - `Caps Lock` + `A` to read the entire screen. 5. Exit Narrator with `Caps Lock` + `Esc`.

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2 Voice Settings

Once Narrator is enabled, you may want to adjust its voice settings to suit your preferences. In the Narrator settings, you can choose from different voices and set the speed, pitch, and volume of the narration. It's important to select a voice that is clear and comfortable for you to understand, as you'll be listening to it read out text and describe activities on your computer.

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3 Navigation Commands

Navigating your PC with Narrator is accomplished through a set of commands. Use the arrow keys to move through text, buttons, and other screen elements. Narrator will read these out loud as you move over them. Learning these commands might take some time, but they are crucial for efficiently using your computer with Narrator. Remember, practice makes perfect, and soon these commands will become second nature.

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4 Reading Text

To have text read aloud to you, simply navigate to the text using the Narrator cursor, which follows your keyboard focus by default. You can also use specific reading commands to read the entire window or only the paragraph or line you're on. This functionality is particularly useful for reading lengthy articles or emails where you need to focus on specific sections of text.

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5 Using Scan Mode

Scan Mode can be turned on by pressing the Narrator key + Spacebar, which allows you to navigate using just the up and down arrow keys. This mode is especially helpful for reading content like web pages or documents because it lets you quickly skip through text, similar to how you might visually scan a page. While in Scan Mode, you can also use other commands to interact with links, headings, and other elements without needing to switch out of this mode.

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Shamraz B.

Azure | Cloud | Microsoft | MDM | Active Directory | Backup and Restore | Security | Crowdstrike | VOIP | M365 | Modern Workplace | Exchange | IAM | FinTech | ITIL | SLA | Infrastructure | IaaS | Manage Engine | Windows
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For Windows 11 To turn on and off use Narrator + Spacebar. To listen to punctuation, use Narrator + Alt + Left bracket ([) or Narrator + Alt + Right bracket (]).

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6 Customize Experience

Lastly, customizing your experience with Narrator can greatly enhance its utility. You can create custom keyboard commands, adjust how punctuation is read, and even change the level of detail Narrator provides about text and controls. By tailoring these settings, you ensure that the Narrator works best for your personal needs, making your computer more accessible and easier to use.

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Shamraz B.

Azure | Cloud | Microsoft | MDM | Active Directory | Backup and Restore | Security | Crowdstrike | VOIP | M365 | Modern Workplace | Exchange | IAM | FinTech | ITIL | SLA | Infrastructure | IaaS | Manage Engine | Windows
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For Windows 11 You can use third party text to speech software. You can change narrator settings, verbosity, voice, mouse and keyboard, cursor, data services, extensions, braille settings to customize as you prefer.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Shamraz B.

Azure | Cloud | Microsoft | MDM | Active Directory | Backup and Restore | Security | Crowdstrike | VOIP | M365 | Modern Workplace | Exchange | IAM | FinTech | ITIL | SLA | Infrastructure | IaaS | Manage Engine | Windows
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1. For windows 10, 11 this changes a bit. 2. Physical keyboard and touch screen it changes. 3. Standard keyboard and other keyboard this might change. 4. Tables, commands, read and work this changes. 5. For speech this can change a bit.

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What are the steps to enable and use the Narrator in Windows?

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3

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1 Enable Narrator

2 Voice Settings

3 Navigation Commands

4 Reading Text

5 Using Scan Mode

6 Customize Experience

7 Here’s what else to consider

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What are the steps to enable and use the Narrator in Windows?

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5

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1 Enable Narrator

2 Voice Settings

3 Navigation Commands

4 Reading Text

5 Using Scan Mode

6 Customize Experience

7 Here’s what else to consider

Technical Support

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