Resources

Screen Reader Keyboard Shortcuts and Gestures

A practical quick-reference for keyboard and gesture testing across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Use this alongside manual testing when reviewing headings, landmarks, links, forms, tables, and focus behavior.

Source: organized from Deque University's screen reader keyboard shortcut and gesture guides. For exhaustive, printer-friendly, and version-specific details, use the full guide links inside each section.

Windows

Use these when testing Chrome, Edge, Firefox, forms, headings, landmarks, links, and tables on Windows.

JAWS

Best testing pairing: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Internet Explorer

Full guide

Task	Shortcut / gesture
Stop reading	`Control`
Start continuous reading	`Insert + Down Arrow`
Next focusable item	`Tab`
Activate link or button	`Enter / Space`
Next heading	`H`
Heading level 1-6	`1-6`
Headings list	`Insert + F6`
Next landmark	`R`
Main region	`Q`
Elements list	`Insert + F3`
Links list	`Insert + F7`
Next table	`T`
Table cell movement	`Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys`
Next form field	`F`
List form controls	`Insert + F5`
Forms mode on/off	`Enter / Numpad Plus`

NVDA

Best testing pairing: Firefox, Chrome, and Edge

Full guide

Task	Shortcut / gesture
Turn NVDA on	`Control + Alt + N`
Turn NVDA off	`Insert + Q`
Stop reading	`Control`
Start continuous reading	`Insert + Down Arrow`
Toggle browse/focus mode	`Insert + Space`
Next focusable item	`Tab`
Activate link or button	`Enter / Space`
Next heading	`H`
Heading level 1-6	`1-6`
Elements list	`Insert + F7`
Next landmark	`D`
Next link	`K`
Next table	`T`
Table cell movement	`Control + Alt + Arrow Keys`
Next list	`L`
Next graphic	`G`

Narrator

Best testing pairing: Microsoft Edge

Full guide

Task	Shortcut / gesture
Turn Narrator on/off	`Windows + Control + Enter`
Stop reading	`Control`
Start continuous reading	`Caps Lock + Down Arrow`
Toggle scan mode	`Caps Lock + Space`
Read next item	`Caps Lock + Right Arrow`
Current item	`Caps Lock + Tab`
Activate link or button	`Caps Lock + Enter`
Next heading	`H`
Heading level 1-6	`1-6`
Headings list	`Caps Lock + F6`
Next landmark	`D`
Main content	`Caps Lock + N`
Links list	`Caps Lock + F7`
Next table	`T`
Table cell movement	`Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys`
Change view	`Caps Lock + Page Up / Page Down`

macOS

VoiceOver is built into macOS and is most consistent with Safari.

VoiceOver on Mac

Best testing pairing: Safari

Full guide

Task	Shortcut / gesture
Start or stop VoiceOver	`Command + F5`
VoiceOver modifier	`Control + Option`
Lock VO keys	`VO + ;`
Repeat last phrase	`VO + Z`
Open rotor	`VO + U`
Start reading	`VO + A`
Pause/resume reading	`Control`
Next/previous item	`VO + Right / Left Arrow`
Activate control	`VO + Space`
Next link	`VO + Command + L`
Next heading	`VO + Command + H`
Next form element	`VO + Command + J`
Next table	`VO + Command + T`
Next list	`VO + Command + X`
Table cell movement	`VO + Arrow Keys`
Interact in/out of objects	`VO + Shift + Down / Up Arrow`

Android

TalkBack gestures vary by Android version and device. Chrome is the recommended browser for current Android versions.

TalkBack

Best testing pairing: Chrome and Firefox

Full guide

Task	Shortcut / gesture
Turn TalkBack on/off	`Hold both volume buttons`
Explore by touch	`Drag one finger`
Next/previous item	`Swipe right / left`
Activate element	`Double-tap`
Pause/resume reading	`Two-finger tap`
TalkBack menu	`Swipe down then right`
Reading controls	`Swipe up then down`
Next heading	`Headings control, swipe down`
Next landmark	`Landmarks control, swipe down`
Next link	`Links control, swipe down`
Table cells	`Swipe left / right or explore by touch`
Voice command	`Swipe right then up`

iOS

VoiceOver is built into iPhone and iPad. Use the rotor for headings, links, tables, form controls, and other navigation modes.

VoiceOver on iOS

Best testing pairing: Safari

Full guide

Task	Shortcut / gesture
Turn VoiceOver on/off	`Triple-press Home or Side button`
Rotor	`Two-finger twist`
Next/previous item	`Swipe right / left`
Activate link or button	`Double-tap`
Pause/resume reading	`Two-finger tap`
Read from current point	`Two-finger swipe down`
Read entire page	`Two-finger swipe up`
Close/cancel	`Two-finger scrub`
Next heading	`Rotor, swipe down`
Next landmark	`Rotor, swipe down`
Item chooser	`Two-finger triple-tap`
Scroll	`Three-finger swipe`
First/last item	`Four-finger tap upper/lower screen`
Next form control	`Rotor, swipe down`
Select checkbox/radio	`Double-tap`

Testing reminder

Screen reader shortcuts vary by version, keyboard layout, browser, device, and user settings. Treat this page as a quick-reference, not a replacement for testing with real assistive technology users and the full source documentation.