Complete JAWS keyboard shortcuts reference — 20 shortcuts across 2 categories. Quick reference cheat sheet for Windows.
JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is the most widely deployed commercial screen reader for Windows. Its shortcuts are built around the JAWS key — Insert by default — and single-letter quick navigation on the web.
This page covers all 20 JAWS shortcuts across 2 categories: Basics (9), Web Navigation (11). Each shortcut includes a description to help you understand when and how to use it effectively.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Insert + Down | Say all |
| Ctrl | Stop speech |
| Insert + Up | Read current line |
| Insert + T | Read window title |
| Insert + B | Read window |
| Insert + F12 | Report time |
| Insert + J | JAWS window |
| Insert + F4 | Quit JAWS |
| Insert + Esc | Refresh screen |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Insert + Z | Virtual cursor |
| H | Next heading |
| K | Next link |
| B | Next button |
| F | Next form field |
| T | Next table |
| L | Next list |
| Insert + F7 | Links list |
| Insert + F6 | Headings list |
| Insert + F5 | Form fields list |
| Insert + F | Font info |
JAWS's 20 shortcuts on this page are organized into 2 categories: Basics (9), Web Navigation (11). Web Navigation is the largest group with 11 shortcuts — a good place to focus first if you're building muscle memory from scratch.
Unlike many tools we cover, JAWS's key combinations here don't heavily overlap with other platforms in our database — worth learning on their own terms rather than by analogy.
New to JAWS? Start with Basics above — it's usually where the shortcuts you'll reach for constantly live. Once those feel automatic, work through Web Navigation to round out your workflow.
Want this on paper? The printable cheat sheet turns these 20 shortcuts into a one-page PDF you can pin above your desk. Prefer to learn by doing? Shortcut Speedrun turns memorization into a timed typing challenge with a global leaderboard, so you find out which JAWS shortcuts you actually remember under pressure.
The most essential JAWS shortcuts are: Insert + Down (Say all), Ctrl (Stop speech), Insert + Up (Read current line). These cover the most frequent actions and can significantly speed up your workflow.
JAWS has 20 keyboard shortcuts across 2 categories on shortcut-tools.com.
Simply press the key combination while JAWS is focused. Most shortcuts work immediately. On Mac, replace Ctrl with Cmd and Alt with Option for most shortcuts.
The JAWS shortcut for say all is Insert + Down.
JAWS includes 11 Web Navigation shortcuts, including Insert + Z (Virtual cursor) and H (Next heading). See the full list in the Web Navigation section above.
Print the JAWS cheat sheet and keep it next to your keyboard for the first week, then switch to active recall: open Shortcut Speedrun and practice JAWS shortcuts against the clock until they're automatic.
Yes — use My Stack to combine JAWS shortcuts with any other platform on this site into one printable reference, which is useful if your daily workflow spans several tools.
JAWS is commercial software for Windows only. If you need a free Windows screen reader, NVDA covers most of the same shortcuts; on macOS the built-in screen reader is VoiceOver.
Start with the essentials: Learn Insert + Down (Say all) and Ctrl (Stop speech) first — these are the most commonly used.
Practice daily: Pick 2–3 new shortcuts each day and consciously use them instead of the mouse. Within a week, they become muscle memory.
Print this cheat sheet: Keep a reference nearby until shortcuts become automatic. Focus on the Web Navigation category first.
Accessibility tip: Master the single-letter quick-navigation keys on the web first — they are nearly identical across screen readers, so the effort transfers.