Use the built-in screen reader
Chromebooks have a built-in screen reader called ChromeVox, which enables people with visual impairments to use the Chrome operating system.
Turn screen reader on or off
You can turn ChromeVox on or off from any page by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z.
On tablets: Press and hold the Volume down + Volume up buttons for 5 seconds. While holding the buttons, you’ll hear a sound to indicate it’s working. Keep holding the buttons, then ChromeVox will start speaking.
Read a page
Tip: To hear a description of your cursor’s current position on a page, press Search + k. Or press Launcher + k.
Choose text with your cursor
- To open your ChromeVox options, press Search + o + o. Or press Launcher + o + o.
- Turn on Speak text under the mouse.
- Move your cursor around the screen and hear text spoken aloud.
Move to different tabs and windows
Search + Alt + m (or)
Launcher + Alt + m
Press and hold Ctrl, tap Forward or Back until a tab is selected.
Then press Search + Shift + Volume up . Or press Launcher + Shift + Volume up .
Move through a page with keyboard shortcuts
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Search + b (or)
Launcher + b
Search + Shift + b (or)
Launcher Shift + b
Search + Shift + Right arrow (or)
Launcher + Shift + Right Arrow
Search + Shift + Left arrow (or)
Launcher + Shift + Left arrow
Search + x (or)
Launcher + x
Search + Shift + x (or)
Launcher + Shift + x
Search + c (or)
Launcher + c
Search + Shift + c (or)
Launcher + Shift + c
Search + e (or)
Launcher + e
Search + Shift + e (or)
Launcher + Shift + e
Search + f (or)
Launcher + f
Search + Shift + f (or)
Launcher + Shift + f
Search + g (or)
Launcher + g
Search + Shift + g (or)
Launcher + Shift + g
Search + Ctrl + Down arrow (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + Down arrow
Search + Ctrl + Up arrow (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + Up arrow
Search + h (or)
Launcher + h
Search + Shift + h (or)
Launcher + Shift + h
Search + 1 (or)
Launcher + 1
Search + Shift + 1 (or)
Launcher + Shift + 1
Search + 2 (or)
Launcher + 2
Search + Shift + 2 (or)
Launcher + Shift + 2
Search + 3 (or)
Launcher + 3
Search + Shift + 3 (or)
Launcher + Shift + 3
Search + 4 (or)
Launcher + 4
Search + Shift + 4 (or)
Launcher + Shift + 4
Search + 5 (or)
Launcher + 5
Search + Shift + 5 (or)
Launcher + Shift + 5
Search + 6 (or)
Launcher + 6
Search + Shift + 6 (or)
Launcher + Shift + 6
Search + ; (semicolon) (or)
Launcher + ; (semicolon)
Search + Shift + ; (semicolon) (or)
Launcher + Shift + ; (semicolon)
Search + Down arrow (or)
Launcher + Down arrow
Search + Up arrow (or)
Launcher + Up arrow
Search + L (or)
Launcher + L
Search + Shift + L (or)
Launcher + Shift + L
Search + Right arrow (or)
Launcher + Right arrow
Search + Left arrow (or)
Launcher + Left arrow
Search + t (or)
Launcher + t
Search + Shift + t (or)
Launcher + Shift + t
Search + v (or)
Launcher + v
Search + Shift + v (or)
Launcher + Shift + v
Search + Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow
Search + Ctrl + Shift + Left arrow (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + Shift + Left arrow
Search + Ctrl + Left arrow (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + Left arrow
Search + Ctrl + Right arrow (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + Right arrow
Search + r (or)
Launcher + r
Search + a + j (or)
Launcher + a + j
Move through a page with your touchscreen
Move to different cells in a table
You can move around tables using keyboard shortcuts. To start, make sure your cursor is in the table.
To move your cursor from its current location in a table, press Search + Ctrl + Alt or press Launcher + Ctrl + Alt and use the arrow keys to move one cell up, down, left, or right.
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Search + Alt + Shift + Left arrow (or)
Launcher + Alt + Shift + Left arrow
Search + Alt + Shift + Right arrow (or)
Launcher + Alt + Shift + Right arrow
Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Left arrow (or)
Launcher + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Left arrow
Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Right arrow (or)
Launcher + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Right arrow
Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Up arrow (or)
Launcher + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Up arrow
Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Down arrow (or)
Launcher + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + Down arrow
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Enter, or press Search + Space (or)
Enter, or press Launcher + Space
Search + s. At the end of your selection, press Search + s again (or)
Launcher + s. At the end of your selection, press Launcher + s again
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Search + a, then w (or)
Launcher + a, then w
Search + a, then u(or)
Launcher + a, then u
Search + a, then d(or)
Launcher + a, then d
Search + o + b (or)
Launcher + o + b
Use ChromeVox to read a PDF file
You can use ChromeVox to read PDF files in your Chromebook:
- To turn on ChromeVox, press Ctrl + Alt + z.
- Open Files .
Tip: If you encounter issues when you read a PDF file:
- Reload the page.
- Restart your Chromebook.
- Open a PDF file on Chrome browser.
Change the voice or language
When you first turn on ChromeVox, it automatically chooses a voice based on the language you’ve chosen for your Chromebook. Learn how to change your language and voice settings.
- Press and hold Search , then press the letter o twice. Or press Launcher , then press the letter o twice.
- In the Voices section, select ChromeOS. Your default language shows on the button label.
- Choose another language from the list. You’ll hear the new language you’ve selected.
- When you’re done, press Ctrl + w.
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Search + Shift + [ (left square bracket) (or)
Launcher + Shift + [ (left square bracket)
Search + [ (left square bracket) (or)
Launcher + [ (left square bracket)
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Search + ] (right square bracket)
Launcher + ] (right square bracket)
Search + Shift + ] (right square bracket)
Launcher + Shift + ] (right square bracket)
Use ChromeVox keyboard shortcuts
To turn on Sticky Mode and avoid pressing the Search key or Launcher key for each shortcut, quickly press the Search or Launcher key twice. You'll know it's on when you hear "Sticky Mode enabled." It will stay on until you press it twice again.
To stop holding down the Search or Launcher key, press the Search or Launcher key again twice. ChromeVox will say "Sticky Mode disabled."
Use the ChromeVox menu
- Search: Type into the bar to find a list of results from any of the ChromeVox menus.
- Jump: List of all of the ChromeVox shortcuts.
- Speech: List of speech shortcuts that includes how to increase or decrease the speech rate and pitch.
- Tabs: List of all your open tabs.
- ChromeVox: List of several ChromeVox shortcuts that includes the ChromeVox Tutorial and Learn Mode.
- Actions: List of touch-specific options
You can use the ChromeVox menu lists to navigate a web page.
- Heading: List of headings on the web page.
- Landmark: List of landmarks on the web page.
- Link: List of links on the web page.
- Form controls: List of buttons or forms on a web page.
- Table: List of tables on a web page.
Navigate the ChromeVox menu
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Search + a, then b (or)
Launcher + a, then b
Search + Ctrl + h (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + h
Search + Ctrl + ; (semicolon) (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + ; (semicolon)
Search + Ctrl + L(or)
Launcher + Ctrl + L
Search + Ctrl + f (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + f
Search + Ctrl + t (or)
Launcher + Ctrl + t
Change spoken feedback settings
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Search + o, then o (or)
Launcher + o , theno
Search + / (forward slash) (or)
Launcher + / (forward slash)
Search + r (or)
Launcher + r
Search + a, then e (or)
Launcher + a, then e
Search + a, then p (or)
Launcher + a, then p
Search + a, thent (or)
Launcher + a, then t
Search + Shift + Esc (or)
Launcher + Shift + Esc
Learn more about ChromeVox
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Search + m (or)
Launcher + m
Search + o, then t (or)
Launcher + o, then t
Search + o, then k. Your keyboard will say the name of any key or key combination you press, and explain what the keyboard shortcut does. (or)
Launcher + o, then k. Your keyboard will say the name of any key or key combination you press, and explain what the keyboard shortcut does.
Note: You can also use this with connected braille displays and touch gestures on a touchscreen to hear the names of the functions.
Search + o, thenn(or)
Launcher + o, then n
Take screenshots or record your screen
- On your Chromebook, press Shift + Ctrl + .
- To choose to capture the full screen, part of the screen, or just a window, press Tab.
- Make your selection and follow the ChromeVox instructions.
Tip: If you don't select a folder, screenshots and recordings save to your "Downloads" folder by default.
Send feedback or get help using ChromeVox
- Chat with other people: Join the ChromeVox-Discuss group
- Send us feedback about ChromeVox: Turn on ChromeVox, press and hold Search, then press a + i. Or press and hold Launcher , then press a + i.