NVDA keyboard shortcuts for the desktop and laptop layouts

Q: Which key is the NVDA key?

Insert by default. During installation you can also enable Caps Lock, which is the usual choice on laptops without a convenient Insert. Both work simultaneously if both are enabled.

Q: How is NVDA’s K different from JAWS?

In NVDA, K is the link key. In JAWS it moves to PlaceMarkers instead, and links are Tab and Shift + Tab. The radio-button key swaps too: NVDA uses R, JAWS uses A. These two letters cause most of the confusion for people who switch between the readers.

Q: How do I copy text that I can only reach with the review cursor?

Position the review cursor at the start and press NVDA + F9 to mark it. Move to the end, press NVDA + F10 once to select, and again to copy to the clipboard.

NVDA key commands from NV Access's Commands Quick Reference for NVDA 2026.2, with the desktop and laptop layouts side by side. Most combinations start with the NVDA key, Insert by default and Caps Lock once enabled; the desktop layout reviews text with the bare numeric keypad, so Num Lock must be off. In browse mode single letters navigate: H jumps to the next heading. Touch gestures, braille display key tables and commands without a default key are left out.

232 shortcuts in 16 sections. Checked row by row against NV Access on 6 October 2026. Edited by Jay.

Essentials 10

NVDA in a key combination is the NVDA modifier key: Insert and numpad Insert by default, and Caps Lock as well once it is enabled in the Keyboard settings.

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Start or restart NVDANeeds the desktop shortcut that NVDA's installer can create; being a Windows shortcut, it is not reassignable in Input Gestures.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`N`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`N`
Stop speechCuts off whatever NVDA is saying straight away.	`Ctrl`	`Ctrl`
Pause speechPress again to carry on from the same point, provided the synthesizer supports pausing.	`Shift`	`Shift`
Repeat last spoken informationSays the most recent announcement again; pressing twice opens it in a browsable window.	`NVDA`+`X`	`NVDA`+`X`
NVDA menuOpens the menu that leads to preferences, tools and help.	`NVDA`+`N`	`NVDA`+`N`
Toggle input helpWhile it is on, each key press is named and its command described instead of being carried out.	`NVDA`+`1`	`NVDA`+`1`
Quit NVDAIf exit options are enabled, a dialog first asks whether to exit, restart or install pending updates.	`NVDA`+`Q`	`NVDA`+`Q`
Pass next key throughLets the following keystroke reach the application even when NVDA would normally treat it as a command.	`NVDA`+`F2`	`NVDA`+`F2`
Toggle sleep modeTurns off NVDA's commands, speech and braille for the current application only, until pressed again or NVDA restarts.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`S`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Z`
Cycle speech modeSwitches among the four modes: talk, on-demand, off and beeps.	`NVDA`+`S`	`NVDA`+`S`

Reading and system information 16

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Say allReads on from the system caret and moves the caret along with the speech.	`NVDA`+`Down`	`NVDA`+`A`
Read current lineSpeaks the caret's line; twice spells it, three times spells it with character descriptions.	`NVDA`+`Up`	`NVDA`+`L`
Read selected textSpeaks whatever text is selected; the laptop key, NVDA + Shift + S, is the desktop layout's sleep mode shortcut.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Up`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`S`
Report text formattingDescribes the formatting at the caret; pressing twice presents the details in browse mode.	`NVDA`+`F`	`NVDA`+`F`
Report link destinationSpeaks where the link under the caret or focus leads; twice opens the address in a window.	`NVDA`+`K`	`NVDA`+`K`
Report caret locationGives the caret's position, for example how far through the document it is; twice may add detail.	`NVDA`+`NumPad Delete`	`NVDA`+`Delete`
Next sentenceMoves the caret one sentence forward and reads it; Microsoft Word and Outlook only.	`Alt`+`Down`	`Alt`+`Down`
Previous sentenceMoves the caret back a sentence and reads it, again only in Word and Outlook.	`Alt`+`Up`	`Alt`+`Up`
Report focusNames the object or control holding the system focus; pressing twice spells it out.	`NVDA`+`Tab`	`NVDA`+`Tab`
Report titleSpeaks the active window's title; twice spells it, and a third press copies it to the clipboard.	`NVDA`+`T`	`NVDA`+`T`
Read active windowGoes through every control in the window that is active, which is handy for dialogs.	`NVDA`+`B`	`NVDA`+`B`
Report status barSpeaks the status bar when one is found; twice spells it, and a third press copies it.	`NVDA`+`End`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`End`
Report shortcut keySpeaks the accelerator key assigned to the object that has focus.	`Shift`+`NumPad 2`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`.`
Report time and dateOne press speaks the current time, two quick presses the date.	`NVDA`+`F12`	`NVDA`+`F12`
Report battery statusSpeaks the charge level and whether AC power is connected.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`B`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`B`
Report clipboard text	`NVDA`+`C`	`NVDA`+`C`

Browse mode 12

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Toggle browse/focus modeSwitches between reading a page and typing into it.	`NVDA`+`Space`	`NVDA`+`Space`
Exit focus modeReturns to browse mode when focus mode was entered automatically.	`Esc`	`Esc`
Refresh documentReloads the document's content when something seems to be missing; not offered in Microsoft Word and Outlook.	`NVDA`+`F5`	`NVDA`+`F5`
Find textOpens the search dialog, where you type the text to look for in the document.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`F`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`F`
Find nextJumps to the following occurrence of the text you last searched for.	`NVDA`+`F3`	`NVDA`+`F3`
Find previousSearches backward for the same text, towards the start of the document.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`F3`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`F3`
Elements listOne dialog listing the links, headings, form fields, buttons and landmarks of the page.	`NVDA`+`F7`	`NVDA`+`F7`
Toggle single-letter navigationFrees the letter keys for web apps that use them as shortcuts, for the current document only.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Space`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Space`
Go to start of containerJumps back to the beginning of the list or table that holds the caret.	`Shift`+`,`	`Shift`+`,`
Skip past end of containerLeaves the list or table that holds the caret and lands just after it.	`,`	`,`
Return to containing documentTakes focus out of an embedded object, such as an application or dialog, back to the page around it.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Space`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Space`
Toggle native selection modeWhen on, the application's own selection follows yours, so copying keeps formatting, links and tables.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`F10`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`F10`

Single-letter navigation 24

Each of these keys jumps to the next element of its type; add Shift to jump to the previous one. Not every document type supports every key.

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Next headingAdd Shift to this or any other letter in the table to go to the previous element instead.	`H`	`H`
Next heading at a given levelThe digit is the heading level, so 2 goes to the next level 2 heading.	`1-9`	`1-9`
Next linkStops on every link; U and V narrow the jump to unvisited or visited ones.	`K`	`K`
Next unvisited linkPasses over links that have already been visited.	`U`	`U`
Next visited linkStops only on links that have been followed before.	`V`	`V`
Next buttonOn a web page the Elements List can also show every button in one list.	`B`	`B`
Next form fieldStops on any kind of form field; E, X, C and R each target a single type.	`F`	`F`
Next edit fieldGoes to the next place where text can be typed.	`E`	`E`
Next checkbox	`X`	`X`
Next combo box	`C`	`C`
Next radio button	`R`	`R`
Next listLands where the next list begins; I then steps through its items.	`L`	`L`
Next list itemMoves item by item; a comma jumps past the end of the whole list.	`I`	`I`
Next tableOnce inside, the Ctrl + Alt + arrow commands under Tables move from cell to cell.	`T`	`T`
Next landmarkLandmarks are also one of the element types offered in the Elements List.	`D`	`D`
Next non-linked textJumps past a block of links to ordinary text.	`N`	`N`
Next graphic	`G`	`G`
Next frame	`M`	`M`
Next block quote	`Q`	`Q`
Next separator	`S`	`S`
Next embedded objectEmbedded objects include audio and video players, applications and dialogs.	`O`	`O`
Next annotationAnnotations include comments and editor revisions.	`A`	`A`
Next text paragraphLooks for text written in full sentences, which helps skip menus, ads and headers.	`P`	`P`
Next spelling errorIn Microsoft Word, the Elements List can show the spelling errors as a list too.	`W`	`W`

Tables 12

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Previous columnMoves the caret one cell to the left without leaving the row.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Left`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Left`
Next columnMoves the caret one cell to the right along the current row.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Right`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Right`
Previous rowMoves the caret up one cell within the same column.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Up`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Up`
Next rowMoves the caret down one cell within the column.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Down`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Down`
First columnJumps to the first cell of the current row.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Home`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Home`
Last columnJumps to the last cell of the current row.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`End`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`End`
First rowJumps to the top cell of the current column.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Page Up`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Page Up`
Last rowJumps to the bottom cell of the current column.	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Page Down`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Page Down`
Say all in columnReads downward from the current cell to the foot of the column.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Down`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Down`
Say all in rowReads rightward from the current cell to the end of the row.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Right`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Right`
Read entire columnReads the whole column from its top cell down, leaving the caret where it is.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Up`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Up`
Read entire rowReads the whole row from its leftmost cell, leaving the caret where it is.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Left`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Left`

Object navigation 11

The desktop-layout numpad keys, here and under Text review and Mouse, work only while Num Lock is off.

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Report current objectSpeaks the navigator object; twice spells it, and a third press copies its name and value.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 5`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`O`
Move to containing objectSteps up one level, to the object that contains the navigator object.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 8`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Up`
First contained objectSteps down into the navigator object, landing on the first object it contains.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 2`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Down`
Previous objectGoes to the neighbouring object that comes before, without changing level in the hierarchy.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 4`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Left`
Next objectGoes to the neighbouring object that comes after, such as the next item of the same list.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 6`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Right`
Previous object (flattened view)Walks backward through every object in one flat sequence, entering and leaving containers automatically.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 9`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`[`
Next object (flattened view)Walks forward through every object; if the current one contains others, it enters the first of them.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 3`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`]`
Move to focus objectBrings the navigator object back to the focused control; the review cursor goes to the caret if one is showing.	`NVDA`+`NumPad Minus`	`NVDA`+`Backspace`
Activate objectWorks like a mouse click or pressing Space on the navigator object.	`NVDA`+`NumPad Enter`	`NVDA`+`Enter`
Move focus to navigator objectPulls the system focus to the navigator object; pressed twice, it moves the caret to the review cursor.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`NumPad Minus`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Backspace`
Report review cursor locationDescribes where the review cursor is, for example how far through the document; twice may add detail.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`NumPad Delete`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Delete`

Text review 24

A combination can mean different things in the two layouts: NVDA + Down is Say all on desktop but the next review line on laptop, where Say all is NVDA + A.

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Top line in reviewTakes the review cursor up to the first line of the text being reviewed.	`Shift`+`NumPad 7`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Home`
Previous line in reviewSteps the review cursor up a line while the system caret stays put.	`NumPad 7`	`NVDA`+`Up`
Current line in reviewReads the line under the review cursor; twice spells it, three times uses character descriptions.	`NumPad 8`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`.`
Next line in reviewSteps review down a line; on laptop the key is NVDA + Down, which the desktop layout uses for Say all.	`NumPad 9`	`NVDA`+`Down`
Bottom line in reviewTakes the review cursor down to the last line of the text.	`Shift`+`NumPad 9`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`End`
Previous word in reviewSteps back a word; the laptop key, NVDA + Ctrl + Left, is the desktop layout's previous synth setting.	`NumPad 4`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Left`
Current word in reviewReads the word under the review cursor; twice spells it, three times with character descriptions.	`NumPad 5`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`.`
Next word in reviewSteps forward a word; the laptop key, NVDA + Ctrl + Right, is the desktop layout's next synth setting.	`NumPad 6`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Right`
Line start in reviewTakes the review cursor back to where the current line begins.	`Shift`+`NumPad 1`	`NVDA`+`Home`
Previous character in reviewSteps back one character and stays on the current line.	`NumPad 1`	`NVDA`+`Left`
Current character in reviewPressed twice it describes the character or gives an example; three times gives its decimal and hexadecimal value.	`NumPad 2`	`NVDA`+`.`
Next character in reviewSteps forward one character without leaving the current line.	`NumPad 3`	`NVDA`+`Right`
Line end in reviewTakes the review cursor forward to where the current line ends.	`Shift`+`NumPad 3`	`NVDA`+`End`
Previous page in reviewWorks only where the application supports pages; on laptop, NVDA + Page Up changes review mode instead.	`NVDA`+`Page Up`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Page Up`
Next page in reviewMoves the review cursor forward a page when the application supports it.	`NVDA`+`Page Down`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`Page Down`
Selection start in reviewPuts the review cursor where the current selection begins.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Home`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Home`
Selection end in reviewPuts the review cursor on the final character of the selection.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`End`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`End`
Say all with reviewReads continuously from the review cursor and carries the cursor along.	`NumPad Plus`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`A`
Mark start for copyMarks the review cursor's position as the start; nothing is selected until NVDA + F10 sets the end.	`NVDA`+`F9`	`NVDA`+`F9`
Select, then copyFirst press selects from the marker to the review cursor; second press copies it to the clipboard.	`NVDA`+`F10`	`NVDA`+`F10`
Go to copy start markerReturns the review cursor to the point marked earlier with NVDA + F9.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`F9`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`F9`
Report formatting in reviewDescribes the formatting at the review cursor instead of the caret; twice shows it in browse mode.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`F`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`F`
Next review modeCycles through object review, document review and screen review, as far as each is available.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 7`	`NVDA`+`Page Up`
Previous review modeGoes back through the available review modes in the opposite order.	`NVDA`+`NumPad 1`	`NVDA`+`Page Down`

Mouse 7

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Left mouse clickClicks the left button at the mouse position; twice quickly double-clicks.	`NumPad Divide`	`NVDA`+`[`
Left mouse button lockHolds the left button down until pressed again, which is how a drag is started from the keyboard.	`Shift`+`NumPad Divide`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`[`
Right mouse clickClicks the right button once, usually to open the context menu where the pointer is.	`NumPad Multiply`	`NVDA`+`]`
Right mouse button lockHolds the right button down until the key is pressed a second time.	`Shift`+`NumPad Multiply`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`]`
Move mouse to navigator objectBrings the pointer to where the navigator object and review cursor are.	`NVDA`+`NumPad Divide`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`M`
Move navigator to mouseSets the navigator object to whatever is under the pointer.	`NVDA`+`NumPad Multiply`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`N`
Toggle mouse trackingWhen on, the text under the pointer is announced as the mouse moves across the screen.	`NVDA`+`M`	`NVDA`+`M`

Math navigation 34

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Interact with math contentEnters Math mode on the formula at the review cursor; Esc returns to the document.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`M`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`M`
Move to previousSteps one item to the left through the expression.	`Left`	`Left`
Move to nextSteps one item to the right through the expression.	`Right`	`Right`
Read previous	`Shift`+`Left`	`Shift`+`Left`
Read next	`Shift`+`Right`	`Shift`+`Right`
Describe previous	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Left`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Left`
Describe next	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right`
Zoom outMoves up a level of the structure, for example out of a fraction.	`Up`	`Up`
Zoom inGoes one level deeper, for instance into a fraction, so its parts can be explored one by one.	`Down`	`Down`
Zoom out fullyLeaves every nested structure at once and returns to the outermost level.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Up`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Up`
Zoom in fullyKeeps zooming in until the innermost level is reached.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Down`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Down`
Previous cell or digitInside a table this goes one cell left; in columnar math, one digit left.	`Ctrl`+`Left`or`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Left`	`Ctrl`+`Left`or`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Left`
Next cell or digitInside a table this goes one cell right; in columnar math, one digit right.	`Ctrl`+`Right`or`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Right`	`Ctrl`+`Right`or`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Right`
Cell or digit aboveGoes up one cell in a table, or up one digit in columnar math.	`Ctrl`+`Up`or`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Up`	`Ctrl`+`Up`or`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Up`
Cell or digit belowGoes down one cell in a table, or down one digit in columnar math.	`Ctrl`+`Down`or`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Down`	`Ctrl`+`Down`or`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Down`
Larger navigation modeThe modes are Enhanced, Simple and Character; this key switches to the larger one.	`Shift`+`Up`	`Shift`+`Up`
Smaller navigation modeThe counterpart of Shift + Up: changes the navigation mode to the smaller one.	`Shift`+`Down`	`Shift`+`Down`
Where am I	`Enter`	`Enter`
Global where am I	`Ctrl`+`Enter`	`Ctrl`+`Enter`
Read currentSpeaks your current position in the expression.	`Space`	`Space`
Read current cell	`Ctrl`+`Space`	`Ctrl`+`Space`
Describe current	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Space`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Space`
Toggle speech modeSwitches the math speech mode between Read and Describe.	`Shift`+`Space`	`Shift`+`Space`
Jump to placemarkerTen placemarkers are available; the 0 key stands for the tenth.	`1-0`	`1-0`
Set placemarkerCtrl with a digit stores a placemarker under that number.	`Ctrl`+`1-0`	`Ctrl`+`1-0`
Read placemarker	`Shift`+`1-0`	`Shift`+`1-0`
Describe placemarker	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1-0`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1-0`
Start of expressionGoes to the very beginning; Ctrl + Home stops at the start of the line instead.	`Home`	`Home`
End of expressionGoes to the very end; Ctrl + End stops at the end of the line instead.	`End`	`End`
Start of line	`Ctrl`+`Home`	`Ctrl`+`Home`
End of line	`Ctrl`+`End`	`Ctrl`+`End`
Top of columnIn a table, goes to the top of the column; in columnar math, to the top digit.	`Shift`+`Home`	`Shift`+`Home`
Bottom of columnIn a table, goes to the foot of the column; in columnar math, to the bottom digit.	`Shift`+`End`	`Shift`+`End`
Back to last positionReturns to where you were before the last move, which may differ from simply moving left.	`Backspace`	`Backspace`

Magnifier 13

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Toggle magnifierStarts or stops NVDA's built-in full-screen magnifier.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`W`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`W`
Increase magnificationZooms in one step and starts the magnifier when it is not yet running.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`=`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`=`
Decrease magnificationEach press lowers the magnifier's zoom by a fixed increment, down to 1.0, which is no magnification.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`-`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`-`
Cycle color filtersSteps through the normal, grayscale and inverted filters.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`I`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`I`
Show entire screen overviewZooms out to the full screen, then back in once the mouse has been still for about two seconds.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`L`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`L`
Pan leftMoves the view left by the panning step, a percentage of the visible area set in Magnifier settings.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Left`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Left`
Pan rightMoves the view right by one panning step.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Right`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Right`
Pan upMoves the view up by one panning step.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Up`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Up`
Pan downMoves the view down by one panning step.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Down`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Down`
Pan to left edgeJumps the magnified view straight to the left side of the screen.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Left`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Left`
Pan to right edgeJumps the magnified view straight to the right side of the screen.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Right`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Right`
Pan to top edgeJumps the magnified view straight to the top of the screen.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Up`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Up`
Pan to bottom edgeJumps the magnified view straight to the bottom of the screen.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Down`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`Down`

Tools and recognition 9

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
OCR the current objectRuns Windows OCR on the navigator object and presents the recognised text in a browse-mode style document.	`NVDA`+`R`	`NVDA`+`R`
Toggle screen curtainMakes the screen black; one press lasts until NVDA restarts, a double press until you turn it off.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Esc`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Esc`
Report annotation detailsPart of the experimental ARIA annotations support: sums up the details found at the system caret.	`NVDA`+`D`	`NVDA`+`D`
Toggle remote connectionStarts a Remote Access session, or disconnects when one is already running.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`R`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`R`
Switch controlled computerDuring a Remote Access session, changes which computer you are controlling: the local one or the remote one.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Tab`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`Tab`
Open log viewerShows developer information about the navigator object along with the log.	`NVDA`+`F1`	`NVDA`+`F1`
Copy log fragmentThe first press marks where to start; the second copies everything logged since then.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F1`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F1`
Reload pluginsReloads global plugins and app modules without restarting NVDA.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`F3`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`F3`
Report app moduleTells you which app module and executable belong to the focused application.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`F1`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`F1`

Braille 6

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Switch braille modeAlternates between following the cursors and displaying speech output on the braille display.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`T`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`T`
Tether brailleChooses what the display follows: the focus and caret, the navigator object and review cursor, or both.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`T`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`T`
Toggle automatic scrollWhen on, the braille display moves forward by itself through information that does not fit on it.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`K`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`K`
Increase automatic scroll rateSpeeds up automatic braille scrolling while it is switched on.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`L`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`L`
Decrease automatic scroll rateSlows automatic braille scrolling down while it is switched on.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`J`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`J`
Select braille displayOpens the dialog for choosing which braille display NVDA sends its output to.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`A`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`A`

Speech and audio settings 15

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Open speech settingsGoes straight to the Speech category, where the synthesizer and voice characteristics are set.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`V`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`V`
Select synthesizerOpens the dialog for picking the speech synthesizer NVDA talks with.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`S`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`S`
Punctuation levelCycles how much punctuation and other symbols get spoken as words.	`NVDA`+`P`	`NVDA`+`P`
Next synth settingMoves on through the synth settings ring, which holds settings such as rate, pitch and voice.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Right`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right`
Previous synth settingMoves back one setting in the ring and wraps to the last after the first.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Left`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Left`
Increase synth settingRaises the selected setting: a higher rate or volume, or the next voice.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Up`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Up`
Increase synth setting, large stepJumps 20 voices ahead on the voice setting, or raises a slider such as rate by up to 20%.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Page Up`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Page Up`
Decrease synth settingLowers the selected setting: a slower rate, less volume, or the previous voice.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Down`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Down`
Decrease synth setting, large stepJumps 20 voices back on the voice setting, or lowers a slider by up to 20%.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Page Down`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Page Down`
Speak typed charactersCycles the echo of typed characters between off, only in edit controls, and always.	`NVDA`+`2`	`NVDA`+`2`
Speak typed wordsCycles the echo of typed words between off, only in edit controls, and always.	`NVDA`+`3`	`NVDA`+`3`
Speak command keysWhen on, non-character keys are announced, including combinations such as Ctrl plus a letter.	`NVDA`+`4`	`NVDA`+`4`
Open audio settingsGoes to the Audio category, which holds the options for sound output.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`U`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`U`
Audio ducking modeChooses whether other applications are turned down only while NVDA speaks or the whole time it runs.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`D`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`D`
Cycle sound split modeSound split can put NVDA in the left channel and other applications in the right, or in both.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`S`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`S`

Configuration 17

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Open general settingsGoes to the General category: interface language, update checks and other overall behaviour.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`G`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`G`
Open keyboard settingsGoes to the Keyboard category, where the keyboard layout and the NVDA modifier keys are chosen.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`K`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`K`
Open mouse settingsGoes to the Mouse category: mouse tracking, coordinate beeps and related options.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`M`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`M`
Open object presentation settingsGoes to the category that sets how much NVDA says about controls, such as descriptions and position.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`O`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`O`
Open browse mode settingsGoes to the options for how web pages and similar documents are read and navigated.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`B`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`B`
Open document formatting settingsGoes to the category that decides which formatting is announced as the cursor moves through a document.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`D`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`D`
Open magnifier settingsGoes to the Magnifier category, which sets the default behaviour of the built-in magnifier.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`W`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`W`
Context help in dialogsInside an NVDA dialog, shows the User Guide paragraph that covers the focused setting.	`F1`	`F1`
Progress bar outputCycles through off, speak, beep, and beep and speak for progress bar updates.	`NVDA`+`U`	`NVDA`+`U`
Report dynamic contentToggles announcing new content in terminals and chat histories.	`NVDA`+`5`	`NVDA`+`5`
Review follows caretWhen on, the review cursor jumps to the system caret every time the caret moves.	`NVDA`+`6`	`NVDA`+`6`
Review follows focusWhen on, the review cursor lands in the newly focused object whenever focus changes.	`NVDA`+`7`	`NVDA`+`7`
Toggle screen layoutChooses whether links, buttons and fields stay in the flow of text or each get a line of their own.	`NVDA`+`V`	`NVDA`+`V`
Toggle touch interaction supportWhen off, the touchscreen behaves as though NVDA were not running.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`T`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`T`
Save configurationStores the current settings so they are not lost when NVDA exits.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`C`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`C`
Revert configurationOnce returns to the last save; three presses restore factory defaults.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`R`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`R`
Configuration profilesOpens the dialog where profiles are selected, created and tied to triggers such as a particular application.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`P`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`P`

Word, Excel and PowerPoint 5

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Set column headersIn Word and Excel tables, marks the first header cell of the row holding column headers; twice clears it.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`C`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`C`
Set row headersIn Word and Excel, marks the first header cell of the column that holds row headers; twice clears it.	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`R`	`NVDA`+`Shift`+`R`
Report comments or notesSpeaks comments at the caret in Word, or the focused cell's notes in Excel; twice shows them in a browsable message.	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`C`	`NVDA`+`Alt`+`C`
Add or edit noteIn Excel, opens NVDA's own dialog for the focused cell's note instead of Excel's editing region.	`Shift`+`F2`	`Shift`+`F2`
Toggle speaker notes readingDuring a running PowerPoint slide show, switches what NVDA reads between the slide and its speaker notes.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`S`

Other applications 17

Action	Desktop layout	Laptop layout
Turn to next pageIn Kindle for PC, turns the page by hand; pages otherwise turn as the cursor moves.	`Page Down`	`Page Down`
Turn to previous pageIn Kindle for PC, goes back a page of the book being read.	`Page Up`	`Page Up`
Show selection optionsIn Kindle for PC, lists what can be done with the selected text, or with the word at the cursor.	`Applications`or`Shift`+`F10`	`Applications`or`Shift`+`F10`
Report remaining timeIn foobar2000, speaks how much of the playing track is left.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`R`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`R`
Report elapsed timeIn foobar2000, speaks how far playback of the current track has got.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`
Report track lengthIn foobar2000, speaks the total duration of the track being played.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`T`
Report recent messageIn Miranda IM, the digit counts back from the newest message, so 2 reads the one before it.	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`1-4`	`NVDA`+`Ctrl`+`1-4`
Report notes for translatorsIn Poedit, speaks the translator notes; twice presents them in browse mode.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`A`
Report commentIn Poedit, reads what the comments window holds; twice presents it in browse mode.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`
Report old source textIn Poedit, speaks the earlier source text when there is one; twice shows it in browse mode.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`
Report translation warningIn Poedit, speaks any warning attached to the translation; twice shows it in browse mode.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`W`
Open selected bookIn Azardi's table view of added books, opens the book that is selected.	`Enter`	`Enter`
Open book context menuIn Azardi's table view of added books, brings up the menu of actions for the chosen book.	`Applications`	`Applications`
Scroll console upA built-in Windows Console key, useful in older console versions for bringing earlier text into view.	`Ctrl`+`Up`	`Ctrl`+`Up`
Scroll console downScrolls an older Windows Console down so that later text can be reviewed.	`Ctrl`+`Down`	`Ctrl`+`Down`
Scroll console to startShows the beginning of the Windows Console buffer.	`Ctrl`+`Home`	`Ctrl`+`Home`
Scroll console to endShows the end of the Windows Console buffer.	`Ctrl`+`End`	`Ctrl`+`End`

Notes

The NVDA key, and why every table has two columns

Almost every NVDA command is built on the NVDA modifier key — Insert by default, or Caps Lock if you selected that in the welcome dialog. NV Access documents two layouts: desktop, which uses the numeric keypad heavily, and laptop, which moves those commands onto letters, arrows and punctuation keys. Each table shows both side by side — Say All is NVDA + Down on desktop but NVDA + A on laptop, and the entire review cluster moves off the numpad. If a command here seems dead on your machine, the layout setting in Keyboard preferences is the first thing to check.

Browse mode is where NVDA lives on the web

On a web page NVDA starts in browse mode: keystrokes navigate rather than type, and the single letters in the table above do the heavy lifting — H for headings, K for links, F for form fields, D for landmarks, each with Shift reversing direction. Landing on an edit field and pressing Enter switches to focus mode so typing works; Esc or NVDA + Space switches back. NVDA + F7 collects the page’s links, headings and landmarks into one dialog, and NVDA + Shift + Space turns single-letter navigation off entirely for web apps that need their own letter keys.

Object navigation and review: the part worth learning second

Beyond the caret, NVDA has a second, independent position: the navigator object, driven from the numpad in the desktop layout (the laptop column gives each equivalent). NVDA + NumPad 8 climbs to the container, NVDA + NumPad 2 descends into it, 4 and 6 move between siblings, and NVDA + NumPad Enter activates whatever the navigator is on — which is how you reach controls the Tab key never visits. The bare numpad reviews text line by line (7/8/9), word by word (4/5/6) and character by character (1/2/3), and NVDA + F9 then NVDA + F10 select and copy a span of it. When something is pure pixels, NVDA + R runs Windows OCR on the navigator object.

Questions

Which key is the NVDA key?

Insert by default. During installation you can also enable Caps Lock, which is the usual choice on laptops without a convenient Insert. Both work simultaneously if both are enabled.

Why do NVDA commands differ between desktop and laptop layouts?

Desktop layout leans on the numeric keypad for review and object navigation; laptop layout remaps those onto NVDA-key combinations on the main keyboard, for machines without a numpad. The command set is the same — only the keys differ, and the tables above list both. Change it under NVDA Settings › Keyboard.

What is the difference between browse mode and focus mode?

Browse mode treats the page as a document: letters navigate and nothing you press reaches the site. Focus mode passes keys through so you can type into fields and use a web app’s own shortcuts. NVDA + Space toggles them, and NVDA switches automatically when you land on an edit field.

How is NVDA’s K different from JAWS?

In NVDA, K is the link key. In JAWS it moves to PlaceMarkers instead, and links are Tab and Shift + Tab. The radio-button key swaps too: NVDA uses R, JAWS uses A. These two letters cause most of the confusion for people who switch between the readers.

How do I copy text that I can only reach with the review cursor?

Position the review cursor at the start and press NVDA + F9 to mark it. Move to the end, press NVDA + F10 once to select, and again to copy to the clipboard.

Can NVDA read text in images?

Yes. Put the navigator object on the image or window and press NVDA + R — Windows OCR recognises the text and opens it in a readable view. It is the standard workaround for inaccessible dialogs and scanned documents.

Sources and checks

NV Access — NVDA 2026.2 Commands Quick Reference All rows, Desktop layout and Laptop layout columns (touch gestures and braille display tables not used)
NV Access — NVDA 2026.2 User Guide Table notes (NVDA modifier key, Shift for the previous element, Num Lock); background for the usage text

Every row on this page was matched to a line in the documentation above on 6 October 2026. A binding that could not be found there is not listed.

Found a wrong or missing key? Tell us and it gets checked against the source. How we verify describes the process and its limits.