Basics 18
VO is the VoiceOver modifier: by default Ctrl and Option pressed together, or Caps Lock alone. Every VO in these tables can be pressed either way.
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Toggle VoiceOverWith Touch ID on the Mac or Magic Keyboard, holding Cmd and pressing Touch ID three times quickly does the same. | Cmd+F5 |
| Open Accessibility Shortcuts panelShows a panel of accessibility switches; Tab to the VoiceOver option and press Space. | Option+Cmd+F5 |
| Pause speechStops the voice without touching other apps' audio; a second press resumes it. | Ctrl |
| Lock VoiceOver modifierWhile locked, commands need only their remaining keys; the same command unlocks it. | VO+; |
| Ignore next keypressPasses one key combination to the app when the app uses the VoiceOver modifier for a command of its own. | VO+Tab |
| Close menu or exit modeAlso leaves the rotor, a chooser, scrolling, moving or resizing without making a choice. | EscorFn+Tab |
| VoiceOver HelpA menu that leads to Commands Help, Sounds Help and the other help items. | VO+H |
| Open Commands menuType part of a command's name to filter the list; Return applies it to the current item. | VO+HthenH |
| Open Find Commands menu | VO+Shift+F |
| Keyboard helpSpeaks the name of each key or command pressed without carrying it out; the same keys leave the mode. | VO+K |
| Open VoiceOver TutorialStarts the interactive tutorial for learning the basics and practising commands. | VO+Cmd+Fn+F8 |
| Open VoiceOver User Guide | VO+? |
| VoiceOver UtilityOpens the settings app; Fn with the number 8 also works in place of F8. | VO+Fn+F8 |
| Read help tagIn Apple Maps the same command gives a description of the map. | VO+Shift+H |
| Read VoiceOver hintExplains how to use the item under the VoiceOver cursor. | VO+Shift+N |
| Read additional contentGives more information about the current item where the app supplies any. | VO+Cmd+/ |
| Toggle NumPad controlNeeds a keyboard that has a dedicated Clear key. | VO+Clear |
| Toggle Option-key controlSwitches the setting that lets an Option key, the right one by default, enter VoiceOver commands. | VO+Shift+K |
Moving the VoiceOver cursor 18
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Next itemMoves one item to the right; a hollow sound signals that nothing further lies that way. | VO+Right |
| Previous itemTakes the VoiceOver cursor one item to the left. | VO+Left |
| Move up | VO+Up |
| Move down | VO+Down |
| Top of visible areaStays within the part of the window or text area that is on screen. | VO+Shift+HomeorVO+Shift+Fn+Left |
| Bottom of visible areaGoes to the last thing shown in the window or text area without scrolling. | VO+Shift+EndorVO+Shift+Fn+Right |
| Top of areaScrolls when needed to reach the start of the window or text area. | VO+HomeorVO+Fn+Left |
| Bottom of areaScrolls when needed to reach the end of the window or text area. | VO+EndorVO+Fn+Right |
| First item in windowDepending on where the cursor is, lands on the first Dock or desktop item instead. | VO+Cmd+HomeorVO+Cmd+Fn+Left |
| Last item in windowGoes to the window's lower-right corner, or to the last Dock or desktop item. | VO+Cmd+EndorVO+Cmd+Fn+Right |
| Jump to linked itemIn Mail it goes from the message list to the preview of the selected message. | VO+J |
| Jump to input or correction panelGoes to an input method or autocorrection panel that is showing, and back to where the cursor was. | VO+Shift+J |
| Jump to parent folderIn an outline view it goes to the parent level of the current cell. | VO+Cmd+\ |
| Toggle cursor trackingA temporary switch: the tracking options saved in VoiceOver Utility stay as they are. | VO+Shift+Fn+F3 |
| VoiceOver cursor to keyboard focus | VO+Shift+Fn+F4 |
| Keyboard focus to VoiceOver cursorWith several items selected, it deselects all but the one under the cursor. | VO+Cmd+Fn+F4 |
| VoiceOver cursor to mouse pointer | VO+Shift+Fn+F5 |
| Mouse pointer to VoiceOver cursor | VO+Cmd+Fn+F5 |
Interacting with items 23
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Interact with itemSteps into a group, table or text area, so navigation stays inside it until you leave. | VO+Shift+Down |
| Stop interactingSteps back out to the level that contains the group. | VO+Shift+Up |
| Exit to app top levelLeaves every nested group at once instead of stepping out level by level. | VO+Shift+Esc |
| Activate itemPerforms the item's default action, such as clicking a button or ticking a checkbox. | VO+Space |
| Double-click item | VO+SpacethenSpace |
| Mouse click | VO+Shift+Space |
| Mouse double-click | VO+Shift+SpacethenSpace |
| Sticky mouse down or upFirst press holds the item for dragging; a second press at the destination releases it. | VO+Cmd+Shift+Space |
| Select menu or list item | VO+Return |
| Add item to selectionToggles the current item of a list or table in a multiple selection; Esc ends the selection mode. | VO+Cmd+Return |
| Toggle disclosure triangleIn Finder's list view this expands or collapses a folder. | VO+\ |
| Open Actions menuLists what can be done with the item, including a switch to its alternate actions. | VO+Cmd+Space |
| Describe imageReads out text found in the picture and names objects in photos, annotated or not. | VO+Shift+L |
| Create custom label | VO+/ |
| Open Activity ChooserPick an activity with Up or Down and press Return. | VO+X |
| Previous activity | VO+XthenX |
| Start scrollingArrow keys then scroll the area; other VoiceOver commands wait until Esc ends scrolling. | VO+Shift+S |
| Scroll a page verticallyOnly once scrolling has been started on a scroll area. | Page UporPage Down |
| Scroll a page sidewaysThe horizontal counterpart, also limited to scrolling mode. | Shift+Page UporShift+Page Down |
| Mark item for drag and dropHolding the keys brings up a menu of modifiers, such as Option to duplicate a file in Finder. | VO+, |
| Drop marked item on cursorDrops what was marked onto the item the VoiceOver cursor is on. | VO+. |
| Drop marked item before cursorPlaces the marked item in front of the cursor's location. | VO+< |
| Drop marked item after cursorThe marked item stays available for further drops while it remains on screen. | VO+> |
Apps and windows 12
A repeated key is a second press with VO still held: Apple lists the Application Chooser as VO-Fn-F1-F1 and describes it as pressing VO-Fn-F1 twice.
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Summarize open appsSays which app is active and how many apps are open. | VO+Fn+F1 |
| Open Application ChooserPick an app with the arrow keys; Space then lists its windows, dialogs and alerts. | VO+Fn+F1thenF1 |
| Summarize current windowNames the active app and tells how many of its windows are open. | VO+Fn+F2 |
| Open Window ChooserLists open windows and system dialogs; in a full-screen app it also offers Exit full screen. | VO+Fn+F2thenF2 |
| Window size and screen section | VO+Cmd+Fn+F2 |
| Window position and overlap | VO+Cmd+Fn+F2thenF2 |
| Bring window to frontMakes the window that holds the VoiceOver cursor the active one. | VO+Shift+Fn+F2 |
| Resize windowChoose from the menu; VO with an arrow then extends an edge, VO with two arrows a corner. | VO+~ |
| Move windowVO with an arrow then moves it; two arrows together move it diagonally. | VO+` |
| Resize objectOffers the same menu as window resizing, with handles in place of corners. | VO+Cmd+~ |
| Move object | VO+Cmd+` |
| Close windowIn Mission Control it removes the selected desktop instead. | VO+Cmd+Esc |
Hearing what is on screen 17
Function-key commands are written with Fn because VoiceOver needs it by default; Apple also accepts Fn with the matching number key, so VO-Fn-8 opens VoiceOver Utility like VO-Fn-F8.
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Read allReads a document from the top; once you interact with its text, reading starts at the VoiceOver cursor. | VO+A |
| Read window contentsCovers what is visible in the window, the Dock or the desktop, whichever holds the cursor. | VO+Shift+W |
| Describe current itemIncludes its state, such as a ticked checkbox or a slider's percentage. | VO+Fn+F3 |
| Item size and screen section | VO+Cmd+Fn+F3 |
| Item position and overlap | VO+Cmd+Fn+F3thenF3 |
| Describe item with keyboard focus | VO+Fn+F4 |
| Keyboard focus detailsIn text, says how far right and down the insertion point sits within its text item. | VO+Fn+F4thenF4 |
| Describe item under pointer | VO+Fn+F5 |
| Pointer screen coordinatesGiven as x and y, measured from the screen's top-left corner. | VO+Fn+F5thenF5 |
| Pointer window coordinatesThe same x and y position, measured within the current window. | VO+Fn+F5thenF5thenF5 |
| Read selectionVoiceOver says so when nothing is selected. | VO+Fn+F6 |
| Repeat last phrase | VO+Z |
| Copy last phrasePuts what VoiceOver said last on the Clipboard. | VO+Shift+C |
| Save last phraseCreates a desktop file holding the phrase and a crash log, meant for troubleshooting. | VO+Shift+Z |
| Read date and time | VO+Fn+F7 |
| Read battery status | VO+Fn+F7thenF7 |
| Read network status | VO+Fn+F7thenF7thenF7 |
Reading text 24
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Read paragraph | VO+P |
| Read next paragraph | VO+Shift+Page Down |
| Read previous paragraph | VO+Shift+Page Up |
| Read sentence | VO+S |
| Read next sentenceListed by Apple for webpages as well as for text areas. | VO+Cmd+Page Down |
| Read previous sentence | VO+Cmd+Page Up |
| Read line | VO+L |
| Read next lineInside a text area you are interacting with, the cursor moves by line. | VO+Down |
| Read previous line | VO+Up |
| Read word | VO+W |
| Spell wordThe second press spells the word out letter by letter. | VO+WthenW |
| Spell word phonetically | VO+WthenWthenW |
| Read next wordInside a text area you are interacting with, the cursor moves by word. | VO+Right |
| Read previous word | VO+Left |
| Read character | VO+C |
| Read character phoneticallyA second press says the character with its code word, as in a alfa. | VO+CthenC |
| Speak text attributesDescribes the text style nearest the VoiceOver cursor. | VO+T |
| Select all textSelects everything in the text item the VoiceOver cursor is on. | VO+Shift+A |
| Toggle text selectionPress once, read across the text with VO and the arrows, press again; needs text selection tracking. | VO+Return |
| Read word and characterIn text, the describe-item command reports the word and character at the cursor. | VO+Fn+F3 |
| Count lines in documentGives the total and how many of those lines are visible. | VO+Fn+F3thenF3 |
| Add tab stop in TextEditThe cursor has to sit on an existing tab stop of the ruler first. | VO+Space |
| Delete tab stop in TextEditRemoves the ruler tab stop the cursor is on. | VO+Delete |
| Move tab stop in TextEditOn a ruler tab stop, interacting lets Left and Right shift the stop. | VO+Shift+Down |
Tables 10
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Read row header | VO+R |
| Read row from cursorReads on from the current cell to the last cell of the row. | VO+RthenR |
| Read column header | VO+C |
| Read column from cursorReads on from the current cell down to the last cell of the column. | VO+CthenC |
| Read row and column position | VO+Shift+T |
| Read table dimensionsSays how many columns and rows the table has. | VO+Shift+TthenT |
| Go to column sort buttonIf the table has row headers too, a menu asks which header to use. | VO+| |
| Next columnFor webpage tables that are navigated without grouping. | VO+Cmd+Y |
| Previous column | VO+Cmd+Shift+Y |
| Toggle table groupingWith grouping on, arrowing through a web table gives a summary of it and its cells without interacting. | VO+Cmd+= |
Hot spots and window spots 13
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Set or remove hot spotA number already in use moves to the new item; pressed on the hot spot itself, the command removes it. | VO+Shift+Number |
| Jump to hot spotNumber is the hot spot's number key, as in VO-1 or VO-9; up to ten can be set. | VO+Number |
| Describe hot spot | VO+Cmd+Number |
| Watch hot spotVoiceOver then announces value changes of that item even without focus; repeat to stop. | VO+Cmd+Shift+Number |
| Open Hot Spot Chooser | VO+Shift+X |
| Next hot spot | VO+} |
| Previous hot spot | VO+{ |
| Next window spotStops at spots VoiceOver made automatically as well as your own. | VO+] |
| Previous window spot | VO+[ |
| Next created window spotSkips the automatic spots and stops only at ones you made. | VO+Cmd+] |
| Previous created window spot | VO+Cmd+[ |
| Create window spotMarks the focused item; a window can hold any number of spots. | VO+Cmd+Shift+] |
| Remove window spotApplies to window spots you added, not to the ones VoiceOver made automatically. | VO+Cmd+Shift+[ |
Finding text and formatting 20
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Find textOpens a search panel: type the text and press Return. | VO+F |
| Cycle search historyWorks while finding text, stepping through earlier searches. | VO+UporVO+Down |
| Find nextRepeats the last search, moving forwards through the window. | VO+G |
| Find previous | VO+Shift+G |
| Next bold text | VO+Cmd+B |
| Previous bold text | VO+Cmd+Shift+B |
| Next italic text | VO+Cmd+I |
| Previous italic text | VO+Cmd+Shift+I |
| Next underlined text | VO+Cmd+U |
| Previous underlined text | VO+Cmd+Shift+U |
| Next plain text | VO+Cmd+P |
| Previous plain text | VO+Cmd+Shift+P |
| Next style change | VO+Cmd+C |
| Previous style change | VO+Cmd+Shift+C |
| Next font change | VO+Cmd+O |
| Previous font change | VO+Cmd+Shift+O |
| Next color change | VO+Cmd+K |
| Previous color change | VO+Cmd+Shift+K |
| Next misspelled word | VO+Cmd+E |
| Previous misspelled word | VO+Cmd+Shift+E |
Finding page elements 24
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Next headingWith Shift added it searches backwards for the previous heading. | VO+Cmd+H |
| Previous heading | VO+Cmd+Shift+H |
| Next heading of same levelKeeps to the level of the heading you are on, skipping the others. | VO+Cmd+M |
| Previous heading of same level | VO+Cmd+Shift+M |
| Next linkStops at any link; visited links have a command of their own. | VO+Cmd+L |
| Previous link | VO+Cmd+Shift+L |
| Next visited link | VO+Cmd+V |
| Previous visited link | VO+Cmd+Shift+V |
| Next table | VO+Cmd+T |
| Previous table | VO+Cmd+Shift+T |
| Next list | VO+Cmd+X |
| Previous list | VO+Cmd+Shift+X |
| Next graphicOn webpages this is the command for moving from image to image. | VO+Cmd+G |
| Previous graphic | VO+Cmd+Shift+G |
| Next control | VO+Cmd+J |
| Previous control | VO+Cmd+Shift+J |
| Next different item | VO+Cmd+D |
| Previous different item | VO+Cmd+Shift+D |
| Next item of same typeInside a text area it looks for text in the same style as the current text instead. | VO+Cmd+S |
| Previous item of same type | VO+Cmd+Shift+S |
| Next blockquote | VO+Cmd+Q |
| Previous blockquote | VO+Cmd+Shift+Q |
| Next blockquote of same level | VO+Cmd+W |
| Previous blockquote of same level | VO+Cmd+Shift+W |
Webpages 7
Apple's guide gives two keys for webpage statistics: VO-Shift-I in the topic on webpage summaries, VO-Shift-Vertical Line in the Web commands list. The row follows the summary topic.
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Next frame | VO+Cmd+F |
| Previous frame | VO+Cmd+Shift+F |
| Navigate past a web groupMoves on without stepping into the group; with Quick Nav on, Shift and the arrow alone do it. | VO+Shift+LeftorVO+Shift+Right |
| Read page from cursorOn a webpage, reading runs from the cursor's position through the rest of the page. | VO+A |
| Read page up to cursorThe counterpart of reading onward: covers the webpage from its start to where you are. | VO+B |
| Read link addressSpeaks the URL behind the link; it works on items in the rotor too. | VO+Shift+U |
| Read webpage statisticsCounts the headings, links, tables, landmarks and other items found on the page. | VO+Shift+I |
Speech and visuals 10
| Action | Mac |
|---|---|
| Open Verbosity rotorLeft and Right pick a setting such as typing echo or punctuation; Up and Down change its level. | VO+V |
| Choose speech settingKeep the modifiers held and repeat Right, or Left, until you hear rate, pitch, volume or voice. | VO+Cmd+Shift+Right |
| Adjust speech settingRaises or lowers the setting just chosen; releasing the keys applies it. | VO+Cmd+Shift+UporVO+Cmd+Shift+Down |
| Toggle screen curtainTurns the screen black so nobody can read it; switching VoiceOver off lifts the curtain too. | VO+Shift+Fn+F11 |
| Tile visualsDims the screen and centres the current item next to the caption or braille panel; repeat to undo. | VO+Fn+F10 |
| Hide cursor and panelsA temporary switch for the VoiceOver cursor together with the caption and braille panels. | VO+Cmd+Fn+F11 |
| Toggle caption panel | VO+Cmd+Fn+F10 |
| Resize or move caption panelEach press switches between resizing and moving; the arrow keys then do the adjusting. | VO+Shift+Fn+F10 |
| Toggle braille panelAlso sets the panel to On or Off in VoiceOver Utility, replacing the Automatic default. | VO+Cmd+Fn+F9 |
| Resize or move braille panel | VO+Shift+Fn+F9 |
No row on this page matches that filter.
Notes
Turning it on and reading
Cmd + F5 toggles VoiceOver on and off. VO + A reads a document from the top, or from the VoiceOver cursor onward once you are interacting with its text, and Ctrl alone pauses and resumes speech. VO + Right and VO + Left move the VoiceOver cursor to the next and previous item — a heading, a link, a button, a word of text — and VO + Space activates whatever is under it, the equivalent of a click.
Interacting
Groups such as tables, toolbars and text areas are single items until you interact with them: VO + Shift + Down steps into the group so navigation stays within it, and VO + Shift + Up steps back out. This is the model to understand when a page seems to skip content — VoiceOver is treating a region as one item. VO + Cmd + H, VO + Cmd + L and VO + Cmd + T jump to the next heading, link and table, which is how well-structured pages are skimmed.
The rotor and help
VO + U opens the rotor, a set of lists (headings, links, form controls, landmarks) that can be browsed with the arrow keys; it is the fastest way to audit a page's heading outline. VO + F finds text, VO + M moves to the menu bar and VO + D to the Dock. VO + H opens VoiceOver help, VO + K enters keyboard help, where pressing any key announces what it does, and VO + Fn + F8 opens VoiceOver Utility for settings including the modifier key. Function-key commands such as this one need Fn by default.
Questions
How do I turn VoiceOver on or off on a Mac?
Press Cmd + F5. On a Mac or Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, hold Cmd and press Touch ID three times quickly. Option + Cmd + F5 opens the Accessibility Shortcuts panel, which has a VoiceOver option as well.
What does VO mean in a VoiceOver command?
VO is the VoiceOver modifier. By default it is Ctrl and Option held together, or Caps Lock on its own, and it is pressed with the other keys of the command. VO + ; locks the modifier, so commands need only their remaining keys until you unlock it the same way.
How can I practise VoiceOver commands without triggering them?
Use VoiceOver's own practice tools first: VO + Cmd + Fn + F8 opens the interactive tutorial, VO + K starts keyboard help, which names each key or command you press without carrying it out, and VO + H, H opens a Commands menu you can filter by typing. The printable cheat sheet on this page works as a side reference.
Is VoiceOver available on Windows?
No — VoiceOver is Apple's screen reader and is built into Apple's own systems only; this page covers the Mac version. On Windows the equivalents are NVDA (free) and JAWS (commercial); both use Insert as their default modifier where VoiceOver uses Control + Option or Caps Lock.
Sources and checks
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): General commands Turning VoiceOver on, help, Quick Nav switches, verbosity, caption and braille panels; the definition of VO and the Fn rule
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Interaction commands Interacting, clicking, selection, table reading, scrolling, moving and resizing windows and objects
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Navigation commands Cursor movement, Dock and menu bar, cursor tracking, hot spots and window spots
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Orientation commands Summaries of apps, windows and items; last spoken phrase
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Search commands Find next and previous: text attributes, headings, links, tables and other elements
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Text commands Reading by paragraph, sentence, line, word and character; TextEdit tab stops
11 more source pages
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Web commands Frames, columns, table grouping and reading a webpage
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Control your Mac using keyboard commands The VoiceOver modifier and its lock; double-click; background for selection and shortcut-menu rows
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Use VoiceOver Quick Nav in apps and webpages Quick Nav arrow-key and single-key commands
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Use the VoiceOver rotor Rotor commands
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Turn VoiceOver on or off Accessibility Shortcuts panel and pausing speech
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Use VoiceOver to read text Read All
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Use VoiceOver to drag and drop items Drag and drop commands
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Hear VoiceOver summarize a webpage Webpage statistics command
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Change the VoiceOver voice Adjusting rate, pitch, volume and voice from the keyboard
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Use VoiceOver to navigate apps and windows Creating and removing window spots; background for the chooser rows
- Apple Support — VoiceOver User Guide for Mac (macOS 27): Use VoiceOver hot spots Setting and removing hot spots
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