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
Open a new window | Ctrl n |
Open a new window in Incognito mode | Shift Ctrl n |
Open a new tab | Ctrl t |
Open a file in the browser | Ctrl o |
Close the current tab | Ctrl w |
Close the current window | Shift Ctrl w |
Reopen the last tab or window you closed | Shift Ctrl t |
Go to tabs 1-8 in the window | Ctrl 1 through Ctrl 8 |
Go to the last tab in the window | Ctrl 9 |
Go to the next tab in the window | Ctrl Tab |
Go to the previous tab in the window | Shift Ctrl Tab |
Switch quickly between windows | Press hold Alt, tap Tab until you get to the window you want to open, then release. |
Open the window you used least recently | Press hold Shift Alt, tap Tab until you get to the window you want to open, then release. |
Go to previous page in your browsing history | Alt Left arrow |
Go to next page in your browsing history | Alt Right arrow |
Open the webpage in a new tab | Type a web address (URL) in the address bar, then press Alt Enter |
Dock a window on the left | Alt [ (left square bracket) |
Dock a window on the right | Alt ] (right square bracket) |
Maximize window | Alt = |
Minimize window | Alt - (minus) |
Switch windows between screens (when your Chromebook is connected to a monitor) |
Search Alt m (or) Launcher Alt m |
Open tabs menu |
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.
Next button |
Search b (or) Launcher b |
Previous button |
Search Shift b (or) Launcher Shift b |
Next character |
Search Shift Right arrow (or) Launcher Shift Right Arrow |
Previous character |
Search Shift Left arrow (or) Launcher Shift Left arrow |
Next checkbox |
Search x (or) Launcher x |
Previous checkbox |
Search Shift x (or) Launcher Shift x |
Next combo box |
Search c (or) Launcher c |
Previous combo box |
Search Shift c (or) Launcher Shift c |
Next editable text area |
Search e (or) Launcher e |
Previous editable text area |
Search Shift e (or) Launcher Shift e |
Next focusable item | Tab |
Previous focusable item | Shift Tab |
Next form field |
Search f (or) Launcher f |
Previous form field |
Search Shift f (or) Launcher Shift f |
Next graphic |
Search g (or) Launcher g |
Previous graphic |
Search Shift g (or) Launcher Shift g |
Next group |
Search Ctrl Down arrow (or) Launcher Ctrl Down arrow |
Previous group |
Search Ctrl Up arrow (or) Launcher Ctrl Up arrow |
Next heading |
Search h (or) Launcher h |
Previous heading |
Search Shift h (or) Launcher Shift h |
Next Level 1 Heading |
Search 1 (or) Launcher 1 |
Previous Level 1 Heading |
Search Shift 1 (or) Launcher Shift 1 |
Next Level 2 Heading |
Search 2 (or) Launcher 2 |
Previous Level 2 Heading |
Search Shift 2 (or) Launcher Shift 2 |
Next Level 3 Heading |
Search 3 (or) Launcher 3 |
Previous Level 3 Heading |
Search Shift 3 (or) Launcher Shift 3 |
Next Level 4 Heading |
Search 4 (or) Launcher 4 |
Previous Level 4 Heading |
Search Shift 4 (or) Launcher Shift 4 |
Next Level 5 Heading |
Search 5 (or) Launcher 5 |
Previous Level 5 Heading |
Search Shift 5 (or) Launcher Shift 5 |
Next Level 6 Heading |
Search 6 (or) Launcher 6 |
Previous Level 6 Heading |
Search Shift 6 (or) Launcher Shift 6 |
Next landmark |
Search ; (semicolon) (or) Launcher ; (semicolon) |
Previous landmark |
Search Shift ; (semicolon) (or) Launcher Shift ; (semicolon) |
Next line |
Search Down arrow (or) Launcher Down arrow |
Previous line |
Search Up arrow (or) Launcher Up arrow |
Next link |
Search L (or) Launcher L |
Previous link |
Search Shift L (or) Launcher Shift L |
Next object |
Search Right arrow (or) Launcher Right arrow |
Previous object |
Search Left arrow (or) Launcher Left arrow |
Next table |
Search t (or) Launcher t |
Previous table |
Search Shift t (or) Launcher Shift t |
Next visited link |
Search v (or) Launcher v |
Previous visited link |
Search Shift v (or) Launcher Shift v |
Next word |
Search Ctrl Shift Right arrow (or) Launcher Ctrl Shift Right arrow |
Previous word |
Search Ctrl Shift Left arrow (or) Launcher Ctrl Shift Left arrow |
Go to top of page |
Search Ctrl Left arrow (or) Launcher Ctrl Left arrow |
Go to bottom of page |
Search Ctrl Right arrow (or) Launcher Ctrl Right arrow |
Start reading from current location |
Search r (or) Launcher r |
Jump to details |
Search a j (or) Launcher a j |
Move through a page with your touchscreen
Next word | Two-finger swipe right |
Previous word | Two-finger swipe left |
Go to top of page | Two-finger swipe up |
Start reading from current location | Two-finger swipe down |
Click focused item | Tap twice |
Stop speech | Two-finger tap |
Next line | Swipe down |
Previous line | Swipe up |
Next character | Swipe right |
Previous character | Swipe left |
Next word | Two-finger swipe right |
Previous word | Two-finger swipe left |
Open most recently visited menu | Four-finger tap |
Next menu item | Swipe down within menus |
Previous menu item | Swipe up within menus |
Next menu heading | Swipe right 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 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.
First cell in the table |
Search Alt Shift Left arrow (or) Launcher Alt Shift Left arrow |
Last cell in the table |
Search Alt Shift Right arrow (or) Launcher Alt Shift Right arrow |
First cell in current row |
Search Alt Shift Ctrl Left arrow (or) Launcher Alt Shift Ctrl Left arrow |
Last cell in current row |
Search Alt Shift Ctrl Right arrow (or) Launcher Alt Shift Ctrl Right arrow |
First cell in current column |
Search Alt Shift Ctrl Up arrow (or) Launcher Alt Shift Ctrl Up arrow |
Last cell in current column |
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.
Move through selectable items, like links and tabs | Tab |
Move backward through selectable items | Shift Tab |
Click |
Enter, or press Search Space (or) Enter, or press Launcher Space |
Select text |
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.
Hear title of current page |
Search a, then w (or) Launcher a, then w |
Hear URL of current page |
Search a, then u(or) Launcher a, then u |
Hear current date time |
Search a, then d(or) Launcher a, then d |
Hear how much battery your Chromebook has left |
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.
Slow down |
Search Shift [ (left square bracket) (or) Launcher Shift [ (left square bracket) |
Speed it up |
Search [ (left square bracket) (or) Launcher [ (left square bracket) |
Stop speaking | Ctrl |
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Higher frequency |
Search ] (right square bracket) Launcher ] (right square bracket) |
Lower frequency |
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.
Turn Braille captions on/off |
Search a, then b (or) Launcher a, then b |
Hide the ChromeVox menus | Esc |
Show Heading list |
Search Ctrl h (or) Launcher Ctrl h |
Show Landmark list |
Search Ctrl ; (semicolon) (or) Launcher Ctrl ; (semicolon) |
Show Links list |
Search Ctrl L(or) Launcher Ctrl L |
Show Form list |
Search Ctrl f (or) Launcher Ctrl f |
Show Table list |
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.
Open Search options |
Search o, then o (or) Launcher o , theno |
Find in page |
Search / (forward slash) (or) Launcher / (forward slash) |
Start reading from current location |
Search r (or) Launcher r |
Turn earcons on or off |
Search a, then e (or) Launcher a, then e |
Hear punctuation marks as you type them |
Search a, then p (or) Launcher a, then p |
Hear letters as you type them |
Search a, thent (or) Launcher a, then t |
Ignore the next key press |
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.
Open the ChromeVox context menu |
Search m (or) Launcher m |
Open Search tutorial |
Search o, then t (or) Launcher o, then t |
Turn on Learn Mode (Hear the names of the keys on your keyboard) |
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. |
Turn off Learn Mode | Ctrl w |
Open update notes |
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.