Use the built-in screen reader on your Pixelbook
Pixelbook has a built-in screen reader called ChromeVox, which allows visually-impaired people to use the Chrome operating system.
Note: If you're using the Chromevox screen reader, your Pixelbook will automatically switch to the Android screen reader when using the Google Assistant and other compatible Android apps. It'll switch back to Chromevox automatically too, so you don't need to do anything
Turn screen reader on or off
In laptop mode: You can turn ChromeVox on or off from any page by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z.
In tablet mode: 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.
Move through a page with keyboard shortcuts
Move through a page with your touchscreen
Swipe down within menus
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 and the arrow keys to move one cell up, down, left, or right.
To go to different cells:
- First cell in the table: Search + Alt + Shift + left arrow
- First cell in current row: Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + left arrow
- First cell in current column: Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + up arrow
- Last cell in the table: Search + Alt + Shift + right arrow
- Last cell in current row: Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + right arrow
- Last cell in current column: Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + down arrow
- Move through selectable items, like links and tabs: Tab
- Move backward through selectable items: Shift + Tab
- Click: Enter, or press Search + Space
- Select text: Search + s. At the end of your selection, press Search + s again
- Hear title of current page: Search + a, then w
- Hear URL of current page: Search + a, then u
- Hear current date & time: Search + a, then d
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 device. To learn how to change your language and voice settings, see Related articles.
- Press and hold Search, then press the letter o twice.
- In the Voices section, select Chrome OS. 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.
- Slow down: Search + Shift + [ (left square bracket)
- Speed it up: Search + [ (left square bracket)
- Pause speaking: Ctrl
On a keyboard:
- Higher frequency: Search + ] (right square bracket)
- Lower frequency: Search + Shift + ] (right square bracket)
On a touchscreen:
- At the bottom right, select the time to open the status area.
- Tap Settings Settings
- Scroll down and tap Advanced.
- Scroll down to "Accessibility" section and tap Manage accessibility features.
- Tap Text-to-speech voice settings.
- Next to "Pitch," move the slider to adjust to a higher or lower frequency.
Use ChromeVox keyboard shortcuts
If you're using a tablet, you can access shortcuts commands by using the ChromeVox menus and accessing the commands listed in the Jump menu.
To avoid pressing Search for each shortcut, quickly press Search 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 Search, press Search again twice. ChromeVox will say "Sticky Mode disabled."
See or hide shortcuts
Change spoken feedback settings
Learn more about ChromeVox and your device
Send feedback or get help using ChromeVox
- Chat with other people: Join the ChromeVox-Discuss group
- Send us feedback about ChromeVox
In laptop mode: Turn on ChromeVox, press and hold Search, then press a + i.
In tablet mode: Tap 4 fingers on the screen to open the ChromeVox menus. Then select Report an issue.
Get more help
For more Accessibility help, contact the Disability Support team.
Using ChromeVox on your Chromebook: Fundamentals