JAWS
JAWS is a popular screen reader for windows based computers.
Install
You can download and install JAWS from Freedom Scientific. A time-limited demo is also available.
How to find your version
- Open JAWS
- The version is listed under the JAWS menu
Guides, Documentation, and resources
Modes
- Forms Mode: Automatic when in a form element
- Exit Forms Mode: Numpad Plus
Commands
The following are some common commands.
Common
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Read next focusable item | Tab |
| Read next item | Down arrow |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab |
| Read previous item | Up arrow |
General
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|
| Activate Button | Enter or Space | |
| Activate Link | Enter | |
| Enter forms mode | insert + z | Automatically activated when entering a form control. |
| exit forms mode (go to PC cursor) | insert + z | |
| Read item | insert + up arrow | Announces the current item |
| Open element list | Insert + F3 | |
| Turn Off | Insert + F4 | |
| Turn On | (none) | |
| Keyboard command while in forms or application mode | <keyboard command> | |
Reading
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Read next focusable item | Tab |
| Read next item | Down arrow |
| Jump to controlled element | Insert + alt + M |
| Follow the element referenced by aria-flowto | equals sign |
| Go to the the first element that references this element via aria-flowto | shift + equals sign |
| Next region | r |
| List headings | Insert + F6 |
| List regions | Ctrl + Insert + r |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab |
| Read previous item | Up arrow |
| Start reading from current position | Insert + down arrow |
| Stop reading | Control |
Forms
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|
| Activate Button | Enter or Space | |
| Activate Form Control | Space | |
| Enter forms mode | insert + z | Automatically activated when entering a form control. |
| exit forms mode (go to PC cursor) | insert + z | |
| enter text | <enter text> | must be in a form or application context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select next option | Down arrow | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select previous option | Up arrow | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select an option | Enter | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| Read next focusable item | Tab | |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab | |
| Keyboard command while in forms or application mode | <keyboard command> | |
Tables
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|
| Move to the start of the container | windows key+home | Will move to the start of the current container (list, table, etc) |
| Past the end of the container | Windows key+end | Will move past the end of the current container (list, table, etc) |
| Move to next column | Control + Alt + Right arrow | |
| Move to next row | Control + Alt + up arrow | |
| Move to previous column | Control + Alt + Left arrow | |
| Move to previous row | Control + Alt + down arrow | |
| Read current cell | Control + Alt + Numpad 5 | |
Elements
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|
| Next button | b | |
| Next button | shift + b | |
| Next form field | f | |
| Next form field | f | |
| Next graphic | g | |
| Next unvisited link | u | |
| Previous unvisited link | shift+u | |
| Next visited link | v | |
| Next heading | h | |
| Previous heading | shift + h | |
| Next heading of level | 1-6 | |
| Open element list | Insert + F3 | |
| Next list | l | |
| Move to the start of the container | windows key+home | Will move to the start of the current container (list, table, etc) |
| Past the end of the container | Windows key+end | Will move past the end of the current container (list, table, etc) |
| Next list item | i | |